Military report on Quebec senior homes says conditions difficult but improving

The military's report into its mission inside Quebec's long-term care homes reveals many facilities in the network continue to struggle to bring down the number of COVID-19 infections.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces noted that upon arrival they found a widespread lack of personnel and high absenteeism, which they said negatively affected patient hygiene.

Other issues they found included problems with distribution of personal protective equipment, disappearing medical supplies and residents circulating within facilities without protective equipment.

But the report released today is less critical than one released Tuesday on the military's mission inside five Ontario long-term care homes, which detailed allegations of insect infestations, aggressive feeding of residents, bleeding infections and residents crying for help for hours.

In most cases, the military found the situation in Quebec's long-term care homes had improved in recent weeks and employees were gradually returning to work.

The report comes as Quebec recorded 89 additional deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total to 4,228, and 541 new cases of the disease, for a total of 49,139 cases.