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Ontario hospitals running low on masks, OHA warns

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Hospitals are running low on personal protection equipment and in particular masks, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) warns.

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The umbrella organization for hospitals called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford to work “unceasingly” to ensure an immediate supply for hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes and other essential health service providers.

“While the OHA understands there is unprecedented global demand and supply chain disruption, Ontario hospitals are now at a critical juncture,” OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale said in a statement Wednesday. “These urgent actions are needed to ensure the safety of our province’s dedicated health-care workers who are working tirelessly to provide life-saving care to a growing number of Ontario’s most vulnerable patients.”

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Ford announced a special $50 million Ontario Together Fund Wednesday to help companies in the province retool to produce medical supplies.

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“We can’t count on traditional supply chains,” Ford said. “We need to mobilize Ontario’s manufacturing might because there’s nothing we can’t make here in Ontario.”

When asked if masks are supplied to and worn by personal support workers (PSWs) with Local Health Integration Networks, who often see multiple frail patients in home settings, the Ministry of Health said they were covered by a directive issued Monday on how to care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.

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“The directive also addresses the ongoing stewardship and conservation of the current level of PPE supplies as the government aggressively pursues all available efforts to increase this supply to ensure the appropriate health and safety control measures are in place to mitigate the transmission of infections,” a ministry statement says.

aartuso@postmedia.com

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