KINGSTON, Ont. – “We welcome the measures government is taking in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and prevent hospitals from being increasingly overwhelmed in the coming weeks.

“At this time, we have not received a provincial directive to reduce our non-emergency surgical activity and clinic work. We will continue to monitor the situation daily, as we have been for the past many months, and adjust our activity as needed based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities, supplies, bed capacity and staffing.

“Our priority remains providing acute care and critical care, and we will provide as much non-emergency care for as long as we can do so safely for our patients and staff. Our hospital sites are safe places in which to receive care, and patients should not hesitate to come to the hospital for the care they need.

“We thank our patients and families for their patience and cooperation in working with us when we need to make changes to schedules to care for the most vulnerable.

“If surgeries and other appointments need to be rescheduled, patients will be notified by phone by their surgeon’s or specialist’s office. As always, patients who have questions or concerns about their care should contact a member of their care team directly.

“The hospital remains on restricted access. Limits to family presence are the same; inpatients staying in hospital are permitted only one registered essential family member, and outpatients should be prepared to attend alone (details available at KingstonHSC.ca/COVID19). We also ask the public not to deliver gifts for inpatients.

“We continue to follow provincial guidelines and have a plan in place to make up to 15 per cent of our bed capacity available within hours to respond to a surge in patients needing care related to COVID-19.

“We know lockdown measures are difficult, but please follow public health guidance – including limiting your contacts to those within your household – in order to protect your loved ones, your communities, and health-care workers. Our helpful actions now will benefit us greatly in the weeks to come.”

-- Dr. David Pichora, president and CEO, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC)

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Media contact:

Kristen Lipscombe

Cell:  613-583-1377

Office:  613-549-6666, ext. 6875

Email:  @email