Ontario heightens response to SARS

TORONTO, March 26 /CNW/ - Today, Health and Long-Term Care Minister Tony
Clement announced that Ontario Premier Ernie Eves has declared Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) a provincial emergency.
The declaration comes under the authority of the Emergency Plans Act.
Declaring a state of emergency gives the Premier power to protect the health,
safety, and welfare of Ontario residents. The Premier can direct and control
local governments, facilities, and equipment to ensure necessary services are
provided.
"We are all taking this disease very seriously," Dr. James Young,
Commissioner of Public Security said. "Health officials and health care
workers across the province having been working hard to prevent infection.
Now, we are using all arms of the government needed to make sure that the
spread of this disease is controlled."
Today with Dr. Sheela Basrur, Medical Officer of Health for the City of
Toronto, and Dr. Andrew Simor, Head of Microbiology for Sunnybrook and Women's
College Health Sciences Centre, Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Commissioner of Public
Health and Dr. Young gave the following update:

- SARS has been declared a provincial emergency.
- Ontario's Provincial Operations Centre (POC) has been activated, made
up of representatives from all necessary provincial ministries.
- Monitoring of SARS related activity continues 24 hours, seven days a
week, to help ensure the containment of this disease;
- Local Public Health Units are coming to the aid of Toronto Public
Health to follow-up with a broad sweep of people who may have come in
contact with SARS cases to assess their health and determine if they
have had any symptoms;
- Ministry officials are developing a plan to increase Ontario's
isolation bed capacity, potentially using new, unopened facilities as
a way to isolate patients with symptoms;
- Health Canada continues to support Ontario efforts with both
expertise and emergency supplies as needed;
- The Scarborough Hospital, Grace Division continues to restrict
services.

"We appreciate the efforts of health care workers across the province,
and especially those at Scarborough Hospital, Grace Division, who have been
working diligently to protect themselves and their patients from further
infection," D'Cunha said.
Individuals at risk include people with recent travel to China's Guandong
Province, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore, (there have also been sporadic
cases reported in Germany, Thailand, Taiwan, Slovenia and the United Kingdom)
or those who have had close contact with persons diagnosed with SARS. These
people should seek medical attention, if they develop a fever (over 38 degrees
Celsius) and one or more of the following respiratory symptoms: cough,
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
"Anyone who may be a contact of a SARS case through The Scarborough
Hospital - Grace Division and has symptoms or concerns should call the Toronto
Public Health Hotline at 416-338-7600 for further information, said Dr.
D'Cunha.
People who have general queries about SARS can call Telehealth Ontario at
1-866-797-0000 to speak to a registered nurse who will have full information
about the symptoms.
All hospitals in Toronto and the GTA are cooperating to respond to any
increased pressure resulting from the suspension of services at The
Scarborough Hospital, Grace Division.
As of today, March 26 2003, there are 27 probable cases, five suspect
cases, and approximately 30 additional cases under investigation in Ontario.
We will provide updates as we continue to monitor this illness.


This news release is available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca