COVID-19 outbreak in Laval seniors home grows, claims 10 lives

A long-term care home in Laval that was largely spared during the first wave of COVID-19 is now dealing with a growing outbreak that has now claimed the lives of 10 people, according to a spokesperson with the regional health board.

More than 70residents and staff at CHSLDIdola-Saint-Jean have tested positive for the virus.

"Everyone is hard at work to stop the outbreak. Having resources and infected residents concentrated in the same areas (on two floors)will certainly help reduce the spread," saidJudith Goudreau, a spokesperson for the CISSSde Laval.

"We sincerely hope so."

On Friday, Katie Chamberland-Langloisof the patient attendants' union told CBC that things atIdola-Saint-Jean are approaching the point of being out of control.

The centre has announced that no visits will be allowed until Jan. 23, with the exception of those visiting a dying loved one.

Bill Timotheatos's mother is one of the threepeople who have died atIdola-Saint-Jean of COVID-19.

His mother, Ourania, had Alzheimer's disease and dementia and had been living in the CHSLD for about a year.

In early January,Timotheatosgot a phone call informing him that cases of COVID-19 had been reported on her floor.

"It was devastating to hear that and there's nothing we can do, we can't go there," he told CBC.

She tested positive on Jan. 4and died three days later.

Timotheatos said it was especially hard that he wasn't able to see his mother after she died, or lay a funeral shroud over her before burial.

"Thefuneral process was just as devastating. They wouldn't let me see her, just to verify that it's my mom and not somebody else."

The family, which isGreek Orthodox, was also disappointed they couldn'thold a proper funeral.

"There's no church, just straight to the cemetery, 10 people and that's it," he said.

WATCH| A Laval man is devastated after his mother dies of COVID-19 in long-term care:

Laval man 'devastated' after losing mother to COVID-19

4 years ago

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Bill Timotheatos said it was upsetting not to be able to carry out their Greek Orthodox funeral traditions due to the pandemic.

According to Laval public health, the vaccination campaign for residents in long-term care homesis progressing.

Thenumbers as of Friday night showed 4,500 health workers, 100 patient attendants and 1,100 CHSLD residentsvaccinated so far.

Unfortunately for Timotheatos's mother, she had not been given her first dose before contracting the virus.