Eastern Townships health authority makes masks mandatory for staff, visitors in medical institutions again

Thehealth authorityinQuebec's Eastern Townships has once again mandated the wearing of medical masks due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the region. The rule applies to staff and visitors in hospitals, CLSCs and long-term care homes.

According to a release Thursday, the CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUSsaid more than a 100 staff members were absent due to COVID-19 as of Wednesday. A dozen outbreaks are also currently underway in various facilities in the region, including in public long-term care homes and hospitals, with the new EG.5,the latest Omicron subvariant in Canada, becoming dominant.

Masks must now be worn at all times by all staff members,whether or not they are in contact with patients, and by visitors and caregivers. Masks are available at the entrance of health establishments.

"It's important to act now because those workers have to offer care and services of high quality and safety for the population," said Julie Gagn, assistantdirector of infection prevention and control at the CIUSSS at a news conference Thursday.

Those who work in administrative facilities without contact with patients and users, or who provide services in home and community settings, are excluded from the measure.

Patients do not have to wear masks, as the measure is meant to protect staff and prevent a shortage of workers, said the CIUSSS.

It added that the upcoming respiratory virus season, the vulnerability of its clientele and worker absenteeism due to illness also prompted this decision.

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An internal memo sent by the CIUSSSto all staff states that the directive could extend until at least Sept. 25.

"We got used to not having to wear masks anymore which made it easier to communicate with some of our patients, especially older patients, but we also want to protect them by bringing COVID cases down," said health-care worker Audre Saint-Louis.

Similar measures were taken earlier this month at the McGill University Health Centreand the Ottawa Hospital.

The Eastern Townships' public health director Isabelle Samson said COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in the area for a month, and there have been some COVID-related deaths.Though there are no official community guidelines, she recommends people keep a "social conscience" and avoid getting others sick. She also recommended people get their booster shots in October, when the updated vaccine will be available.

"Whether it's COVID or other viruses, we want to protect the people around us, we don't want to get them sick, so we keep our distance, wear masks and wash our hands," she said.

"You never know when you're around someone who could be vulnerable."

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dub told journalists at the National Assembly Thursday that people must "always" be careful as cases tick back up.

He said Quebec's public health director, Dr.Luc Boileau, will be making an announcement on the availability of vaccines in the next two weeks. New vaccines were approved by Health Canada and the provincial government has already announced service points.

Masking policies will be up to individual establishments, Dub said, as the presence of viruses varies from region to region.

"But it's best to wear a mask," he said.

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