Because COVID-19 is very present within their walls and many of their employees are themselves affected, three hospitals in eastern Montreal, Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Santa Cabrini and the University Institute of Mental Health, now require all visitors to their care units to wear an N95 mask. In these establishments, only one visitor per patient is now authorized.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“The care unit will have to give an N95 1870+ mask to the person considered to be the visitor and teach him how to use it, can we read in a memo dated July 18. The N95 mask must be worn at all times covering the nose and mouth. »
In addition, these hospitals are invited to “encourage the visitor to cut his beard” if necessary.
For end-of-life patients, up to four people in 24 hours are accepted.
Christian Merciari, media relations advisor for the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, indicates that these decisions were made due to “a sharp increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in our facilities”.
If he did not have precise figures at hand to send us, Christian Merciari indicates that this increase “is observed as much among health workers as among users”.
In the care units, throughout the shift, the N95 mask is also mandatory for employees, at all times.
“This applies to all healthcare workers, doctors [et] other professionals working in a care unit. »
For the other sectors – the outpatient clinics, in particular – it is the wearing of the intervention mask (surgical mask) which is imposed.
Immunologist André Veillette, from the Montreal Clinical Research Institute, welcomes the decision of these hospitals in eastern Montreal.
It’s a good idea. Surgical masks [qu’on utilise habituellement] are significantly less effective. N95 masks (or masks of this type) should be the standard when talking about masks.
André Veillette, immunologist affiliated with the Montreal Clinical Research Institute
” [Les N95] are effective, comfortable and increasingly available, in addition to not being too expensive”, maintains the immunologist.
Since May 2022, wearing a mask is no longer mandatory in public places in Quebec, except in health establishments. But in the vast majority of hospitals, it is still the simple intervention mask that is mandatory.
At a press conference on Thursday, both Public Health and Prime Minister François Legault have ruled out for the moment imposing the wearing of masks in Quebec in public places. The Dr Luc Boileau, national director of public health, recommends it all the same during large gatherings, including outside such as during festivals.
Decisions made locally
The instructions that differ from one hospital to another show that the local health authorities make their own decisions without public health or the government dictating the rules to be followed to the letter.
At this time last year, when COVID-19 was largely giving Quebecers a break, the rules were already diverging from one hospital to another.
The CHUM had all the same ended up being called to order by the Ministry of Health and Social Services because its emergencies were not accessible to caregivers and proof of double vaccination was required from visitors.
In this month of July, at the CHUM, the number of visitors is limited to two per 24-hour period in the care units (with specific rules in the departments where there are immunocompromised patients). The MUHC allows up to two “caregivers/visitors” at a time.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has indeed issued “instructions for visitors to hospitals in the context of COVID-19”, but they appear more as statements of principle than as guidelines.
The presence of loved ones is valued. Accompaniment during an episode of care contributes positively to the person’s recovery.
Extract from the instructions for visitors of the Ministry of Health and Social Services
“Anyone can visit the person hospitalized (or under observation) more than once during the same day. They can determine the time and duration of the visit themselves, whether the emergency room or the care unit is in outbreak or not, ”we can also read.
“The facility’s general visiting guidelines should be followed at all times and more restrictive guidelines may be in place to ensure the protection of more vulnerable patients (eg, immunosuppressed patients). »