$335K donation nets new surgical, infection control equipment for Delta Hospital – Cloverdale Reporter – Cloverdale Reporter

Delta Hospital is getting two new pieces of critical equipment — one to help repair cataracts, the other to help kill harmful micro-organisms — thanks to a $335,000 donation from The Cowell Foundation.

The generous first-time gift from the Richmond-based foundation — created and funded by the Cowell Family, owners and operators of Cowell Auto Group — will be used to purchase a new Sentry Vision System, which is used by the hospital’s busy surgical services department for cataract surgery. The procedure, called phacoemulsification, uses ultrasound vibrations to remove cloudiness over the eye lens. Over 950 cataract surgeries have been performed at Delta Hospital this year, and the current Sentry Vision System has reached the end of its life.

The foundation’s donation will also go to purchasing a new ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) unit for the hospital. The device provides an additional layer of infection control on top of standard cleaning procedures by emitting pulses of ultraviolet light, killing harmful bacteria and viruses that can spread quickly throughout the hospital and put vulnerable patients at risk. Delta Hospital will be the first site in Fraser Health to own and operate a UVGI device.

“We are humbled to have received this incredibly generous gift from The Cowell Foundation,” Lisa Hoglund, executive director of the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, said in a press release.

“Delta has one of the fastest growing senior populations in Fraser Health, and it is critical that our medical staff have the most state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the very best patient care. We could not do this without the generosity of donors, and we feel very fortunate The Cowell Foundation has chosen to support Delta Hospital.”

editor@northdeltareporter.com
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Health

City offering more municipal facilities as COVID-19 testing sites, Mayor Watson says – Ottawa Citizen

Published

38 mins ago

September 19, 2020

Watson said he’s been told by health officials that between 50 per cent and 90 per cent of people in the lines have no symptoms.

“That is putting a strain on the system,” Watson said, and he told Ford that the messaging needs to change so that people without symptoms aren’t going to testing sites.

A few hours later, however, Ford continued to encourage people who don’t have symptoms to get tested if they want to.

“We have the asymptomatic folks that may be anxious, or they want to get tested, and God bless them, get tested, but we’re going to be prepared and we’re ramping up,” Ford said during a press conference.

Much of the anger generated by the long testing lines and overrun assessment sites is rooted in confusion about how this could possibly happen when officials knew when students would be returning to classes.

Watson said Ottawa Public Health has stepped up to help, but the primary responsibility for testing is with the hospital network. The Ottawa Hospital, Queensway Carleton Hospital, Montfort Hospital and CHEO all have roles in the local testing program.

“I think they are now realizing that a lot of the testing capacity should have been dealt with a month ago with the anticipation of school,” Watson said. “To their credit now, and I’ve talked to all four hospital presidents, they understand the urgency and frustration and they have to get this problem fixed.”

The city continues to be in a state of emergency because of the pandemic, but Watson said he hasn’t asked Ford to request military assistance to help with logistical support in testing. There’s no sense bringing in military help if there are no additional sites yet to set up testing facilities, Watson said.

Health

Nine deaths linked to COVID-19 at Ottawa long-term care home – Newstalk 1010 (iHeartRadio)

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2020

Nine residents of an Ottawa long-term care home have died due to COVID-19 in the most serious outbreak of novel coronavirus in Ottawa in months.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, West End Villa confirms that nine residents have passed away from complications related to COVID-19.

“As of (Friday), there have been 52 cases of COVID-19 among residents, and 26 cases among staff, including one agency employee,” said Kelly Keeler, Administrator at West End Villa.

“All employee who have testing positive are isolating at home. Three residents are being treated in hospital and four resident cases have been resolved.”

Keeler says West End Villa is working with Ottawa Public Health and will remain in “close contact” with family members.

Earlier this week, West End Villa said a second round of COVID-19 surveillance testing had been conducted to help ensure cohorting efforts are as effective as possible.

Ottawa Public Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at West End Villa on Aug. 30.

The first novel coronavirus outbreak at West End Villa in May saw one staff member test positive for novel coronavirus.

Health

Second COVID-19 case in a Simcoe County school confirmed in Barrie – BarrieToday

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2020

Simcoe County’s second case of COVID-19 in a school has been confirmed – this time at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Barrie.

The case marks the first for a school in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

“There is an individual at that school who has tested positive,” said Donna Lorenz, communications specialist with the SMCDSB.

The school board declined to comment on whether the infected person was a student, teacher or staff member, citing privacy concerns.

“We’re taking direction completely from the health unit. So, today the whole student body was notified by a letter. A separate letter was also sent to all the kids’ (parents) who were in that class, and the (Simcoe Muskoka District) Health Unit was to reach out to the parents and guardians of those students by phone this afternoon,” said Lorenz.

Lorenz said that as of Friday, this is the only case of COVID-19 in any schools in the Catholic board of which they have been made aware.

“Because it’s our first case, we’ve been super careful to work hand-in-hand with the health unit to make sure we handle this in the way they’ve identified is the most appropriate,” said Lorenz.

People in the affected class have been asked by the Catholic board to stay home and quarantine for 14 days, and the classroom has been closed. The school itself will remain open for all other classes.

“It’s under an abundance of caution. The risk is minimal but the safety of our students is always our top priority,” she said.

The county’s first case of COVID-19 in a school was reported earlier this week, in a teacher at Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia.