Once a COVID-19 hot spot, Lakeshore General now has zero cases
Despite an uptick in COVID-19 cases in Montreal, the Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe-claire reported zero cases again Tuesday.
It’s encouraging news for the hospital, which was hit with multiple outbreaks in the spring as the number of confirmed cases climbed above 70.
Even the emergency-room staff became infected at one point.
The West Island hospital has not recorded a confirmed case for about 10 days, according to the CIUSSS de l’ouest-de-l’île-demontréal.
The hospital implemented a series of measures to contain the spread of the virus, including the reconfiguration of patient rooms and the installation of Plexiglas dividers to protect both patients and staff.
A spokesperson for the West Island health network said the hospital is now preparing for a possible second wave of infections in the fall.
“The Lakeshore hospital has been doing a lot of work ahead of time, but yet again, there are a lot of unknowns,” said spokesperson Jason Patuano.
“We can ready all we want, but we will have to be nimble if there is a second wave — to adapt ourselves to that reality, and deploy all the resources to the right places.”
On Monday, the West Island health network announced a new testing clinic in Verdun for individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 who have “gone to or worked in a bar since July 1.”
The clinic, located at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, has a capacity of 140 tests per day. Testing is free of charge.
Results will be available within three to five days, and communicated by email if the result is negative. Positive results will be given over the phone.
“This new clinic will enable the CIUSSS to continue with its efforts by making testing more accessible to people closer to home,” Lynne Mcvey, president and CEO of the CIUSSS de l’ouest-de-l’île-demontréal, said in a statement.
A testing centre in Beaconsfield (137 Elm Ave.) that was previously an appointment-only clinic has been converted into a walk-in clinic with a capacity of 500 tests per day.
Two other walk-in clinics go into operation this week. One is located at the Gerry Robertson Community Centre, 9665 Gouin Blvd. W. in Pierrefonds-roxboro. It is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Aug. 27.
Another clinic opened in Lachine, at the Centre communautaire Albert-gariépy, 800 Sherbrooke St. It is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Aug. 25.
As of Tuesday, Lachine had the most confirmed cases in the West Island, with 644, followed by Pierrefonds-roxboro (553) and Dollard-des-ormeaux (426).