The virus is still attacking | Info from the North Sainte-Agathe

With the current situation, the lack of access to rapid tests as well as limited screening, the Laurentians’ public health says it is difficult to paint a fair picture of the epidemiological situation. (Photo from Unsplash)

–

The picture is not very encouraging in the region, even if the vaccination would often avoid complications. “I will not hide from you that the situation of the number of cases is very worrying in our region and very demanding for our care teams,” admitted Rosemonde Landry, President and Executive Director of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center of the Laurentians ( CISSSLAU).

She says there are 219 regular hospitalizations in the region and 18 patients in intensive care. “No hospital is currently spared. We have about 700 employees absent in connection with COVID. The care teams are making great efforts to manage to treat all the patients, ”she says.

Outbreaks

For his part, Jean-Philippe Cotton, Deputy Chairman and CEO of the CISSSLAU, talks about outbreaks in living environments for seniors. There are 55 outbreaks of which 19 to more than 25% of people are infected. Over 573 residents who test positive for COVID. “The majority are from smaller resources where there are less than 10 residents. We notice, however, in settings such as RPAs and CHSLDs that the majority of people who have three doses have less severe symptoms than in the first waves ”.

The latter wanted to come back to transfers to CHSLDs. “I reassure everyone to avoid false perceptions. There is no transfer of positive cases to CHSLDs in double rooms. Before being transferred to their living environment in a CHSLD, if they go through the hospital, they must first test negative. These transfers are for people who have finished their acute care at the hospital and who no longer need the technical support of the hospital ”.

In hospitals, there are about twenty outbreaks which generate about a hundred positive cases, both in staff and in patients.

In addition, all hospitals in the region must move to stage 4 of load shedding and prioritize urgent surgeries. “Concretely, it’s a reduction in all non-urgent activities. […] Depending on the hospital sites, the activities of the operating theaters will be reduced by 30 to 50%, ”says Sylvain Pomerleau, Deputy Director General of the General and Specialized Physical Health Program, Education and Research.

For the moment, there are no plans to close any emergency units in our establishments.

“Very small the flaws” to infiltrate

It is known and experts still agree that the Omicron variant is “extremely contagious”, as Pomerleau puts it. With the current situation, the lack of access to rapid tests as well as to limited screening, the Public Health of the Laurentians maintains that it is difficult to paint a fair picture of the epidemiological situation. “We have certainly seen an exponential increase since mid-December. The figures we have from January 2 to 8 were over 5500 cases compiled by our management, while at the same period last year, we were around 1000 cases per week, supports Dr Éric Goyer, director of public health in the Laurentians. Our concern is to see if the virus has peaked or is continuing to increase. “

As of December 4, the end of Wave 4, there were 21 deaths in the region affecting people aged 27 to 98 mostly struggling with underlying factors. “Since the start of the 5th wave, officially since December 5, we are already talking about 6 declared deaths in people aged 73 to 93 years. Among them, all had pre-existing medical conditions and one person was not adequately vaccinated, ”adds Dr. Goyer.

Public health therefore aims to support vaccination efforts. Staff has also been relieved at this level. It also focuses on supporting growing living environments. In closing, the CISSSLAU reports that 1,114,000 doses of vaccine have been administered to date in the region.

-In addition, the CISSSLAU announces that as of January 11, 2022, people without a family doctor who need minor health care will have access to two clinics in the territory. These clinics, designated for clients without a family doctor, are accessible by appointment only in Boisbriand and Saint-Jérôme. For full details, visit the website www.santelaurentides.gouv.qc.ca/soins-et-services/cliniques-designees-pour-la-clientele-sans-medecin-de-famille/. To make an appointment, dial 1 888 222-5075, option 1.

People who do not have a family doctor are invited to apply for registration directly on the website of the Access to a family doctor (GAMF) at www.quebec.ca/sante/trouver-une-ressource.

Post Views:
0

See more of: News