The Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Montérégie-Centre announces that wearing a mask will be mandatory in several health settings. This measure is for the moment preventive.
Health professionals want to be reassuring. Despite the new requirement to wear a mask in several health infrastructures in Montérégie, the risk of exaggerated spread of the coronavirus is low. “We see that the average number of coronavirus reports in Montérégie is slightly higher than the Quebec average,” announces Chantal Boucher, Director of Nursing at the CISSS de Montérégie-Centre. As a result, we are applying a preventive measure of wearing a mask in certain settings.”
Therefore, all people attending the Charles-Le Moyne and Haut-Richelieu hospitals, screening and vaccination clinics, hemodialysis centres as well as the Centre Saint-Lambert and the Sainte-Croix intensive functional rehabilitation unit must equip themselves when entering. “We want to maintain access to our services,” continues Chantal Boucher. “It has become a habit since last year, we required masks to be worn in October. We have just moved the date forward by a few weeks this time.”
In CHSLDs, masks are mandatory for staff and recommended for visitors. In CLSCs, they are recommended for their users.
Hygiene to be preserved
Coronavirus is now part of the infection landscape. “Just like the flu or influenza,” says Chantal Boucher. “For the rest, we will not require exceptional distancing measures. On the other hand, hand washing is always recommended, regardless of the conditions.”
