The Omicron wave has started to surge in living environments for seniors in Quebec, but it is still a thousand miles from causing the situation experienced in the spring of 2020, assures two owners of residences for the elderly affected by outbreaks.
“It’s completely another game Says Paul Arbec, President and CEO of Groupe Santé Arbec, owner of CHSLD Marguerite-Rocheleau, located in Saint-Hubert in Montérégie. “We’re ready. The health network is ready. The infection prevention and control teams are ready and very present, he emphasizes. We know our opponent much better than two years ago. “
According to the report published on Wednesday by the owners, 64 residents – out of a total of 108 occupied beds – as well as 32 employees of the CHSLD Marguerite-Rocheleau were positive for COVID-19. Two elders also lost their lives.
“Omicron is very contagious, but very weak in symptoms,” notes Paul Arbec. The silver lining is that 85% to 90% of our world is asymptomatic or has very mild symptoms. But the sneaky side is that we have a few people, a slim minority of our triple-vaccinated residents, who have it difficult. “
In addition to the “excellent support” provided by the CISSS de la Montérégie-Center, the CHSLD Marguerite-Rocheleau was lucky in its bad luck, he believes. “We were in the first establishments reached [par le variant Omicron], so there were still agency staff available. “
With the reinforcements, there are currently 15 to 20% more staff than usual on the floors, reports Paul Arbec. “There is no shortage of personnel. “
Among the 16 establishments that are part of the Arbec Health Group, another is affected by COVID-19. According to the report published on Tuesday by the company, eight residents of Maison Wilfrid-Grignon, an intermediate resource (RI) located in Sainte-Adèle in the Laurentians, have been placed in administrative segregation and one resident has COVID-19 . In addition, two agency employees have received a positive diagnosis and two others are in administrative segregation.
The CISSS des Laurentides conducted a screening on Tuesday of all residents and employees of Maison Wilfrid-Grignon.
A “fluid” situation
At Résidence Bellerive, a retirement home (RPA) of Résidences Quatre Saisons located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield in Montérégie, eleven residents have contracted COVID-19, as have five employees and an agency employee, reports Ronald Vinet , owner of the Résidences Quatre Saisons.
A hot zone has been set up, but discussions are already underway to close it. “If we close the hot zone, it is because the residents will have all received two or three negative tests,” he says, adding that the outbreak began three weeks ago.
All residents with COVID-19 had received their three doses of the vaccine. “This wave is certainly less devastating. People who are affected have had very mild symptoms, ”continues Mr. Vinet. “The first wave was much more difficult. It was new to everyone. “
The machine is now much better oiled, he adds. “The big improvement is the desire to screen our employees and residents quickly [par le CSSS du Suroît]. It helped us a lot. “
The situation is currently under control at Résidence Bellerive, he said. But if there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that everything can change quickly, he warns. “It’s a very fluid situation. “
Watchful
This volatility also worries Julie Bouchard, president of the Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ). Since the Omicron surge, government and media attention once again seems to be focused on hospitals.
“We hear very little about CHSLDs, when they should be considered as much as hospitals. They should not be neglected, ”she insists.
The memories of the first wave are still very vivid, says Julie Bouchard. “We should not be based on the fact that the clientele is triply vaccinated and [présumer] that another horror story couldn’t happen. “
To prevent new outbreaks, the FIQ demands in particular that health workers have increased access to N95 masks. “Despite the recommendation to this effect made by the CNESST on December 24, the Ministry of Health has still not ruled on this recommendation,” she laments.
“But the more time flies, the more cases increase, the more hospitalizations increase and the more the network faces a rather incredible wall. “