Toronto ICUs get reprieve from virus

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario declines, some hospitals in Toronto are now reaching new milestones — zero coronavirus patients in their intensive care units. Humber River Hospital marked the moment in a tweet on Friday, noting that it was the first time since March 14 that there were no coronavirus patients in the ICU.

“Thank you go the 6th floor staff and physicians that have bonded together and provided exceptional care in this pandemic. Today is a day to celebrate at (Humber River Hospital),” said the tweet, which included a photo of staff in the ICU.

Humber River serves a section of the city that has been hit hard by the pandemic — Toronto’s northwest corner, where a higher proportion of racialized, low-income people live in cramped housing.

“The northwest section of Toronto had the worst outbreak in the GTA and that’s the area we service,” said Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, an internal medicine and critical care specialist at Humber River Hospital, in an interview Saturday.

North York General Hospital also marked a milestone on Friday, with zero coronavirus patients in its ICU.

“It’s obviously very positive,” CEO Dr. Joshua Tepper said Saturday, adding that hospitals must be conscious of how easily the virus can spread again if proper masking and physical distancing aren’t maintained.

The 20 new coronavirus cases reported in Toronto’s on Saturday were the lowest daily total since March 26, according to the Star’s latest count.

While “holding our breath” for fear of the anticipated second wave of the virus, the medical team at Humber River is prepared for a return of COVID-19, Spiegelman said.

“This time around we know how to treat patients; we know the risks, what precautions we need to take,” he said.

The peak of COVID-19 cases in the 48-bed ICU at Humber River hit around late March with 20 cases, Spiegelman said, and about 20 people had to be transferred to other hospitals.