Two Community Recovery Centres are set up, one at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine and the second at the P&H Centre in Hanover.
These centres are on stand-by and will only be operational as required. If warranted, a third site may be established at a place to be determined by local needs. The centres are designed to lessen the burden on local hospitals from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Each Centre will be set-up as a 50-bed facility but will only be activated in the event that they are required due to the extreme nature of the situation. Community Recovery Centres are not designed for critical or high-level care. Instead, they will provide additional patient support. This care could include non-critical overflow patients who may be returning to long-term care or retirement facilities.
“We are well serviced by a strong health care system. But, by setting up these Community Recovery Centres, we are providing a second layer to bolster that system as it comes under the stress of COVID-19. This is one way we can prepare to lessen the potential negative impacts of the outbreak,” said Dr. Ian Arra, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health.
“Through our actions, and acting on the advice from public health officials, we are making progress but we can’t let up or get complacent. We are committed to supporting our local communities, hospitals, and public health officials so we are using every tool available to us to prevent and if necessary respond,” said James Scongack, Executive Vice-President Corporate Affairs & Operational Services at Bruce Power.
“The Recovery Centres reflect preparedness, great working partnerships, and true community spirit.” Says Hanover Mayor Sue Paterson. “We hope these centres will not be put into use but if the need does arise, we are ready.”
The two Community Recovery Centres are the result of a partnership among Grey and Bruce Counties, the Town of Hanover, the Municipality of Kincardine, the Grey Bruce Health Unit, with the strong commitment of our local political leaders – Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker and Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, and with funding, logistics, planning, and support from Bruce Power. Dr. Neal Stretch provided technical support for the project with his extensive experience with setting up field hospitals.
Volunteers from the Lucknow Kinsmen Club and the Lucknow Music in the Fields Committee who assembled the panels at both facilities. Acknowledgments also go to Canadian Tire, Kincardine; Rona, Kincardine; Sleep Bed Gallery, Kincardine; Ideal Supply, Listowel; Trusscore, Palmerston; Bluewater Sanitation, Tiverton; Wayne’s Electric, Hanover; Linen Plus, Alberta; and, Walton Medical, also offered contributions and support.
