1) Nearly two weeks after Montreal public health officials disclosed a major #COVID19 outbreak at a seniors’ residence on Sherbrooke St. E., this cluster of cases still hasn’t appeared in the government’s daily updates. In this thread, I will note this is not the only omission.

2) Dr. Mylène Drouin, of the health department, had confirmed that the outbreak at Les Résidences Soleil Manoir Plaza infected 28, hospitalized six and killed one. However, only three cases are currently listed at the seniors’ facility and no deaths, according to Monday’s update.

3) Lest anyone dismiss this as an isolated incident, credit goes to Radio-Canada’s @ThomasGerbet for exposing information gaffes involving at least six other seniors’ residences and long-term care centres. Two outbreaks were absent from the updates. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1742261/erreurs-oublis-chsld-rpa-tableau-eclosions-quebec?fromApp=appInfoIos&partageApp=appInfoiOS&accesVia=partage

4) The undercounts of #COVID19 clusters in eldercare homes, delays in reporting them or not reporting them at all in the updates add to a litany of problems flagged by journalists concerning the release of information in the #pandemic, which undermines trust in the authorities.

5) In addition to eldercare homes, the incidence of #COVID19 is rising in schools. The chart below by the Education Ministry shows the number of active cases among students and school employees rose to 2,283 Friday from 2,101 Thursday. Plus, 70 more classes were shuttered.

6) Meanwhile, Montreal declared another 193 #COVID19 cases Monday, down from 235 the day before. (Please see the chart below.) However, a much more serious problem is now occurring in Quebec City, which has reported big increases in infections for the past four days in a row.

7) At the neighborhood level, three Montreal health districts observed fewer than 10 #COVID19 cases each, a welcome development. However, those numbers might also reflect a drop-off in testing. The centre of the city is still dominating in the transmission of the coronavirus.

8) On Monday night, the ER at the Lakeshore General Hospital was filled to 126% capacity, partly as a result of the fact that there are far fewer staffed beds available. Another 11 ERs were overcrowded during the #pandemic’s second wave, making it harder to manage #COVID19 cases.

9) My apologies for this late thread, as I was busy working to nail down another #COVID19 story that will appear in the @mtlgazette Tuesday morning. Please everyone, practice #PhysicalDistancing and wear a mask in public.