As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the call for screening launched last week by regional public health seems to have been heard.
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The employees of the various screening clinics in the region have been busy for several days.
“The traffic is fairly sustained in all of our designated screening clinics in the region,” said the communications manager of the CIUSSS Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Pierre-Alexandre Maltais.
The region has grown from nearly 600 to around 800 tests being performed daily.
“Public health requires the collaboration of people. If you suspect that you have been in contact with a positive person, you do not necessarily have to wait for the public health indication to get tested. We tell people, be proactive, get tested. It will be beneficial for everyone, ”said Mr. Maltais.
Unlike the situation experienced in other regions of Quebec, the delays are rather short to get tested. According to the latest verifications carried out by VAT News, it was possible to have an appointment the same day.
On the ground, public health also notes that epidemiological investigations are much longer and more complicated than last year when people had to limit their contacts. This year, we are talking about dozens and dozens of possible contacts.
“It is certain that the investigations are longer, are more fleshed out”, explained the person in charge of communications.
The teams therefore have their work cut out for them in recent days. Six people have been added to help existing employees and allow people to be contacted more quickly if they are in contact with a positive person.
One more death
According to the latest report, 83 new cases and one additional death have been added in the region since Friday.
The impacts are also being felt in hospitals. Seven people are hospitalized when there was only one last week. An individual is in intensive care.