After Analyzing Rate of Infections Quebec Announces Systematic Testing for All Staff and Residents in CHSLDs
Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann told reporters, the government wants, “to protect those who built the Quebec we have today.”
Quebec Premier François Legault announced during Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing that all the employees and residents in the province’s long-term care residences (CHSLDs) will “systematically” be tested for COVID-19.
According to Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec director of National Public Health, the decision to increase the testing was made after “analyzing the rate of contamination.”
Healthcare centres across the province submit daily coronavirus reports, which include the number of infected personnel, to Public Health. The agency then interprets the information and adjusts or modifies policy and procedures accordingly.
Other measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus will involve redeploying 450 doctors, including family doctors and nurses from the nonactive units in hospitals, to CHSLDs, which are COVID-19 hot-spots.
Nearly 90 per cent of Quebec’s coronavirus victims being over the age of 70, and the majority living in residences, Health Minister Danielle McCann told reporters, the government wants, “to protect those who built the Quebec we have today.”
The extra personnel will allow for teams to work exclusively in one unit or establishment, lessening the opportunity for cross-contamination between health-care workers.