Hospitals across the province are being asked to accept children 14 and older who need intensive care.

The plea comes from the head of Ontario’s critical care COVID-19 command centre.

Dr. Andrew Baker says in a memo to hospital CEOs the aim is to relieve pressure on pediatric hospitals and that surgeries may also have to be cancelled as a result.

Hospitals are also being asked to maximize ICU capacity to take the burdens off emergency departments.

Baker adds the moves need to be made to deal with current and future surges at pediatric hospitals.

Currently, 107 children are in critical care across the province – four with COVID.