Staffing shortages will close a Hamilton urgent care centre for two days at the same time city emergency departments are becoming increasingly congested with flu, COVID-19 and RSV patients.

With just 13 per cent of Hamiltonians getting a COVID shot in the past six months, local hospitals are bracing for the viral surge to continue climbing over the holidays.

“The hospitals are congested,” said Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu, chief of emergency medicine at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). “The emergency departments are full.”

Overcrowding has led to kids being cared for in hallways at McMaster Children’s Hospital this month.