For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Centre d’hébergement du comté de Huntingdon (CHCH) is dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19.
According to a report by Viva-Média, the long-term care facility was reporting five positive cases among patients as of Sept. 25. An internal memo sent to employees by Haut-Saint-Laurent intermediary PCI Jardins Roussillon, which was cited in the article, also categorizes the establishment at yellow alert level suggesting fewer than 15% of residents have tested positive for the virus.
Viva-Média reports the outbreak seems to be limited to the 2nd floor. The memo goes on to remind employees to monitor the appearance of symptoms at least once per day among residents and staff in order to respond quickly and apply any necessary measures to contain the virus’ spread. The memo also indicates that all residents on the 2nd floor unit will be tested.
The CISSSMO has filed a request with the Health Ministry to restrict the movement of personnel, as several work at both the CHSLD in Huntingdon and in Ormstown.
As of Sept. 25, the CHCH was still not listed among the CHSLDs reporting positive cases of COVID-19 published by the provincial government.
Haut-Saint-Laurent an island of yellow
The vast majority of the Montérégie region is now classified at the orange, or alert, level. On Friday, the Haut-Saint-Laurent appeared as a very lonely yellow zone still classified at the early warning level. According to statistics published by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, the Haut-Saint-Laurent has seen its cumulative number of cases rise to 118 in recent days. There are currently 8 active cases in the local health network (LHN). The Suroît LHN now stands at 706 total cases, while the region is reporting only 10 active cases at this time. The Vaudreuil-Soulanges LHN has a cumulative total of 899 cases, and 15 active cases. The Jardins-Roussillon LHN reports a total number of 1,561 cases, with 100 of those remaining active. The total number of cases in Quebec rose by 896 in the last 24 hours, with 83 of these in the Montérégie region.
28-day challenge
This past week, Health Minister Christian Dubé challenged Quebecers to limit their social gatherings for a period of 28 days. “It is for a month – this is not permanent,” he said. “We are asking you for a month of effort to break the second wave.”
