CISSSO warns residents about overwhelmed emergency rooms

Sophie Demers

The Centre Intégré de Santé et des Services Sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) has changed the frequency of their Covid-19 data updates. Increases in cases will be uploaded weekly instead of daily and they will no longer publish the current numbers of active cases in the region. The number of hospital patients with Covid-19 and the number of CISSSO employees infected with the virus will continue to be updated daily.

As of September 15, there was an increase of 181 cases in the region, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning to 41,576 and the total number of deaths due to Covid to 346.

Of the new cases in the Outaouais, 100 are in Gatineau, bringing the city’s total since the pandemic started to 28,543 cases.

There are currently 83 people in the designated Covid-19 unit in the hospital and three individuals in intensive care. There are 92 CISSSO employees currently affected by the virus.

The CISSSO’s and the Government of Quebec’s websites state that the Covid-19 numbers are not necessarily representative of the current situation in any given community, due to the fact that access to screening centres is restricted to priority clients.

The Quebec government encourages citizens to declare their rapid test results whether positive or negative. Individuals can declare their results on the online platform
https://covid19.quebec.ca/autodeclaration/accueil.

Declarations of rapid test results are used for statistical purposes and help the government to better assess the evolution of the Covid-19 situation in the community and monitor the use of rapid tests and their results in different regions.

Booster shots can be booked for those over 18 years of age. The booster dose can be booked for anyone, regardless of the number of doses they have received, as long as it has been five months since the previous dose or three months since contracting the virus. Individuals hoping to get vaccinated or receive a booster dose can book their vaccine appointments by visiting https://portal3.clicsante.ca/ or by calling 1-877-644-4545.

Residents looking to get their children tested for Covid-19 can do so at the designated pediatric clinic located at 104 Du Barry Street in Gatineau. It is open Monday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, by appointment only.

An appointment can be booked by contacting Centrale COVID Outaouais 1-844-965-2640.

Emergency rooms overwhelmed

CISSSO recently alerted the public that there was an increase in the number of people at hospital emergency rooms, making the wait time very long. They advised citizens to avoid going to the emergency, if possible. CISSSO recommends using alternatives before going to the hospital, such as seeing family doctors, getting an appointment through Medigo, Info-Santé, going to a walk-in clinic or consulting pharmacists or the CLSC.

When speaking with a CISSSO media representative, they state that the increase in emergency services use is not due to an increase in Covid-19 cases. However, with many activities resuming and the return to schools, it is possible to see an increase in the coming weeks.

“We are currently in continuous work with our partners to be able to offer quality services to the population and to relieve congestion in emergencies,” said the media representative. “We are constantly evolving and improving so that alternative resources are the best option for the population without a family doctor.”