Emergency departments in several hospitals are overwhelmed and patients have to wait on stretchers for at least 48 hours.
• Read also: The latest developments on the coronavirus
In the Montreal region, the Center hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont and Hôpital Santa Cabrini all posted an occupancy rate of over 130% at the start of the evening.
On the Capitale-Nationale side, the Saint-François d’Assise Hospital slightly exceeded its maximum capacity while the Child Jesus was very close to reaching it.
In Montérégie, the Suroît Hospital in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, the Anna-Laberge Hospital Center in Châteauguay and the Honoré-Mercier Hospital were the three establishments where the situation is most critical.
Moreover, in view of the situation and in order to avoid outbreaks of COVID-19, the Suroît Hospital and the Anna-Laberge Hospital Center suspended visits on Saturday.
Nearly 500 cases of the coronavirus per day have been recorded in the last week, according to the CIUSSS de la Montérégie-Ouest.
“Since the last week, there has been a very strong community transmission throughout Montérégie, so the objective, by prohibiting visits, is to ensure that we protect our vulnerable clients inside the hospital and prevent outbreaks also to prevent there from being additional pressure on our employees, ”explained Jade St-Jean, spokesperson for the CIUSSS de la Montérégie-Ouest.
The president of the Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ), Nancy Bédard, expressed concern about the situation.
“We are really at a crossroads in the ability to continue to provide care, but the most essential care,” said Nancy Bédard.
She added that health workers are working hard to provide patient care.
“Right now, it’s more than under pressure. The healthcare professionals really hold the network at arm’s length, they do what they can, but currently, the situation is major, ”said Mr.me Bedard.
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