This Ontario hospital hopes a look inside its ICU will give pause to those urging end to social distancing

Markham StouffvilleHospital, just northeast of Toronto, had its first COVID-19 case in late January. Since then, its staffhave cared for hundreds of positive patientsand dozens have been put on life-support. Many people have survived and gone home to their families. Nine have died.

It's been an emotional roller-coaster for everyone who works there.

Today, Markham Stouffville has more than 60 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.

And now, there's a new threat: another potential surge ofcasescoming from outbreaks at nearby long-term care homes, group homesand shelters.

At the same time, the medical staff are worriedCanadians are becoming less vigilant about physicaldistancing even those who have the virus.

'Almost an insult to what we've been doing'

During check-in calls with people who've tested positive at the hospital'sassessment centre, they've found 20- and 30-year-olds outin thecommunity. Meanwhile, inside the hospital, they're intubating patients of all ages.

"So many times, they're in their carsor it's very obvious they're in a large gathering," said Jeya Nadarajah, the hospital's infectious diseasespecialist. "We actually have one of our nurse practitioners call themand tell them: 'You're being very irresponsible. Although you have mild symptoms,your parents, your uncle or your neighbour may not be that lucky.' "

The hospital's chief of medicine, Anand Doobay, saidthey're seeing signs that physicaldistancing is working.

"But it's not anywhere near over," he said.

"When we hear about people [at] a big barbecue or something, it's almost an insult to what we've been doingbecause we are working so hard to get these people back to their families.

"We're terrified of people letting up a little bit."

Emotional toll

That's why the team decided to let CBC News look inside their ICU. They thought if Canadians could see what they see, how the patients suffer,alone and how the staff put their own lives on the line to try to save them they might take the virus more seriously.

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Over three days, they shared hours of videofrom inside the hospitaland opened up about the emotional toll it's takingas they're not only saving lives, but also filling in for family members who aren't allowed to visiteven when a loved one is dying.

WATCH | A look inside an ICU:

COVID-19: Life and death moments in an ICU

4 years ago

Duration 6:28

Staff from Markham Stouffville Hospital outside Toronto offer a glimpse inside the ICU as a warning about the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic.