COVID-19. While the trend is relatively stable or slightly downward in the majority of municipalities in the Mauricie and Center-du-Québec territories in connection with COVID-19, the Drummond MRC is “particularly” concerned about regional public health. Community transmission is intensifying and the virus is circulating in homes, in particular.
“The Drummond RCM is of particular concern to us when the dynamics of contamination seem to be different from other territories [des régions de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec], with greater community transmission. This results in various outbreaks (large and small) and circulation in homes, ”said Dr. Marie-Josée Godi, regional director of public health, in a press conference held virtually Tuesday.
The daily average has been 48 positive cases of COVID-19 in the past seven days. By way of comparison, it was located at 30 during the seven days leading up to Christmas Eve.
Besides at home, the other “probable places of acquisition of the virus” are the care and living environments as well as businesses and businesses, according to Dr. Godi. The same is true in the other municipalities of Mauricie and Center-du-Québec.
On a larger scale, in the Central region, the positivity rate of screening tests (number of cases declared positive versus number of tests carried out) has skyrocketed to around 7%. This means that out of the 925 screenings carried out on average per day, 65 people are declared positive. For the entire territory, it stands at nearly 9%, whereas it was at 3% last October.
“It’s very high,” said the regional director of public health. The situation is very critical. Compliance with the measures is very essential and I encourage the population to continue the efforts, I would even say the sacrifices requested by the government in order to make a difference ”.
She went on to recall the importance of getting tested as soon as a symptom appears.
“And as soon as there is a case at home, you have to make sure you isolate the person concerned. All instructions in this regard are available on the website. It’s difficult, but it’s possible! ” she said, convinced.
Note that the health authorities have noticed in recent weeks an increase in attendance at designated screening clinics in Center-du-Québec.
“We are seeing an increase so that we exceed our screening capacity several days a week,” said Nathalie Boisvert, deputy president and director general (CEO) responsible for Center-du-Québec at the CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du. -Centre-du-Quebec.
In addition, Dr. Godi mentioned that outbreaks have declined across the country, from 106 before the holidays to 78.
“This drop is attributable to the end of outbreaks in several schools. We are also seeing a decrease in outbreaks in private seniors’ residences ”.
Remember that in Drummond, the Sainte-Croix hospital, the Frederick-George-Heriot accommodation center, Les Terrasses de la Fonderie and the St-Joseph accommodation center are in bloom.
Finally, if the number of hospitalizations tends to stabilize since the last week in the territory, the pressure is still present.
“We are observing an additional burden on the side of the COVID unit in Drummondville, where the occupancy rate has been over 75% since the beginning of December,” said Dr. Godi.
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