Effective Thursday, October 1, the COVID-19 alert level for the MRC d’Argenteuil is being raised to orange, which is the second-highest level on Québec’s regional alert scale.

Green is the lowest level, followed by yellow, then orange, and red is the highest level.

According to the CISSS des Laurentides regional health authority, there is an increased level of sustained COVID-19 activity that warrants the orange designation.

The neighbouring MRC’s of Deux-Montagnes, Rivière-du-Nord, and Ville de Mirabel are moving to the red level.  The MRC des Pays d’en haut will also be at the orange level.

When an area is at the orange level, enforcement of public health regulations already in place to protect against COVID-19 is strict.  The risk of transmission is higher and the region could be subjected to further restrictions or bans on activities.  For more details, go to: https://www.quebec.ca/sante/problemes-de-sante/a-z/coronavirus-2019/systeme-alertes-regionales-et-gradual-intervention / level-3-alert-orange-zone /

At the red level, restrictive measures may include a stop of non-essential activities if the risk of transmission cannot be controlled sufficiently.  However, the intent remains to avoid a fully generalized confinement like there was during the first wave of the pandemic.  For more information, go to: https://www.quebec.ca/sante/problemes-de-sante/a-z/coronavirus-2019/systeme-alertes-regionales-et-gradual-intervention / level-4-maximum-alert-red-zone /

“We all have a collective responsibility to assume and it is by putting the necessary efforts that we have the power to make a difference and succeed in finally limiting the spread of viruses. If you are in red or orange level territory, I personally ask you to redouble your efforts and follow the   recommendations issued. It is about protecting yourself and those surrounding you”, said Laurentides Regional Director of Public Health, Dr. Eric Goyer.

According to the CISSS des Laurentides, there were only three active cases of COVID-19 in the MRC d’Argenteuil as of September 29 and there were 1,144 cumulative cases.  However, case levels are higher in neighbouring regional municipalities.  There were 51 active cases in MRC Rivière-du-Nord, 44 active cases in MRC Deux Montagnes, and 15 cases in Ville de Mirabel.   The number of deaths in Argenteuil remained unchanged at nine.

As of September 29, there were no COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care or other group living facilities in the MRC d’Argenteuil.  Also, no schools in the region had cases of COVID-19 as of September 29.

Across Québec

According to the health ministry, there were 73,450 cumulative cases of COVID-19 across Québec as of Tuesday, September 29.  The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) reported that as of September 28, 62,095 cases across Québec were resolved, which means that approximately 84.5 per cent of the 73,450 cases were resolved, and that there were approximately 11,355 active cases of COVID-19 across Québec.

There were 247 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Québec as of September 29 and 41 of those patients were in intensive care.

There had been 5,833 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 across Québec, as of September 29.