From prisons to hospitals, public services sag under the heavy weight of Omnicron

Public sectors across the country face staff shortages as Canada continues to face record numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations related to the highly communicable Omicron variant.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said Thursday that some 20,000 health workers were out because they tested positive or were exposed to the virus. The government was working with unions to find more staff to care for approximately 2,500 COVID-19 patients, it added.

Health officials reported an additional 1,953 COVID-19 hospitalizations Thursday, an increase of nearly 12 percent compared to the previous day. Authorities said there were 207 patients in intensive care, an increase of 16.

Also in Quebec, four federal prisons came “very close” to experiencing staff shortages as more workers tested positive for COVID-19.

“We are very close to that, but we are not there yet. And I hope we do not get there,” said Mario Guilmette, vice president of the Quebec region for the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.

Guilmette said the Correctional Service of Canada was working on a protocol that would be used if federal prisons in the province were understaffed. If the protocol is introduced, it means that workers who are considered close contacts of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 could be asked to return to work after being isolated for eight days instead of 10.

Correctional Service spokeswoman Marie Pier Lecuyer said in a statement that the agency has not had to bring any staff members who tested positive back to work before they have fully recovered.

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In the Atlantic region, New Brunswick hospitals struggled to provide adequate and timely care amid rising COVID-19 infections and large numbers of healthcare personnel unable to work due to the virus.

The province’s health department said in a statement Thursday that hundreds of workers were isolating themselves at home. Earlier this week, the government issued an official number of 571.

The New Brunswick Medical Society said the province’s hospitals were already facing staff shortages before the pandemic that affected the ability of workers to provide sufficient patient care.

In Ontario, nursing home outbreaks resulted in staff absences of 20 to 30 percent in some areas.

Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips said there were outbreaks Thursday in 186 homes in 30 of Ontario’s 34 public health units.

He said his ministry was in contact with households struggling with staff, as the Omicron variant forced people to isolate themselves.

“Long-term care staffing remains a concern,” Phillips said during a virtual press conference on a local employment program. “It’s an area where we are in daily contact with individual households (about).”

The president of a union representing long-term care workers in the province spoke about desperate measures being taken to mobilize workers.

“Because Ontario was unable to plan, more than 1,000 nursing home employees are ill right now, causing nursing homes to desperately hire from fast food chains,” said Sharleen Stewart, president of SEIU Healthcare.

Households have asked fast food workers to replace kitchen staff who cannot work, he said.

Isolation due to increased cases of the Omicron variant was also putting pressure on some fire, traffic and police services.

The northwestern BC city of Prince Rupert said in a statement that eight of its 20 firefighters are off duty due to COVID-19. The city added that the department is managing the shortage, but if necessary, it will rely on an agreement with the volunteer fire department in neighboring Port Edward to help.

Winnipeg Transit was using spare operators and overtime to cover shifts, and the city said hours for some routes would be cut.

Mississauga, Ontario, also temporarily suspended some services due to staff shortages. The city said the reductions will be in effect until further notice.

The Winnipeg Police Service declared an internal state of emergency Wednesday due to staff shortages, while the Edmonton and Calgary Police Services warned of staffing challenges.

A small First Nation in northern Ontario has lost many essential workers as a COVID-19 outbreak has infected nearly half of its 400 residents. He has declared a state of emergency and requested military assistance.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Derek Fox said many of the essential workers at Bearskin Lake First Nation are sick with the virus or isolated in their homes.

Community member Charles Fox said that water and sewer truck drivers have to come to work when they are positive, but they work alone.

“We need the army to come in and provide the manpower for the loading of the cargo, the distribution supplies, the baskets, and we need people to take everyone to the swab center,” he said.

– With files from Erika Ibrahim in Ottawa, Kevin Bissett at Fredriction, Holly McKenzie-Sutter and Maan Alhmidi in Toronto

This Canadian Press report was first published on January 6, 2022.

This story was produced with financial assistance from Facebook and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.