Canadian Armed Forces say seniors homes continue to struggle with reducing COVID-19 in Quebec

Summary

36 members of the Canadian Forces have come down with COVID-19 while working at long term care homes

MONTREAL (CityNews) – The military’s report into its mission inside Quebec’s long-term care homes reveals many facilities in the network continue to struggle to bring down the number of COVID-19 infections.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces noted that upon arrival they found a widespread lack of personnel and high absenteeism, which they said negatively affected patient hygiene.

Other issues they found included problems with distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), disappearing medical supplies and residents circulating within facilities without masks or gloves.

Just over a month ago, Premier Legault took ‘full responsibility’ for shortages in struggling care homes, as the deaths in care homes jumped to alarming numbers.

But the report released Wednesday is less critical than one released the day before on the military’s mission inside five Ontario long-term care homes, which detailed allegations of insect infestations, aggressive feeding of residents, bleeding infections and residents crying for help for hours

In most cases, the military found the situation in Quebec’s long-term care homes had improved in recent weeks and employees were gradually returning to work

The report comes as Quebec recorded 89 additional deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total to 4,228, and 541 new cases of the disease, for a total of 49,139 cases.

-with files from The Canadian Press