Virus, intense cold snap and major closure to start the year

The flu season hits hard at the CHRDL as a visit ban is put in place. The management had no other choice because of the strong flu (influenza) activity and the heavy traffic in the emergency room. The ban affects emergency rooms and all short- and long-term physical and psychiatric care units. The emergency room occupancy rate exceeds 200%.

A wave of intense cold hit the region and complicates the task of certain organizations which are overwhelmed. This is the case of the Lanaudière Emergency Accommodation Centre, which saw its traffic increase radically during this period, even forcing the establishment to refuse people seeking its help.

The Target banner has announced that it is withdrawing from the Canadian market. At the time of the announcement, Target Canada had 133 stores across the country and approximately 17,600 employees. In total, close to 150 jobs will be lost as a result of this announcement in the Joliette region.

The Lanaudière Health and Social Services Agency announces that a person would be under close medical surveillance after presenting symptoms that could lead to believe that they have contracted the Ebola virus. The person was returning from a trip to one of the countries affected by the disease. Remember that in 2014, the virus killed more than 7,000 people in around twenty countries on the African continent. The case will turn out to be negative.

The first part of the flu vaccination campaign in Quebec would have been completely useless. For a significant part of the winter, his efficiency rate would have been 0%. The National Institute of Public Health is said to have confirmed that for the first part of the epidemic, the vaccine would not have offered any protection.

Joliette city councilor Danielle Landreville announces that she is entering the race to represent the county of Joliette in the next federal election. She opposes outgoing MP Francine Raynault, to whom she will dispute the nomination of the NDP.

Eight cases of measles have been reported to the Public Health Department of the Lanaudière Health and Social Services Agency since the beginning of 2015. These are the first cases of an epidemic that will hit the sector of Crabtree.

The MP for Joliette, Véronique Hivon, announces that she will support the candidate Alexandre Cloutier during the race for the leadership of the Parti Québécois. During a press briefing, the MNA for Joliette maintains that Mr. Cloutier represents exactly the kind of attitude that the PQ must adopt.

Lanaudière actress Anne Pauzé, the interpreter of Mathilde in Les Belles Histoires de Pays d’en Haut and Denise Jarry in the Rue des Pignons series, died on February 10 at the age of 72.

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