Over the past few days, the Emergency Departments of Sept-Îles and Baie-Comeau have been very busy. Our health system is under pressure, while several respiratory viruses are raging.
The director of public health for the Côte-Nord, Dr. Richard Fachehoun notes that the occupancy rate of beds in the Emergency Department has exceeded 200% for several days, without taking into account hospitalizations due to respiratory viruses.
According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, the occupancy rate was 190% in Sept-Îles and 210% at the Royer hospital in Baie-Comeau this Wednesday followingnoon. It has exceeded 250% in the past few days.
The early flu season accompanied by Influenza and RSV complicates matters. “All of these viruses are actively circulating in the population,” says Dr.
The public must cooperate.
Dr. Fachehoun recalls that only the action trio can help: “get vaccinated, wear a mask in busy places and stay at home in case of symptoms”.
One month before Christmas, the regional director of public health does not however say he is worried regarding the holding of the end-of-year celebrations, if everyone pays attention.
He is also appealing to traders to ask them to resume the habit of disinfection as well as to make masks available at the entrance to buildings.
