LOCAL NEWS - MAY 12, 2020 - LOWER NORTH SHORE
CFBS was in contact last week with the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Côte-Nord (CISSS de la Côte-Nord) regarding information on important questions that were sent in to CFBS by our listening audience. The questions are regarding different COVID-19 situations for the population of the Lower North Shore, and what protocols are in place for these situations.
Pascal Paradis, Communications advisor, Human Resources, Communications and Legal Affairs for the CISSS de la Côte-Nord, responded by email with the answers, the following is his response to our inquiries after consulting with Public Health:
1. What is the position of the CISSS regarding health measures for the fisherman of the Lower North Shore returning to the water with a lack of essential services at the wharves they will be docked at, like running water and washrooms? Do you feel this will fit within the health requirements?
Answer: Measures were discussed with the MRC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the CISSS and the Fisherman’s Association, to everyone’s satisfaction, and they will be implemented.
2. Will there be isolation requirements asked of fishermen when returning home if they fished in another region?
Answer: A protocol was set out and measures are provided in this regard; otherwise, isolation is recommended outside work.
3. There are families in each community that have special situations where they should be allowed to visit another family member's home, like humane reasons, or for those with decreased mental health. Is the CISSS working with public health to allow certain situations to be approved with the local authorities?
Answer: We are awaiting developments in this regard. If there are critical situations, such as humanitarian reasons, mental health, etc., the CISSS must be contacted in order to implement the appropriate measures.
4. Following the death of a COVID patient if they are from the Lower North Shore, can their body be repatriated back to their community and if so, would the body need to be cremated or embalmed?
Answer: Yes, the body can be repatriated, based on the acceptance of air carriers and following their conditions. The INSPQ published regulations and recommendations on that matter. There is no obligation to cremate the body if safe transportation is possible. However, the time factor poses a limit, because according to the protocol, we have 48 hours to dispose of a body that was refrigerated but not embalmed.
5. If a COVID patient passes away in a community without crematory services, is there a burial protocol that would have to be adhered to, can there be transmission of the virus from a deceased body?
Answer: Yes, according to the regulations published by the INSPQ, there may be a risk of transmission from a deceased body; that is why we must follow the INSPQ regulations.
6. Is the CISSS currently working on a deconfinement plan for the Lower North Shore, or are we not yet at this stage in planning for the Lower North Shore?
Answer: The different steps are currently being set out, based on the provincial plan. More details to come.
CFBS thanks Pascal Paradis for taking the time to answer the questions we had sent. If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 or symptoms, you can call 1-877-644-4545 or local 1-418-644-4545.
Abbygail Wellman
CFBS Journalist
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