Around twenty outbreaks of different viruses are currently affecting health establishments in Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec. These include outbreaks of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and even gastroenteritis.
Dr Guillaume Langlois, specialist in public health at CIUSSS MCQexplains that the usual measures remain important to respect.
When you are sick, especially serious, when you have a fever and everything, when it could be influenza, you have to stay away from others, stay at home, then obviously avoid crowds.
he says.
Vaccination, hand washing and wearing a mask also remain effective measures.
Private residences for seniors (RPA) are also affected. In the region, one of them had to close its dining room to stem the spread of the virus while another temporarily suspended organized group activities.
The spokesperson for RPA in Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Richard Maziade, explains that managers and staff of residences do not hesitate to reduce gatherings without violating the rights of residents.
I would tell you that with COVID, we learned. The practices are good. Then, older people are also very respectful when they have a virus or when they are not lacking not well we work with them to serve them at the apartment to avoid contaminating others
he mentions.
Busy emergencies
The emergency rooms in Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec are quite busy.
In Drummondville, the stretcher occupancy rate reached 142% Thursday afternoon.
The Trois-Rivières hospital and the Shawinigan hospital were also very busy with stretcher occupancy rates of 131% and 132%.
Barbara Leroux’s report
Photo : iStock / agrobacter
