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Back to SearchWe know parenting has been even harder than normal during the pandemic. We are working to limit the impacts of the sixth wave on patients and families as much as we can. We want to thank everyone for their patience.
The number of staff, medical staff, learners and volunteers restricted from entering CHEO for COVID-related reasons is as high as it's ever been during the pandemic, which is unfortunately having an impact for the children, youth and families in our region.
Our team continues to step up, as they have throughout the pandemic, but it’s getting harder and harder for them to do as they are living with the exhaustion of working with COVID for 25 months. Despite our available staff picking up shifts, it is often not possible to cover all the shifts for those who cannot enter the building due to contact with or infection from COVID in the community. We have had to occasionally cancel surgeries and there are longer waits during clinic appointments. And combined with high volumes in our Emergency Department, we are also seeing longer waits in the ED. We have even had to transfer patients to other pediatric hospitals out of the region.
This is all a strong reminder to heed the messages in last week’s joint statement by the Champlain region’s hospital Chiefs of Staff and Medical Officers of Health, who “highly recommend the following four things that you can do right now to protect yourself, your family, and your community, with the goal of reducing severe illness and hospitalization:
- Get vaccinated with all the doses you are eligible for.
- Limit your close contacts.
- Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.
- Stay home if you are sick."
For parents considering coming to CHEO’s Emergency Department, we have a number of useful resources, including real-time Emergency wait times and help deciding if their child or youth needs emergency care.
CHEO’s single-day record for the number of staff, medical staff, learners and volunteers restricted from entering for COVID-related reasons is 199, which was in early January 2022 as Omicron was taking hold just after the holiday season. Next highest was April 11 at 191. Five of the last nine days (April 4-12) were over 180. Today at 11 am, the number was 162, but this will likely increase as more staff, medical staff, learners and volunteers complete their daily entrance screen.
Media contact
media@cheo.on.ca
About CHEO
Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. Named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024 and 2025, we are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.