Systematic testing starts for nursing home workers
Quebec’s largest union representing health care workers says it welcomes the government’s move to start systematic screening of employees for COVID-19 in nursing homes this week.
The Quebec Health Department launched widespread testing for the 48,000 staff of private and public residences, known as Centres d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée (CHSLDS), on Thursday, according to a letter the department sent to the directors of health care establishments in the province.
The systematic screening will be phased in over the next month for different types of health care establishments that work with a vulnerable clientele, it says.
The Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS-CSN), which has 110,000 members, including 9,000 in the public health care network, said it has repeatedly asked the government to test all workers in recent weeks.
“It was time for a concrete plan to systematically screen in CHSLDS,” Jeff Begley, president of the FSSS -CSN, said in a statement on Thursday.
“(Quebec Premier François Legault) has been talking about it for several days. However, it wasn’t being done everywhere. This screening will help curb outbreaks in CHSLDS. It will also demonstrate that the increase in the level of protection and the tightening of procedures that we have been asking for in the past several weeks are necessary to better protect health care personnel.”
Systematic screening will show the COVID-19 infection rate among workers in the establishments.
The health department’s letter, which was sent to directors of health care establishments on Wednesday, says 4,000 employees will be screened daily in CHSLDS until May 29. This first phase also includes some specialized establishments, including the Philippe-pinel psychiatric institute and “certain” rehabilitation centres.
“All workers are affected, regardless of their job title,” the letter says.
In June, a second phase will see COVID-19 screening among employees in private residences known as “ressources intermédiaires,” which operate under contract with the province and provide support for seniors with diminished autonomy.
The letter says a third phase of screening is planned. However, it doesn’t say what type of establishments are to be included.
It’s up to each establishment to organize screening alongside testing for residents, either using existing personnel or by hiring staff to take samples from workers, the letter says.
A government ministerial order authorizes them to hire health care professionals for COVID -19 testing.
Contact tracing will be carried out for workers who test positive, the letter says. It adds that tests will be “considered” for their close contacts.