The Montreal Heart Institute (ICM) is in turn facing an outbreak. Nine employees were placed in isolation and two units were temporarily barred from access to limit any form of transmission within the establishment. Three patients were also transferred to another location.
Posted on December 19, 2020 at 7:39 p.m.
Updated at 19:48
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“We are in the process of cooling our units so that we can eventually reintegrate patients. We would like to point out that the situation remains under control ”, indicates the spokesperson for the Institute, Marie-Claude Pageau. She ensures that health measures are always applied very strictly, including the wearing of masks, eye protection, social distancing and hand washing for all staff. Dedicated teams also monitor the application of these measures at the main entrance.
This is the first outbreak to occur since the start of the pandemic in this hospital center specializing in the prevention of heart disease. So far, no outbreak has occurred since March. “We were really good and really proud”, adds Mme Pageau, who adds that the progression of community transmission has made daily life more “difficult” to manage.
Despite everything, the spread has been contained and there have been no new cases since the arrival of this outbreak. The first infections were detected in the middle of the week, around December 15. In the two units that have been temporarily closed, visitors will be prohibited until further notice. On the other floors, only one caregiver per patient can enter the establishment.
We can say that the worst is behind us. We did what was necessary to regain control of this situation.
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Marie-Claude Pageau, spokesperson for the ICM
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As the protocol indicates, an epidemiological investigation was also launched by the public health authorities, in order to trace the possible “contact cases” which may have interacted with the infected people. There are more than 2,000 employees in this establishment, including doctors, attendants and researchers. Research is currently underway in the use of colchicine.
The Bonsecours Residence on alert
Further west, in the Westmount sector, Résidence Bonsecours, which welcomes nuns in particular, is also deploring a major outbreak of COVID-19. Press was able to confirm that some 59 users contracted the disease, and were placed in a “separate wing” to limit transmission with other patients.
Regarding staff, 32 employees had also received a positive diagnosis as of Saturday evening. They were placed in isolation, ensures the management of the establishment, who also affirms that “tests are done every day” on the staff and residents.
Health Minister Christian Dubé expressed concern on Friday that the capacity would be exceeded in several hospitals if the situation continued to deteriorate. Ten establishments are currently in a “critical” situation in Quebec.
We have a capacity of 2,164 beds for COVID patients, which includes intensive care beds. If we continue like this, we will exceed our capacity.
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Christian Dubé, Minister of Health
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The elected Caquista also added that several regions had to “increase the load shedding” in the last days to treat patients. “All industries can be affected, for example, surgeries, outpatient clinics, primary care. We are there, ”he said.
The 10 hospitals cited by the Minister are the Chicoutimi Hospital (Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean), the CHUQ (Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus) (Capitale-Nationale), the Trois-Rivières Hospital (Mauricie – Center-du-Québec), Pierre-Boucher Hospital (Montérégie Est), Anna-Laberge Hospital (Montérégie Ouest), Lakeshore Hospital (CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal ), the Verdun Hospital (CIUSSS du Center-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal), the Hull Hospital (Outaouais), the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology of Quebec (IUCPQ) (Capital -Nationale) and the CHUS (Sherbrooke).
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