Only visits by family caregivers will be authorized at the CISSS des Laurentides
As part of the fight against the second wave of COVID-19 As part of the transition to red and orange alert levels in Laurentides and in order to protect vulnerable people and staff, the CISSS des Laurentides temporarily limits visits to its various facilities. Thus, users hospitalized or accommodated in a CISSS facility will only be able to receive visits from their family caregivers. “These new rules allow us to maintain a certain number of must-see visitors and prevent our patients from being kept in solitude as was sometimes the case during the first wave of COVID-19. Nevertheless, we must limit traffic in our various healthcare and service settings in order to reduce the risk of contamination and to facilitate the application of protective measures for all, ”explained Ms. Rosemonde Landry, President and CEO of CISSS des Laurentides, hoping that the population understands the importance of these measures. Visits by family caregivers All caregivers who do not present symptoms and are not confirmed COVID cases are authorized to access the hospital environment or the living and rehabilitation environments of their loved ones, such as residential and care centers long-term, private residences for seniors, intermediate resources, family-type resources, hospital centers, as well as rehabilitation settings. Exceptions apply to people in palliative care, at the end of life or for children requiring the presence of their parent, as well as in sectors for which an accompanying person is required.
On September 25, the Town of Rosemère officially reopened Hardy Park following major renovations carried out in the summer of 2020. The $280,000 investment really spruced up this neighbourhood park. Chosen by and for young people, the new playground equipment was the subject of a popular vote among young Rosemerites attending the Town’s day camp and daycare services. From now on, the new Hardy Park features two large playground structures for 2-12-year-olds, vast sand areas, new street furniture lined with magnificent shrub and perennial plantings and new swings, including a parent-child three-seater! “The objective of the project was to provide residents with a quality living environment that meets the needs of today’s Rosemère families. Who better than our youngsters to find out what young people prefer in terms of play facilities? The end result is worth the extra effort,” stated Mayor Eric Westram. In 2021, it will be Hamilton Park’s turn to get a makeover. With a projected investment of $350,000, work is expected to begin this spring.
The current issue of The North Shore News volume 16-27 published October 2nd, 2020. Covering North Shore local news, politics, sports and other newsworthy events. (Click HERE to read the paper.)
Front page of The North Shore News, October 2nd, 2020 issue.
Dimitris Ilias In a widely anticipated press conference on Monday the 28th of September, premier Legault announce what everyone feared. An increase in cases that merited passing to red level of alert for Montreal Laval, Quebec City and unfortunately for most of the North shore towns including the MRCs of Rivière-du-Nord, Deux-Montagnes and Thérèse-De Blainville. Once more the restaurant, bar and entertainment sector are hit by a 28 day closure that starts on October 1st and finishes on October 28th. Premier Legault announced that maintaining or not he red alert after the 28th of October will depend on whether or not the cases drop. The government is also cracking down on private gatherings which seem to fuel the Covid-19 cases as of late. It is characteristic of the severity of the measures that even though the democratic right of protest is maintained, outdoor protesters (Including anti-maskers) must wear a mask and keep the 2 meters distance between them. Premier Legault announced that his government will support the businesses most hit by the new measures promising financial help to restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Measures in force At home (houses and cottages), visitors from another address are prohibited with the exception of: a single visitor from another address for single individuals, informal caregivers, individuals offering services or support, labor for planned work. For the CHSLD, RPA private seniors’ residence and RI, visits for humanitarian purposes are allowed as well as visits by informal caregivers (one person at a time and a maximum of two people per day in CHSLDs) All private gatherings are prohibited as well as activities organized in a public place except for places of worship and funerals (maximum of 25 people and a register must be kept) To avoid the spread of the virus to different color-coded regions, inter-regional travel is not recommended toward a green, yellow or orange zone and outside Québec (except for essential travel, workers, shared custody, freight transportation) As far as public venue halls and audiences in indoor public places, auditoriums, cinemas, theatres, libraries and museums are closed. Restaurants and dining rooms are closed with delivery and takeout orders only. Bars, brasseries, taverns, casinos will all be required to close. Businesses, stores and boutiques remain open and private professional and health services are open only for services that require an individual’s presence Services are maintained for personal and beauty care services as well as community organizations
North Shore situation Due to the changes in alert levels announced by the Premier of Quebec, particularly in the Laurentians region, Dr. Éric Goyer, Regional Director of Public Health, answered questions from the media during a press conference on Tuesday September 29. Dr. Goyer stated that the hardest hit MRC was Rivière-du-Nord followed by Thérèse-De Blainville. Although travel between orange, yellow and red zones is discouraged, for the moment it is not forbidden and there will be no police presence or enforcement. NSN asked whether we know where transmission is higher and if we do why not concentrate the measures there rather than closing all the restaurants. Dr. Goyer said that the idea is to limit social gatherings whether it is in the houses or deciding to go out with others to a restaurant thus creating the possibility of transmission. What worries health authorities is the tendance for a rise in the cases. Even though it is the young people getting infected who can fight off the virus, the authorities are proactive in preventing a potential explosion of transmissions to more vulnerable Quebecers overwhelming our health system.
Canadian situation Unfortunately, Quebec, once more leads in cases closely followed by Ontario and in lieu of an in-person update to the media, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, issued a statement on September 28th announcing 153,125 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,268 deaths. 86% of people have now recovered. Laboratories across Canada continue to test at a high rate, with an average of almost 70,000 people tested daily last week and 1.4% of these testing positive. As of Friday September 25th, an average of 1,175 cases were being reported daily across Canada over a seven-day period. The ongoing increase in Canada’s daily case count is an indicator of accelerated epidemic growth in some regions of this country. While Canadians and public health authorities alike are rapidly responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Theresa Tam asked Canadians to be mindful about the fact that we are in the midst of an “infodemic.” That is an overabundance of information about COVID-19, including rumors and misinformation, sometimes deliberately spread. During any public health crisis, access to reliable, accurate and timely information is essential to protect our health. This is being recognized today by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). Public health officials across Canada have been working tirelessly to provide Canadians with the information they need to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19. She urged Canadians who have been eager to absorb as much info about the virus as possible to consult trustworthy information about COVID-19 in the Government of Canada website, Canada.ca/coronavirus. Provincial and local health agency websites, as well as international agencies like the World Health Organization and the Red Cross are places with trustworthy scientific information about the virus and the pandemic it causes.
Advisory – Recall of counterfeit Zytec Germ Buster Hand Sanitizer
Summary Product: Counterfeit Zytec Germ Buster Hand Sanitizer 1L (labelled with NPN 80015625, lot number 3329733126). Health Canada is informing Canadians that the distributor Northern National Sales Inc., was found to be selling a counterfeit version of the Health Canada authorized hand sanitizer Zytec Germ Buster (NPN 80015625). Counterfeit products are fraudulent versions of authentic products and may be potentially harmful if used or consumed. Health Canada is committed to stopping the production and import of counterfeit drugs in Canada and will not hesitate to take additional actions as necessary to stop this illegal activity. The Department has directed Northern National Sales, Inc. to recall the counterfeit product from the market and the company has confirmed that it is no longer selling it. Health Canada worked with the authorized license holder, Empack Spraytech Inc., to verify that the product bearing the lot number 3329733126 in a 1L format is counterfeit. The counterfeit product is packaged in a 1L format with a black and white label which displays the same name, the same NPN (80015625) and the same lot number (3329733126) as the authorized product. The authorized Zytec Germ Buster Hand Sanitizer bearing the lot number 3329733126 and NPN 80015625 has a color label and is only available in a 3.78L format. Counterfeit products may contain ingredients not listed on the label, dangerous additives or other contaminants. In addition, they may not contain the active ingredients Canadians would expect them to contain. Since the counterfeit Zytec Germ Buster Hand Sanitizer is unauthorized and made with an unknown formulation, it may not be effective at killing bacteria and viruses, and may pose serious risks to health. For more information regarding Health Canada’s approach to counterfeit health products please consult Health Canada’s Policy on Counterfeit Health Products. Should Health Canada become aware of continued sales by Northern National Sales, Inc., of counterfeit or any other unauthorized health products that may pose a risk to Canadians, the Department will not hesitate to take immediate and appropriate action. What consumers should do · If you have this counterfeit product, stop using it. · Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have used this counterfeit product and have concerns about your health. · Keep all hand sanitizers out of the reach of children. · If this product is swallowed, call a poison control center or get medical help right away.
A driver, presumably in a state of intoxication, caused a head-on collision on Saturday afternoon after traveling in the opposite direction on an access road of the Highway 640 west, in Sainte-Thérèse, in the Laurentians. The accident happened around 4:15 p.m. when the woman lost control of her vehicle, which ended up in the opposite direction on the highway 640 west ramp leading to Boulevard Curé-Labelle north. A vehicle came at the same time and could not avoid the frontal collision. “The woman was arrested on the spot for impaired driving causing injuries,” Sergeant Claude Denis of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) stated, adding that blood samples were requested. The lady suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to the SQ. A passenger in the back of his vehicle was not injured, and neither was the driver of the other vehicle. The ramp was closed to traffic to allow investigators to do their job.
Rosemère has always shown leadership in environmental protection. It enjoys an enviable position, particularly with respect to the development of its green spaces and the protection of its natural environment. In recent months, despite the current health issues, the Town has spared no effort to pursue its mission of providing Rosemerites with an outstanding living environment. On April 6, in order to pursue the revitalization of Miller Marsh, recognized since 2011 as a site of ecological interest to be protected, the Éco-Nature organization, with the financial support of the Town of Rosemère, acquired the last private property that provides access to the site. This land was then transferred to the Town of Rosemère for conservation purposes in perpetuity. This comes as excellent news for the community, as this small but so very precious haven of peace will be restored on an ongoing basis so that future generations will still be able to admire this natural space with its wealth of biodiversity. In June, Rosemerites had the opportunity to participate in the very first Forum on the Environment, an initiative of the Civic Committee on the Environment. In a completely virtual way, nearly one hundred participants took part in interactive videoconferences on the concept of zero waste, natural environments and biodiversity. And lastly, in July, in addition to now offering financial assistance of up to $40 to female residents of Rosemère who wish to purchase sustainable feminine hygiene products, Town Council adopted a resolution to ensure the sustainability and conservation of the Frères du Sacré-Coeur forest, woodlands located behind the Externat Sacré-Coeur belonging to Rosemère. This land has a hickory maple grove of unique forest value for which we will conduct an ecological analysis to assess its full worth. This land was the subject of volunteer planting of 600 trees in 2019 in order to revitalize its forest cover. Today, we are proud to note that the residents’ planting efforts have achieved a success rate of more than 90%. Finally, on September 14, Rosemère adopted resolutions to concretely pursue its vision of preserving its green spaces with high ecological and environmental potential. The Town is applying for financial assistance from the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) under its Trame verte et bleue program to eventually acquire the private land known as the Grand-Côteau forest. This private land is currently zoned residential and is the subject of real estate development applications. Concretely, the Town wishes to obtain the legal and financial resources to preserve this woodland from any development. The objective of this action is to extend this metropolitan forest corridor recognized by the CMM, just as the City of Lorraine did recently. “All these actions are directly in line with our strategic vision adopted in 2018: Rosemère, a proud, green and prosperous city. We can say that we are proud to develop an approach of dialogue and proximity with our residents in large-scale projects, as we have recently done with our urbanistic vision. We are also proud to continue to innovate in order to make our community ever greener through concrete initiatives. For Rosemère, the environment is an invaluable community asset. We have always focused our decisions on maintaining our living environment at the heart of our priorities, in order to preserve the outstanding living environment that we all share,” stated Eric Westram, Mayor of Rosemère.
Rosemère announced its contribution to the Fonds des municipalités pour la biodiversité
Rosemère announced its contribution to the Fonds des municipalités pour la biodiversité (Fonds MB), an initiative of the Québec chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS Québec) and the Fondation de la faune du Québec. With this commitment, the Town is once again taking concrete action to fight climate change and the loss of biodiversity on its territory. By participating in the Fund, the Town has pledged to contribute the equivalent of $1 per household per year to the Fund—an amount that represents $5,251 for 2020. This amount will be increased 100% through the contribution of Québec’s Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques. The amounts deposited in the Fund are therefore cumulative and reserved for small or medium-size territory conservation projects or wildlife habitat protection projects that will be carried out in Rosemère. “By becoming a member of the Fonds des municipalités pour la biodiversité, the Town of Rosemère is taking a concrete step to increase its resilience in the face of climate change, which is causing a loss of biodiversity on our territory. As a municipality, we recognize the importance of protecting our environment, and have done so for many years. Protecting biodiversity is part of this commitment to our future generations to provide them with an environment that is always good to live in. We are proud to be a member of the Fonds des municipalités pour la biodiversité (the Municipal Biodiversity Fund), which will enable us to carry out environmental projects in the coming years,” stated Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram. “Municipalities play a leading role in implementing concrete solutions to address the biodiversity crisis and fight climate change. By becoming one of the first municipalities to join this Fund, Rosemère is still present, present for the future,” stated Isabelle Bérubé, Director of Development for the Québec chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS Québec). About the Fonds des municipalités pour la biodiversité The Fonds des municipalités pour la biodiversité (Fonds MB) is intended for municipalities that want to build capacity to fight climate change and biodiversity loss. The Fund is an initiative of the Québec chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, in partnership with the Fondation de la faune du Québec. Supported by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, the Fund aims, in particular, to protect natural spaces in urbanized areas. Each member municipality therefore pledges to contribute $1 per year per household to a fund reserved for it, which will enable it to accumulate the funds needed to carry out projects to protect natural environments and therefore biodiversity as well.
New address for the screening and assessment clinic in Boisbriand
The Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS des Laurentides) is informing the population of the change of address of the designated assessment and screening clinic in Boisbriand.
Starting September 28, medical appointments for screening and evaluations related to COVID-19 will be at 610 boulevard Curé-Boivin, in Boisbriand. The hours of operation remain the same, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Although all screenings by appointment will be transferred to the new address as of September 28, the old location on rue Ambroise-Lafortune will continue for two weeks to receive people without an appointment in order to facilitate the transition. Ms. Rosemonde Landry, President and CEO of the CISSS des Laurentides indicates that everything has been done so that the move has no impact on the screenings. “Since the site of the first clinic was increasingly well known to the population, it was important to plan a period for the transition so that this change would go smoothly. The Boisbriand screening clinic receives more than 700 people per day, with and without an appointment,” she explained.
The new clinic location will bring together three services: the medical assessment, the screening clinic and the appointment center. From reception to screening, the user’s route has been designed to facilitate travel and ensure the safety of the population and staff.
When to take a screening test People who have been in contact with a positive case, who have symptoms of COVID or for whom screening is requested by public health are invited to complete the self-assessment form on Québec.ca / decision COVID19. If screening is recommended, the person will be directed to the appointment center, by phone or via the online application which is now available on the CISSS des Laurentides website. All information on screening and making an appointment is available on the CISSS des Laurentides website at www.santelaurentides.gouv.qc.ca, section COVID-19. The CISSS des Laurentides reiterates the importance of carrying out frequent hand hygiene, wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.
Relocation of home support services from CLSC Jean-Olivier-Chénier
The Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS des Laurentides) is informing citizens that home support services (SAD ) of the CLSC Jean-Olivier-Chénier, located at 29, chemin d’Oka in Saint-Eustache, will be offered in new premises, starting Monday, October 5.
The new space will be designed to accommodate all home support services, including the loan of equipment. To facilitate the transition, it was possible to keep the same telephone number, 450 491-1233. The new coordinates of the SAD will be as follows: 59, boulevard Industriel in Saint-Eustache. It will always be necessary to make an appointment with the service equipment loan before traveling. In anticipation of the move, this service will also be closed on October 1 and 2, 2020.
“The full capacity of employees at CLSC Jean-Olivier-Chénier having been reached, our organization had to find a new building to offer an optimal work environment, as well as an adequate and safe arrangement for the service of equipment loans. The new home support facilities will be adapted to meet the needs of our workers, who will be able to continue to offer quality care and services to customers, ”said Rosemonde Landry, President and CEO of the CISSS des Laurentides.
