Article content

A privately run seniors’ residence in Dorval that is grappling with an outbreak of COVID-19 has been described as a “concentration camp” — with unfed and soiled elderly residents inside — by health professionals who came to those residents’ rescue, a Montreal Gazette investigation has found.

Although the official COVID-19 death toll at Résidence Herron stood at two on Thursday, a worker said 27 residents have died in the past two weeks. This is highly unusual, as the facility reports an average of four deaths a month, the worker noted.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Public health, police find bodies, feces at Dorval seniors’ residence: sources Back to video

Families have also contacted the Gazette to dispute the official tally, saying it does not correspond with the stream of funeral vans they’ve seen leaving the parking lot in the past two weeks, or with what they’ve learned about the situation inside the building on Herron Rd.

It’s possible some residents did not die from COVID-19, but officials with the West Island health authority and the owners of the Herron did not respond to requests for clarification.