The Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux des Laurentides announced that as of March 14, the Saint-Eustache vaccination site, located at 454 Arthur-Sauvé Boulevard, will close its doors permanently.

Apart from the fact that the lease had expired, the marked decrease in the traffic because of the low demand of the residents at the vaccination sites and in the number of appointments made in recent weeks, motivated this decision by the CISSS des Laurentides to close.

People who already have an appointment scheduled at the Saint-Eustache site, after March 14, will be contacted personally to obtain a new appointment at the Blainville vaccination site. 

According to the CISSS des Laurentides, it is important that residents remember that walk-in vaccination is still available at several other vaccination sites for all eligible people who wish to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pop-up vaccination clinics are also available until the end of March in the territory. This represents an additional alternative to the means already in place to facilitate access to a 1st dose or to subsequent doses of the vaccine against COVID-19.

An interval of eight weeks or more is recommended between the 1st and 2^nd dose. To get a 

booster dose, an interval of three months or more is needed after the last dose.

For full details, visit santelaurentides.gouv.qc.ca.

The CISSS des Laurentides has more than 100 facilities and a large family of experts at the service of Laurentian residents. According to their mission statement, the patient is deeply anchored at the heart of their vision. The CISSS des Laurentides brings together hospitals, CLSCs, residential centres, protection and rehabilitation centers for young people with adjustment difficulties, rehabilitation centers for intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, physical disability rehabilitation centers and addiction rehabilitation centres.

The CCITB (Thérèse-De Blainville Chamber of Commerce) is participating in the initiative to distribute rapid test kits to small and medium-sized enterprises launched by the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce (FCCQ). SMEs with less than 200 employees in the region who are interested must reserve their kit with the CCITB. The screening kits were provided by the governments of Quebec and Canada, and will be given to businesses free of charge. The objective of the program is to quickly identify infected people and thus reduce the risk of an outbreak.

Procedure for businesses

Eligible SMEs can complete the online form to obtain their kits free of charge: https://www.ccitb.ca/tests-rapides-covid-19/. For the first phase of distribution, companies can obtain 2 tests per employee. Businesses with less than 200 employees in the following cities are eligible: Blainville, Boisbriand, Bois-des-Filion, Lorraine, Rosemère, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines and Sainte-Thérèse. The kits can be picked up by appointment at the CCITB offices, in compliance with the health rules in force in Quebec. A representative of each SME will have to go on site for the collection.

Each person tested can then declare their result on the rapid test result declaration platform. If a screening yields a positive result for COVID-19, the employee must leave the workplace and follow the recommendations of Public Health. Companies with 200 or more employees will be able to continue to obtain supplies of rapid tests directly from the Government of Quebec, as they already do at this time.

“With the deconfinement that is beginning, it is important to continue our preventive actions. The news is encouraging and other issues are on the planet right now. But let’s not forget that the virus is still circulating and that it is essential for the operations of businesses in the region to avoid outbreaks. The CCITB is proud to be able to equip its companies to better manage the return to face-to-face,” said Cynthia Kabis, General Manager of the CCITB.

“Rapid tests are one of the important tools that allow us to ensure the return of employees to the workplace in complete safety for them and their loved ones. We know how much employees look forward to meeting their colleagues in “face-to-face”, which will also help businesses in city centers to find their customers. As key partners of Quebec businesses, we are very proud to see the network of Quebec Chambers of Commerce mobilize to ensure the distribution of rapid test kits to SMEs in all regions of Quebec,” said Charles Milliard., President and CEO of the FCCQ.