The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Quebec’s premier appeals for help
Legault admits situation is much worse than anticipated
MONTREAL — On the same day Quebec registered its largest one-day increase in COVID-19 deaths, Premier François Legault has issued a desperate appeal for help to experienced health care workers to come to the rescue of Quebec’s beleaguered longterm care centres (CHSLD).
And in another attempt to boost care, Quebec is now willing to allow “identified caregivers” to come to the aid of residents under strict conditions. Such persons, often family members, were barred a month ago with often disastrous effects.
With the COVID-19 crisis into its fifth week, Legault made the appeal while admitting for the first time that the situation in the CHSLD network is much worse than the government anticipated.
“I understand things are difficult in the CHSLD network,” Legault said at his daily briefing Tuesday. “Perhaps we didn’t expect so many people would get infected.
“It is a virus that hits very hard. Plus we saw in certain cases that the personnel who had no symptoms probably infected some residents. People must understand today that we will, unfortunately, not be able to save everyone.”
“What’s happening right now is a human tragedy,” added Health Minister Danielle Mccann. “It’s very difficult for the families and it’s very difficult for the staff. We’re losing some people who are very dear to us and we won’t stop at anything to really, really protect them.”
The sombre mood was amplified by the latest death toll. Legault revealed the province has registered 75 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the largest one-day increase since the crisis started.
The new total is 435 dead plus 14,248 confirmed cases, which is an increase of 69. With the long incubation period, the virus is expected to hit its peak April 18 in Quebec.
The CHSLD network, which includes the scene of such disasters as the Résidence Herron, remains the virus epicentre with half of the province’s deaths taking place there.
Under pressure from the media and opposition politicians to be more transparent, Legault revealed that out of 2,600 public and private residences, 41 have been tagged COVID-19 hotspots (“more critical”).
On Tuesday Legault also pledged to issue an updated list of centres and their status on a daily basis.
Legault backed his plea for workers with fresh data.
Already chronically understaffed, the CLSHD network currently is short about 1,250 workers, either because they are off sick or are absent because they fear COVID-19.
Legault’s shopping list of replacement workers includes medical specialists and dentists plus medical and nursing teachers. Retirees as well. Legault said he is in talks to see whether Canadian Armed Forces Medical Corps can spare some doctors and nurses.
“We are deploying more professionals from the hospitals to the residences but we’re still lacking staff,” Legault said. “I am asking everybody available, every health worker to come forward and help us.
“I appeal to your sense of duty to help us protect the most vulnerable. We need you. We will also allow experienced caregivers to help loved ones.”
To boost the ranks further, Legault said Quebec has revisited its policy when it comes to caregivers. The government kicked them out of seniors’ residences at the beginning of the crisis in a bid to prevent outside infection.
Short of personnel, Quebec believes it is now possible to re-admit such persons who are sometimes family members of residents or persons hired by residents to help them given the workload of regular residence staff.
Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec’s director of public health, outlined the conditions. The person must be someone already identified by an establishment as a caregiver and who regularly helped a resident in the past with such tasks as eating, or hygiene.
Arruda estimated about 10 per cent of CHSLD residents made use of such a person.
Both parties, the caregiver and resident, will have to sign a consent form saying they understand the risk such interaction poses.
The caregiver must have tested negative for COVID19, maintain social distancing and wear the proper equipment.
The new rules will kick in Thursday morning but Arruda pleaded with people not in the category not to put pressure on institutions to admit them.
Arruda did have one tidbit of good news. After many weeks of efforts, Quebec has managed to flatten the COVID-19 curve without overwhelming the hospitals.
“The curve has been flattened and it’s thanks to the work you did with us,” Arruda said. “We wanted to save lives and I am convinced we saved many.”