HEALTH. The progress of COVID-19 in Chaudière-Appalaches is slowing down. Since the beginning of June, fewer than one new case have been reported per day. These encouraging figures allow the Chaudière-Appalaches Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS-CA) to focus on the arrival of a possible second wave.
“We learned to prepare, to have a good monitoring system, to make links with partners and to react quickly when there is a case that arises,” analyzed the director of public health at La Chaudière. -Appalaches, Dr. Liliana Romero.
In addition, the CISSS-CA is also working to strengthen the health system of long-term care accommodation centers (CHSLDs) by establishing, among other things, dedicated teams. “This will make it easier to take charge of the situation, if a second wave occurs.” It should be remembered that CHSLDs were severely tested during the crisis, when several outbreaks were recorded there, throughout Quebec.
Few deaths: what made the difference
Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Chaudière-Appalaches, only eight deaths have been reported. In the Capitale-Nationale, the situation is very different, 171 people lost their lives. Even though the two regions are closely linked, the way the virus has spread among people has made all the difference, says Dr. Romero.
“At the start of the pandemic, they had a very similar epidemiological profile. Then, we noted a lot of outbreaks in the shelters of the Capitale-Nationale, which was not our case. Our centers have been spared from the outbreaks. That is what made all the difference because the death rate is very high among people aged 70 and over. […] The spread in very fragile environments has been decisive in the rates of transmission and death in the two regions. ”
Remember that seven of the eight deaths in Chaudière-Appalaches occurred in a private seniors’ residence and one in a hospital. Two outbreaks have been reported in the region, at Lévis, at Manoir Liverpool and at Manoir de l’Arbre Argentée.
Act quickly
Dr. Romero believes that two reasons explain why the region has successfully contained the epidemic in the territory. “We have reacted very quickly since the start of the pandemic. As soon as we detected a case, we screened and isolated everyone [de l’entourage].»
In addition, she noted, the citizens of the region respected the instructions issued by the National Directorate of Public Health: hand washing, physical distancing, wearing a mask, limited travel, etc.
However, the battle against the disease is not over, she recalls. Compliance with the guidelines and new social rules will help contain the disease, but also prevent the arrival of the second wave.
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