1) It’s become almost a mantra by Premier @francoislegault: #COVID hospitalizations are down, proof the #pandemic is now under control. But there’s another disturbing phenomenon we can’t ignore: lots of hospital outbreaks. Please click on my story below. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/covid-19-outbreaks-in-hospitals-threaten-staff-as-much-as-patients/wcm/989dc3a5-d13a-43bf-b7f6-2541457c91e6/

2) Unlike the superbug outbreaks of MRSA and C. difficile that harm mostly elderly and immuno-compromised patients, COVID-19 can send hospital staff to the ICU. And tonight, an outbreak has hit hard the Montreal General Hospital.

3) Even if a 2nd #COVID wave never hits the city, our hospitals will still be vulnerable to outbreaks of the #pandemic respiratory illness, sickening patients as well as exhausted staff. This could add up to a health crisis of unimaginable proportions in the coming months.

4) The emergency room of the Montreal General Hospital was packed with patients on Tuesday night, some suspected of suffering from #COVID. The ER occupancy rate soared to 155% at 10 p.m. Some of the ER staff have become infected. For how long can this go on?

5) Meanwhile, as the orange line in the chart below indicates, Montreal reported an uptick in #COVID cases on Tuesday. Let’s hope this is all a reflection of the testing blitz, although we know that authorities are still not screening asymptomatic individuals.

6) The chart below shows the city also posted a slight increase in the number of #COVID deaths, raising the total in the metropolis to 2,584. Most of these deaths continue to occur in long-term care centres, but the collateral damage in acute-care hospitals is growing worse.

7) Hospital nurses keep calling me, upset and saddened that their co-workers are getting infected. They’re burned out but are told to limit their vacations, if they can even find the time. Yes, #COVID hospitalizations are down. But what about the hospital workers? End of thread.