Collingwood’s mayor said the local hospital is “eerily quiet” and noted for the first time since he’s lived in town, it’s operating with capacity to spare.
Mayor Brian Saunderson toured Collingwood General and Marine Hospital last weekend (Good Friday).
“There was construction going on … it was very positive. We’re all waiting for that surge to happen. We don’t want it to happen, but we have to be prepared for it.” said Saunderson. “The emergency department, and I understand this is happening at many hospitals, was quite quiet.”
CGMH officials have confirmed there is a plan in place for a field hospital off-site should it be necessary.
Saunderson said town council will be discussing cost-sharing for the off-site facility construction and generator at its upcoming meeting on Monday night.
Following the hospital tour, Saunderson posted a photo on Twitter of him and hospital president and CEO Norah Holder standing six feet apart and wearing masks with a note of thanks for hospital physicians and staff.
Though the mayor has been urging people to stay home, he said he felt it important to visit the hospital in person.
Saunderson said he and the mayors of Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township were invited to tour CGMH by Holder.
“In discussions with her, she felt it was important for us as municipal leaders to see what’s going on … and it was important for us to thank staff,” said Saunderson.
He said he and Holder “went through the sanitization process” and wore masks for the tour.
“Going through the hospital I must have put on hand sanitizer 20 times … It was not a busy time and we didn’t go into patient areas except the dialysis ward,” said the mayor. “In my opinion, it was not an undue risk … it was well worth it for staff to see their municipal leaders there to thank them.”
Both Wasaga Beach Mayor Nina Bifolchi and Clearview Township Mayor Doug Measures toured the hospital as well on Sunday and Saturday respectively.
Holder tweeted each time the mayors toured the hospital saying their visits inspired hospital staff.
