Place Bell Is The Latest Montreal-Area Arena To Be Converted To House COVID-19 Patients
Place Bell will soon house recovering COVID-19 patients to free up beds at a local hospital. A lack of beds for new patients has prompted the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) of Laval to partner with the Cité de la culture et du sport de Laval to transform Place Bell's Olympic skating rink into a full-fledged recovery wing. Over the next few weeks, Laval's Cité-de-la-Santé Hospital will see some much-needed relief.
As in Montreal, hospitals in Laval are feeling the squeeze with an influx of COVID-19 patients.
According to the CISSS, there are a total of 3,604 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Laval as of May 5, 2020. Like many Quebec regions, some of the hardest-hit groups are seniors living in local CHSLDs.
The opening date of this "non-traditional" recovery wing has not yet been set. The CISSS says that "the opening of the site, which will take place gradually, will be determined according to different criteria and will have to be approved by clinical and medical authorities."
"The interior arrangements for users will evolve according to their needs and in compliance with the recommendations of prevention and control."
Place Bell's Olympic skating rink will be the only spot that is set to be converted. The arena's amphitheatre and main hall won't be used.
All future patients will have their own private areas, complete with a bed, a table, some chairs, and lamps.
Staffers will also have their own area and will be provided with personal protective equipment.
[#Covid19 | Communiqué] En partenariat avec la Cité de la culture et du sport de Laval, la patinoire olympique de… https://t.co/Nzqe0dkGdW— CISSS de Laval (@CISSS de Laval) 1588714263.0
The arena will accommodate a maximum of 50 patients at a time. All patients will need to be in recovery post-COVID-19 symptoms and will be monitored closely.
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With 126 hospitalizations and another 20 in intensive care at Laval hospitals, health care workers have been working hard to offer care and attention to COVID-19 patients.
La situation reste stable dans nos hôpitaux, mais dans la région de Montréal, on a moins de marge de manœuvre. C’… https://t.co/0qtJI088Yc— François Legault (@François Legault) 1588621143.0
The Place Bell isn't the first Montreal-area arena to accommodate patients during the crisis.
The Jacques Lemaire Arena in the borough of Lachine has been adapted to welcome patient overflow from the nearby LaSalle Hospital.
The Greater Montreal area is still contending with a high number of hospitalizations.
It's one of the reasons that the government has postponed the opening date for retail establishments in the city.
Stay tuned for more news.