London hospitals overcapacity as calls to wear masks grow

Hospitals in London are grappling with space to treat patients as a record number people fall ill with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 and the flu.

Children's Hospital was at 115 per cent overall occupancy Tuesday night, the highest number hospital officials at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) said they've seen.

Occupancy in the adult emergency ofVictoria Hospital and University Hospital wereoperating above 100 per centcapacity, with pressure on intensive care and other inpatient units.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recently declared the "start of an influenza epidemic" and said the spread is "above expected levels typical of this time of year" in their FluWatch report.

Last week, three people died last from COVID-19 and one person from influzena in the Middlesex-London region, according to the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

The average wait time in the children's emergency department is now between six and eight hours for non-urgent concerns due to the rise in patients with RSV and influenza, officials say.Last week, LHSC reported 20 hour wait times at emergency departments for non-emergent concerns.

Maskingnow strongly recommended indoors

LHSCis asking the public to mask up afterfacing a "significant surge" in pressures in their emergency departments, intensive care units and inpatient units,officials said in a statement.

"We anticipate significant ongoing pressures in the coming weeksand support the government's recommendation for individuals to mask in publicplaces, as we know masking is one of the most effective tools for preventing disease transmission."

Ontario's chief medical officer of health Dr.Kieran Moore announced masks are now strongly recommended in all indoor public settings by as the province's health system faces "extraordinary pressures" in a news conference Monday.