Sask. expecting ICU patient transfers to increase over the next few weeks
More Saskatchewan intensive care patients are expected to be transferred to Ontario in the coming weeks, according to provincial officials.
Marlo Pritchard, the president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), said transfers are expected to occur daily.
“We are anticipating that the number of transfers will increase early next week to roughly two to four patients per day for the next several weeks to further reduce the strain on the health care system,” Pritchard said, during a media briefing Friday.
These new transfers are in addition to the six patients that have already travelled for care in Ontario. Three more people are scheduled to be taken to Ontario over the weekend.
Derek Miller, emergency operations centre commander with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said the focus is on COVID-19 ICU patients being transferred out of province, not general ICU patients.
The announcement comes a day after social media posts from doctors sparked confusion about whether the transfers would continue.
The Saskatchewan government released a statement Thursday morning saying the social media posts about ICU patient transfers should be “disregarded.”
Pritchard said all confirmed transfers will be communicated through official channels such as the PEOC or the government’s website, during the briefing on Friday.
A release from the province Friday afternoon said Saskatchewan’s Provincial Emergency Operations Centre has confirmed Ontario is able to receive up to nine more patients early next week – up to three per day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.