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Source: https://www.cp24.com/news/covid-19-...r-cases-to-be-kept-out-of-hospitals-1.4843608
COVID-19 clinics to open as doctors call for cases to be kept out of hospitals
Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press
Published Saturday, March 7, 2020 7:34PM EST
Doctors are warning that Canada needs to build capacity to screen for the new coronavirus outside hospitals or risk overwhelming emergency rooms and having the infection spread within their facilities.
Physicians from eight Toronto hospitals published a paper in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Friday calling for potential COVID-19 cases to be tested at specialized clinics or at home as several communities work to set up such initiatives.
“Canada's preparedness for COVID-19 must extend beyond hospitals, as a surge of cases appears inevitable,” writes co-author Dr. Jerome Leis, medical director of infection prevention and control at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
The doctors work at hospitals that collectively tested 135 people for the virus between Jan. 20 and Feb. 19. They found the majority of patients were young and not very ill. Only one case came back positive...
.... The Ontario government is also working with Toronto authorities to set up COVID-19 assessment centres, a health ministry spokesman said in an email.
In east Toronto, Michael Garron Hospital is preparing to open a screening clinic later this month to be jointly run out of a nearby family medical centre.
Stephen Beckwith, executive director of the South East Toronto Family Health Team, said the clinic has 14 rooms to isolate patients before a doctor arrives to check their symptoms and collect a nose or throat swab for testing...
COVID-19 clinics to open as doctors call for cases to be kept out of hospitals
Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press
Published Saturday, March 7, 2020 7:34PM EST
Doctors are warning that Canada needs to build capacity to screen for the new coronavirus outside hospitals or risk overwhelming emergency rooms and having the infection spread within their facilities.
Physicians from eight Toronto hospitals published a paper in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Friday calling for potential COVID-19 cases to be tested at specialized clinics or at home as several communities work to set up such initiatives.
“Canada's preparedness for COVID-19 must extend beyond hospitals, as a surge of cases appears inevitable,” writes co-author Dr. Jerome Leis, medical director of infection prevention and control at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
The doctors work at hospitals that collectively tested 135 people for the virus between Jan. 20 and Feb. 19. They found the majority of patients were young and not very ill. Only one case came back positive...
.... The Ontario government is also working with Toronto authorities to set up COVID-19 assessment centres, a health ministry spokesman said in an email.
In east Toronto, Michael Garron Hospital is preparing to open a screening clinic later this month to be jointly run out of a nearby family medical centre.
Stephen Beckwith, executive director of the South East Toronto Family Health Team, said the clinic has 14 rooms to isolate patients before a doctor arrives to check their symptoms and collect a nose or throat swab for testing...