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Back to SearchSurveillance testing underway to better understand the surge
August 23, 2021 – OTTAWA, ON – CHEO, the only pediatric health and research centre in the region, is seeing a surge in the number of school-age children coming to its Emergency Department (ED) with respiratory illness. Recently, CHEO warned families to be prepared to wait in ‘unusual places’ so the hospital can maintain its safe distance precautions.
“We’re open 24-7 for urgent care and keeping families safe while onsite is always our top priority,” said Ken Farion, Medical Director of Strategy, Quality and Systems Improvement at CHEO and Emergency Department physician. “CHEO, like other hospitals in the region, anticipated more kids coming to see us with flu-like symptoms as soon as COVID-19 restrictions eased up in the community.”
Emergency Department volumes are 16% higher than they normally would be at this time of year and trends suggest this will continue to increase. Many other countries have seen a viral surge shortly after opening up as viruses that have been quelled by pandemic restrictions bounce back in full force. CHEO is currently dealing with three surges – viral illnesses, mental health and catch-up on backlog.
“Ottawa has started to see a slight uptick in the number of positive COVID-19 tests, likely indicating the beginning of a fourth wave. Yet positive COVID-19 tests in kids are low – for the moment – so something else is driving the ED surge,” continued Farion.
CHEO is participating in the Enhanced Respiratory Virus Surveillance Program, recently introduced by Public Health Ontario. All children seen in CHEO’s Emergency Department or admitted to hospital with any signs of a respiratory infection are already tested for COVID-19. That same sample will now automatically get tested for multiple additional respiratory viruses – including RSV and the common cold – as part of surveillance testing.
Testing for multiple viruses (surveillance testing) is helpful to understand what is happening in the community but has little impact on how most individual patients are managed.
What do families need to know?
- For a healthy child, identifying another virus will not change their plan of care or treatment. Most children only need help with managing their symptoms — fever-reducing medications, help clearing their nose, and lots of fluids, rest, and hugs.
- Always call your primary care provider or family physician for an appointment, even if virtual, where most concerns can be addressed.
- If you need help deciding whether or not your child or youth requires urgent or critical care, please consult this decision tool before coming to the CHEO Emergency Department.
- Of note, only one parent or caregiver is permitted to accompany a child or youth in the CHEO Emergency Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- When you come to the CHEO Emergency Department, you will have to wait. The sickest children or urgent cases are always seen first. Please review the wait times posted online and bring water, snacks, toys, blankets etc. if you can. The wait times are refreshed every 15-minutes.
- Continue to help prevent the spread of infections – wash your hands often, wear a mask when in public or unable to distance from others, and stay home when sick.
Get vaccinated for COVID-19. When the seasonal influenza vaccine becomes available, please roll-up your sleeve again.
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Media contact
Paddy Moore, CHEO
o. 613-737-7600, ext. 3536 | c. 613-769-5553 | pmoore@cheo.on.ca
About CHEO
Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout Eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO is a partner of the Kids Come First Health Team, a network of partners working to create a high quality, standardized and coordinated system for pediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.