Thread by @awong37

NO doubt now. BOTH Quebec & Ontario are in huge pain now w/ #Omicron. The GTA now is being hit hard.

It's a numbers game. Too many patients, not enough staff or beds.

Many HCWs & first responders out, too.

It's ALL bad. Everyone's reality is in plain sight.

🧵 below. (1/n)

The number of ICU admissions & ventilated patients in Ontario continues to rise VERTICALLY.

The primary risk for ICU admission remains being unvaccinated, but more elderly persons now with comorbidities & waning immunity also. (2/n)

https://twitter.com/OntHospitalAssn/status/1479798937213091849

Multiple physicians in Scarborough, a suburb of the GTA, have noted a surge of critically ill patients with COVID in the last 2 days.

For reference, Scarborough has ~70 ICU beds. EVERY single bed is now taken. They have NO ventilators left. (3/n)

https://twitter.com/lazongs/status/1479915931946074114

A new record yesterday with close to 2,600 persons in Ontario admitted with COVID-19. The hospitalization curve continues to grow vertically.

Thanks to @jkwan_md for this graph from Jan 7. Note how hospitalizations lag the overall case numbers by about 2-3 weeks. (4/n)

In other depressing, but entirely predictable, news:

The paramedic union for the GTA last night reported as of 6:40PM Jan 8, there were NO units available to respond to 911 calls.

The GTA is a city of millions. Not ONE available ambulance. (5/n)

https://twitter.com/416TPSUnit/status/1479976694496780293

Nursing shortages are rampant, creating even more capacity challenges.

@birgitomo has been GREAT in highlighting the critical staffing issues hospitals are facing.

HCWs have been tapped over & over. Everyone hits a wall. (6/n)

https://twitter.com/birgitomo/status/1479811543160213505

Many are pointing out, correctly, that the vaccinated are filling ICUs & hospitals. This is true.

Key point: we need to look at RELATIVE risks of hospitalization & death.

Those with 2+ doses remain VERY protected against hospitalization & death. BUT it's not perfect. (7/n)

This excellent table @COVIDSciOntario (thx @Billius27) highlights how VACCINES ARE WORKING.

If you look at cases, there's no difference with vaccine status due to the infectivity of Omicron.

Look at hospitalizations & ICU admits. There is CLEAR protection via vaccine. (8/n)

Most important thing you can do to protect yourself and our hospitals & ICUs?

PLEASE, get vaccinated!

Get EVERY dose you are eligible for as fast as you can. Get your kids vaccinated. Help the elderly & frail get vaccinated.

Every shot matters. (9/n)

https://twitter.com/Abn_RN/status/1479603368922337281

For decision makers clinging to "Omicron is mild", this is our Canadian reality.

More triage, cancelled procedures & surgeries, overrun hospitals & ICUs, more HCW attrition & burnout.

When you or a loved one needs a bed in our hospitals, it might not be there for you. (10/n)

Morale amongst HCWs has failed. We see everyone (including decision makers) acting like COVID is done, yet every day we face the reality of what we see in our hospitals & ICUs.

Pretending COVID is over doesn't change our reality. Only policy does. (11/n)

https://twitter.com/edyong209/status/1479452486939328512

To decision makers: it's not too late to act. PLEASE, put appropriate measures in place to limit gatherings & contacts. Slow Omicron to give HCWs & hospitals a chance.

Otherwise, be honest. Acknowledge you're OK with our healthcare system collapsing yet again. (12/n)

To individuals: yes, everyone's exhausted. The virus doesn't care. Please limit gatherings, test & isolate as able when symptomatic, get vaccinated.

By making the best decisions, we protect those in our society who are vulnerable, frail, and can't be vaccinated.

Be safe. /fin