Alma Hospital | “When it happens to one of your relatives, it’s not funny”

(Alma) Adrien Desbiens entered Alma hospital for knee surgery. He came out with COVID-19.

Gabriel Beland
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The 87-year-old planned to stay there. He survived, although one of his lungs is still damaged. His family today is targeting the people of Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean, the region most affected by the coronavirus in Quebec.

“People have to be vigilant. When it happens to a loved one, it’s not funny. It’s important to be careful, “insists her daughter, Lilianne.

The epidemic in the Alma hospital has so far caused 119 cases, including 35 users. This is the largest hospital outbreak of this second wave, confirms the Ministry of Health and Social Services, describing it as “a serious outbreak”.

” I will die ”

Adrien Desbiens knows something about it. Admitted on 5 October for a two-day stay in Alma hospital, he did not return home until three weeks later.

Right before his operation, he needed to be tested for COVID-19. The result was negative. Then five days after his admission, a second test found him positive. His condition worsened, he was transferred to the hot area of ​​the Chicoutimi hospital.

His family could not come to see him. The man, confused, delusional and did not know where he was, explain his relatives.

Mr. Desbiens’ children think more could have been done to protect their father. “He went from room to room, from COVID room to dad’s room. I couldn’t believe it, “says Lilianne Desbiens.

But he hastens to add, as if not to overwhelm the workers. “You can’t blame them. They do what they can with what we give them. There is a lack of staff, he said. The girls came home tired, tired, tired … It’s inhumane. ”

“We are resisting”

Alma hospital is not the only one in the region to worry the authorities. Chicoutimi is the scene of an outbreak that has made 113 cases so far.

These outbreaks in health care facilities in Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean have a significant impact on the workforce. Across the region, 491 health workers are withdrawn because they are infected or for other reasons.

“It’s really worrying,” says Julie Bouchard, president of the Federation of Quebec Health Workers for Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean (FIQ).

For Julie Bouchard, there is no doubt that the equipment to protect personnel was missing. “I have been saying from the beginning of the first wave that the N95 mask is needed. The surgical mask does not provide adequate protection, “he said.

Ask for reinforcements?

M.^myself Bouchard wonders if Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean should not seek help from health workers from other regions. “We cannot strip a region to come and help us. But even if only two or three people come to help, it can help. ”

The regional director of public health assures us that this is not yet necessary. “For now it holds,” loosens the D^r Donald Aubin.

“It’s worrying, all of this. But what worries us a lot is the community. There is a very, very strong acceleration in the community, ”observes D^r Aubin.

The D^r Aubin thinks that by reducing community transmission, “it will become less heavy on the hospital network.”

This is partly what explains the Health Minister’s move to the region on Monday. Christian Dubé begged the population to reduce contact.

The region recorded 313 active cases per 100,000 population on Tuesday, the highest rate in Quebec. Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean is “the most difficult region of Quebec,” said Prime Minister François Legault.