County's doctors ask seasonal residents to remain at home

As a County, we realize the importance of our seasonal residents and visitors to our economy. We face some harsh realities recognizing that we have limited capacity to manage a health emergency. A substantial influx of visitors will further challenge our ability to source adequate beds, medical supplies, equipment and personal protective equipment to manage this pandemic.

Our local physicians put forth this communication:

To Our Many Seasonal Neighbours,

We are reaching out to you requesting your consideration before choosing to reside at your seasonal residences during this difficult period. Here in Haliburton County we appreciate all that you contribute to our area and that you value your time away from busier locales.

This is a stressful time with the threat of Covid-19 spreading throughout Canada. Closures of schools, recreation facilities, and cancellation of trips planned in advance, all lead to a desire to find a place to unwind and escape.

We would like to request that before you decide to spend this uncertain time at the cottage you consider that in Haliburton, we have a small (15 bed) hospital manned by a small pool of local physicians and another group of physicians who travel to our area for Emergency Room shifts. The same group of local physicians cover their own clinics, Long Term Care (3 homes), and hospital in-patients. In Minden we have an Emergency Department but no inpatient beds. Neither location is equipped as an ICU and each have two transport ventilators that are used for transport to the closest ICU over an hour away. We anticipate that our closest ICU will be strained supporting the population within its radius. Transport of patients between our hospitals and larger centers is always challenging but moving Covid-19 patients will put many emergency health providers (paramedics and nurses) at risk. We have extremely dedicated nurses, paramedics and support staff who are all being asked to give beyond what should be asked of them.

We are also needing to acknowledge the large proportion of senior citizens in our practices that are relying on us to keep them safe. They truly are the most vulnerable during this pandemic.

We collectively have a lot of work to do and look forward to when this threat is behind us and we can all rest and truly enjoy our County again. Until then we ask that you recognize the limits of our local health care system and consider remaining at your primary residence where you will receive more advanced care if you require it. This will allow us to focus on giving patients the best possible care we can provide within our limitations.

- The Physicians of Haliburton County