A children's hospital in Ontario has opened a second intensive care unit to treat what it says is an unprecedented number of infants and young children suffering from serious illnesses.

The Ottawa-based Eastern Ontario Children's Hospital, or CHEO, also stated that the peak of the viral season arrived early, leading to children being hospitalized at "unprecedented" levels in its history.

Also, Dr. Lindy Samson, Chief of Staff at CHEO, said that regional funding made it possible for the hospital to respond to the crisis, as the hospital is seeing more than twice its normal volume of young patients arriving more than usual.

The new intensive care unit consists of five additional beds temporarily repurposed from the hospital’s day surgery unit, with critical care-trained doctors reassigned from other areas to work there.

CHEO also said it is recruiting and reassigning staff for patient-facing roles in emergency, acute, and critical care.