COVID-19, other respiratory viruses sideline more Maritime health-care workers
A week-to-week increase in the number of Maritime health-care employees off work due to COVID-19 infections and exposures are adding to absences caused by early spikes in other respiratory viruses.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority is reporting 129 health-care workers unable to work due to COVID-19, compared to 107 employees the week before.
The IWK Health Centre in Halifax says it’s “seeing an increase in sick calls” but didn’t have a current tally of employees off work due to COVID-19 on Thursday.
On Prince Edward Island, Health PEI is reporting 20 health-care employees who are absent due to COVID-19, compared to seven last Thursday.
Between New Brunswick’s two health authorities, a total of 148 health-care workers are off duty due to COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, the Horizon Health Network is reporting 92 absent employees due to COVID-19, compared to 68 recorded on Nov. 22.
The Vitalité Health Network is reporting 56 employees off work due to COVID-19, compared to 31 the week before.
The statistics provided don’t account for absences attributed to other illnesses, including seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“RSV and influenza are seeing an earlier rise than we normally, typically would,” says Dr. Leisha Hawker, President of Doctors Nova Scotia. “And I think we’ll just see a longer duration of the winter illnesses.”
Hawker says doctors, who are able to, are keeping up care through virtual means –- even when they’re ill.
“There’s two sides to that,” says Hawker. “On the one hand, it’s great because we’re not rebooking all of our patients and trying to fit them in the next week or two. But on the other hand, we’re not taking those full days off to really recover like we used to before the pandemic.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.