“Crisis unit” in a private CHSLD in Pierrefonds

The West Island Manor is struggling with a serious outbreak of COVID-19, one of the largest currently in Quebec. In a few days, 64% of the residents of this private CHSLD were infected with the virus.

Emilie Bilodeau
Press

As of Wednesday, 49 residents and 18 employees were diagnosed positive for COVID-19. A resident had also succumbed to the respiratory illness.

The CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île took charge of the residence in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus last Thursday. “A crisis unit has been set up and CIUSSS teams are in place to support CHSLD staff,” confirmed Hélène Bergeron-Gamache, spokesperson for the CIUSSS.

Under a shelter on the side of the residence, employees on break were dismayed at how quickly the virus was spreading among their colleagues and residents. Before this outbreak, the West Island Manor had not documented any cases of COVID-19.

Several decontamination teams were at the scene on Wednesday. Once his white jumpsuit, visor and mask were removed, Fabian Leon went outside the establishment to take a breath of fresh air. The company he works for is responsible for installing air purifiers and sterilizing the residence. “We disinfect everything, the moldings, the places where people often put their hands. We pass with our rags. ”

For her part, a CLSC nurse set foot in this establishment for the first time. “I was sent here to assess the health of each resident. If some are too weak, we will transfer them to the hospital, ”she said before starting her shift.

The nurse had not been made aware of the precise toll of the COVID-19 cases at the West Island Manor. She knew, however, that the number was high. “Sounds like Herron,” she said, concerned. An employee of the West Island Manor then rushed outside the residence to end the interview and to ask Press to leave the CHSLD site.

The co-owner of the West Island Manor redirected our questions to the CIUSSS.

Two hypotheses

According to Guy Trichard, the president of the Regional Union of the FSSS-CSN, which brings together the unions of workers from residential centers in Greater Montreal, the virus has entered the Manoir de l’Ouest de l’Île through a resident who had just been admitted to the CHSLD or by an employee who was infected without knowing it. Neither of the two hypotheses has yet been confirmed by the CIUSSS.

Mr. Trichard himself said he was surprised by the outbreak that is raging in this Pierrefonds residence. According to him, employees have protective equipment at their disposal and visits are not allowed inside the CHSLD.

For him, the situation at the Manoir de l’Ouest de l’Île has nothing to do with that experienced by the Herron residence last spring. The sick employees had deserted the private CHSLD and several residents had been abandoned to their fate. Fifty of them died there. A police investigation is underway.

“Knowing the place [le Manoir de l’Ouest de l’Île], there are no residents who are left on their own in urine, feces, and malnourished. I know the place well enough to know that it provides a very good quality of care, ”said Mr. Trichard.

Worrying situation

Across Quebec, the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing in retirement homes. Yesterday, there were 1,440 active cases in 210 CHSLDs or seniors’ residences.

At the Assumption Center, in Center-du-Québec, almost the entire clientele contracted the virus in the past few days. In total, 35 of 38 residents were diagnosed positive for COVID-19.

In Saguenay, Manoir Champlain has 146 cases of COVID-19, which represents 35% of the clientele. Le Manoir Sully, in the Capitale-Nationale, reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours on Tuesday. Chateau Westmount in Montreal reported 16 new cases yesterday. Five people died there in the last days.

“The second wave had been fairly quiet in the residences until now,” said Guy Trichard, president of the Regional Union of the FSSS-CSN. But the situation is now changing, deteriorating.