“We know there will be a peak, we know there will be a surge, the only question is when”.
That, from Health Minister John Haggie.
Haggie says our geography with Labrador as a Big Land, or Newfoundland as an island, have been looked at traditionally as challenges for tourism and industry.
But now, they work in our advantage, says Haggie.
At some point, he says we have to accept the fact that the virus is here, it isn’t going away in the short-term, and there will be a peak. But, Haggie says Wednesday’s models simply were just projections.
The health minister says at some point, the numbers will start to tick up faster each day, and when that happens we know we’re between three and four weeks away from a peak.
The sooner that peak comes, the worse it will be.
Haggie says the province has actually done better than suggestions from the data.
He says if we can keep doing what we’re doing, the province can minimize the impact even further. Haggie says the challenge is whatever model you look at, even the federal government’s, there is a peak, but then a “wiggly worm-like tail” at the right hand side, as it comes and goes over the next 18-months.
Whatever happens, the Minister says this is longer-term than shorter.
Health Authorities Ready to Expand ICU Capacity
Minister Haggie says each regional health authority has plans in place to expand their ICU capacity if needed.
When the data for the COVID-19 projection models released by government was gathered, there were 57 ICU beds available.
Haggie says that allows them to hopefully be able to increase capacity by freeing up ICU beds.
Under the other scenario projected, where people are properly following public health measures and practicing physical distancing, there is leeway under hospital beds elsewhere in facilities.
Haggie says the challenge will be around identifying staff, and that’s being worked on. He says this is part of the usefulness of the 30-day projections as it allows them to see what they need to be do to be ready.
