Coroner says Quebec Health Department chose to ignore COVID-19 risk in long-term care The decision is in conflict with a formal recommendation by coroner Géhane Kamel, who investigated the high death toll in the province’s long-term care homes during the first wave of the pandemic.Kamel said Quebec should ensure that residential-care facilities are able to offer single rooms to patients to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other diseases among vulnerable people.The Health Department says the policy is a temporary measure, but it is not saying when the directive allowing an increase in room occupancy will be lifted..