A rapid response team of specialized paramedics based in Vancouver has been sent to Fort St. James.
They arrived in the community of about 1,700 people 150 kilometres west of Prince George on Wednesday and will be there for two to four days.
"A highly-trained paramedic team is the ideal response to this small, rural community with 60-plus COVID-19 positive cases," a B.C. Emergency Health Service spokesperson said. "Patients are presenting in multiple community clusters.
"We are also there to support our own paramedic staff who have been on the front lines responding to extremely high call volumes: 33 calls in six days."
The team was developed as part of BCEHS's COVID-19 pandemic response efforts and it is the first time it has been mobilized. It is made up of two critical care paramedics, one advanced care paramedic and a primary care paramedic.
"Critical care paramedics are the highest level of paramedic care with a focus on air medical response," the spokesperson noted.
Fort St. James has been hit hard by the pandemic. Exposure alerts have been issued for The Key Resource Centre and the community's cold weather shelter and for three schools in the area - Fort St. James Secondary School, David Hoy Elementary School and Nak'albun Elementary School.
- In a statement issued Thursday, Northern Health said it has seen a recent surge in lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the region, including approximately 40 active cases in the Omineca region which includes Fort St. James.
"Not all COVID-19 positive individuals require medical care or transport," Northern Health said and added that it is grateful for BCEHS's support to manage patient transport needs in the area.
