Aug. 18, 2022
The Ontario government has released the next phase of its “Plan to Stay Open” ahead of what they say will likely be a rise in respiratory illnesses in the next few months.
The plan focuses on “health-care system stability and recovery” and aims to add thousands of health-care workers and free up hospital beds. Officials said these additions will help reduce the burden on the broader health system, which has been severely strained over the past few months with staffing shortages.
“Historically, fall and winter are when cases of respiratory illnesses rise, putting strain on emergency departments, hospitals and the broader health system, including long-term care,” the 18-page document, released on Thursday, reads.
“This year will also include Omicron. In order to address current pressures, make more progress with surgical backlogs and be properly prepared for any upcoming winter surge, we need to do more.”