SickKids head says he supports reinstatement of mask mandate to ease pressure on ‘unprecedented’ hospitals

The director of a children’s hospital in Toronto says he’s in favor of mandating mask-wearing to ease the pressure on children’s hospitals statewide.

Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and chief executive of SickKids Hospital, said in an interview with CP24 on Saturday that Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, asked the public to wear masks, the Canadian news agency. made this statement after speaking to Up from Monday.

Sources said wearing masks, especially in crowded places, was just a general recommendation, but Cohn said reinstating mask mandates would set the “precedent” children’s hospitals are currently seeing. I believe that this will help reduce the burden of “not having to do anything”.

In an interview with CP24, Cohn said, “We’re really seeing these pressures across the state and would definitely support a universal masking mandate.

“I think we can all do the right thing here. Get vaccinated, wear a mask, stay home (if you’re sick).”

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On Friday, SickKids announced it would be reducing surgeries starting Monday to maintain emergency care capacity. Hospitals prioritize “urgent, urgent, and most time-sensitive” surgeries because modern ICUs are at least 127% over capacity.

Cohn called the move “heartbreaking” and acknowledged that it would further exacerbate the surgical backlog caused by the pandemic. However, he said he would make sure the children received the care they needed.

“We are currently seeing a large number of different viruses affecting the respiratory system and infecting children. RSV and flu season has just started, and an unprecedented number of children are heading to the emergency room. It’s coming, and so are many of the patients who need admission to the pediatrics ward and ICU,” Cohn said.

“We have had to make this difficult decision in order to be able to accommodate many of these children with acute illnesses and in need of care.”

Cohn said they are working “unprecedentedly” to create more capacity by working with other children’s hospitals and community partners so that sick children can have places to be treated. said.

He also said he and other hospital officials had ongoing discussions about the issues they were facing.

“There are a lot of reviews going on right now with Dr. Moore and many others, so we have to wait for Monday,” Cohn said.

– Using files from The Canadian Press