With the temperature dropping more each week, cold and flu season gets closer.
Officials at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) discussed the system's readiness to handle respiratory illness season at its monthly board meeting on Thursday evening.
Current positivity rates in Ontario for COVID-19, flu, and RSV are low. The data came from the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool.
As of the week of October 19 through 25, the most recent period for which data was available, the positivity rate for COVID-19 was 5.7 per cent, following a period of decline since mid-September.
WRH Chief Nursing Executive Nicole Krywionek reported that, at last check, there were six cases of COVID-19 at Windsor Regional.
The positivity rate for influenza in Ontario was one per cent. For RSV, the positivity rate was 0.5 per cent, with rising rates among children under five.
Krywionek reported that at WRH, there was one case of influenza and one paediatric RSV case at last check.
Vaccine clinics for hospital staff are scheduled through November. So far, over 700 employees have taken advantage of the in-house clinics.
The hospital continues to stress the importance of prevention during the respiratory flu season. People are being reminded to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, and to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Complete information on reducing the spread of illness can be found on the official WRH website.
