COVID-19 Bulletin (No. 9 • Mai 22, 2020)

Message from Mr Gilles Lanteigne, President and Chief Executive Officer:

All the efforts and sacrifices made over the past weeks are now allowing us to gradually enter the yellow phase of the provincial recovery plan. Despite boasting the lowest contagion rate in the country, we must avoid letting our guard down and imagine that COVID-19 is a thing of the past. The risk of a second wave of infections is imminent, and the virus is still present.

If we want to avoid going back to square one, we must continue to carefully follow precautions pertaining to physical distancing, thorough handwashing and the use of masks. We are on the right track; let’s keep it up. I thank you all!

Gradual return of some services – Yellow phase

Vitalité Health Network is continuing to gradually increase its service offering. Surgical suites (elective surgical procedures), ambulatory clinics as well as medical imaging services (X-ray) are ramping up their activity level. 

Patients coming to a Network facility are still screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon their arrival. Handwashing and the use of homemade masks or face coverings remain mandatory during medical appointments. Physical distancing precautions must also be observed.

Visits are not allowed

During the pandemic, visits are prohibited, except in the following cases.

Visits to the Obstetric, Pediatric and Intensive Care units are restricted to one designated visitor per patient.

As for patients nearing end of life or who will receive medical assistance in dying, the presence of two designated visitors is allowed (one at a time), except in exceptional cases where one of the visitors would require assistance to go to the patient’s bedside.

The designated visitors must not have any symptoms of COVID-19 and must be healthy. They must follow the staff's guidelines on handwashing, mask and personal protective equipment usage, if applicable, and isolation precautions in the patient’s room (if they are a suspected COVID-19 case).