A sign showing support to residents and workers is seen outside CHSLD Lafleche, a seniors' long-term residence in Shawinigan, Que., on April 14, 2020.
CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/Reuters
Quebec’s Health Department has begun publishing a list of the province’s seniors homes hit by COVID-19 and identifying those that are in dire straits due to the epidemic.
The department says that 41 facilities are struggling to respond to novel coronavirus outbreaks, but the province’s public health director cautioned the situation is evolving rapidly.
According to the list of residences with at least one confirmed resident with COVID-19, first published Tuesday evening, the seven hardest hit homes are long-term care facilities in Laval, Montreal and Shawinigan.
Story continues below advertisement
Of the 41 in difficulty, Quebec’s Health Department says 25 have the most critical red classification, meaning more than a quarter of residents are infected with novel coronavirus.
Another 16 are identified as orange, which means an infection rate of between 15 and 25 per cent of residents.
The other 104 homes have a yellow classification, meaning 15 per cent or less of residents have tested positive.
The province says it has inspected all 2,600 seniors’ homes and long-term care facilities – both private and public – in the province.
Story continues below advertisement
Sign up for the Coronavirus Update newsletter to read the day’s essential coronavirus news, features and explainers written by Globe reporters and editors.