Date of publication: March 31, 2022 • 22 minutes ago • 10 minutes reading Montreal residents wear masks on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Photo by Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Updated all day on Thursday 31 March. Questions / Comments: [email protected]
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Top updates
Doctors ‘concerned’ over Quebec’s plan to lift mask orders, professional order says As of Friday, vaccinated travelers to Canada do not need a COVID-19 test Widening access to PCR tests, Quebec opposition parties say No new COVID restrictions: ‘We were worried, but it was anticipated,’ says Dubé Two weeks ago, Dubé said he did not wait for the 6th wave, at least until August or September. Cases, hospitalizations continue to rise as Quebec reports 12 new deaths Video: Dubé stays on track as the sixth wave hits Quebec will not add restrictions despite growing cases, hospitalization, says Dubé The province is now officially in the sixth wave of pandemics, says the INSPQ Quebec health care reforms continue to plague veteran nurses Alberta will wait for the measures as the province sees COVID-19 increase COVID hospital cases in London are rising to almost two months high Governments want COVID vaccine developers to target hunting higher for better shots Quebec COVID guide: Vaccinations, tests Sign up for our free nightly coronavirus newsletter
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2 p.m.
Doctors ‘concerned’ over Quebec’s plan to lift mask orders, professional order says
The Quebec Doctors’ Professional Order says it is concerned about the province’s plan to lift mask orders by mid-April. Via Twitter, the Collège des Médecins du Québec reported that as the sixth wave begins, “we are concerned about the planned lifting of the mask requirement in public places. “The situation is changing rapidly and the mask remains one of the most effective measures to reduce the spread. “Let us be careful, let us be protected.” Mask commands are the only restrictions left in Quebec. The province says it plans to lift most restrictions on masks by mid-April, when they will only be mandatory on public transport.
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At the beginning of the 6th wave, we are worried about the planned lifting of the obligation to use a mask in public places. The situation is changing rapidly and the mask remains one of the most effective measures to limit its spread. Let us be careful, let us protect ourselves. – College of Physicians of Quebec (@CMQ_org) March 31, 2022
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1:30 p.m.
As of Friday, vaccinated travelers to Canada do not need a COVID-19 test
From the Canadian Press: Vaccinated travelers will no longer need the COVID-19 test to enter Canada from Friday. The change is a departure from Canada’s policy from the early days of the pandemic, and the troubled tourism industry describes it as a significant benefit. Travel agents say they have seen an increase in demand for flights since the change was announced two weeks ago. Domestic tour groups have also reported a large increase in bookings in recent weeks. Although no screening will be required after April 1 for people who are considered fully vaccinated, Health Canada still requires anyone arriving outside the country to wear a mask in public for two weeks.
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The rules for unvaccinated Canadians and other travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement remain unchanged, and these individuals will have to undergo a negative test or data that has been in place for some time after infection to enter the country. 1:15 p.m.
Widening access to PCR tests, Quebec opposition parties say
Two opposition parties are calling on the government of Prime Minister François Lego to extend access to PCR tests amid the sixth wave of the pandemic. Quebec severely restricted access to laboratory testing in the middle of the fifth wave, when clinical trials could not meet demand. It is now limited to certain sections of the population, including health workers and people aged 70 and over who have symptoms.
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The province has told other Quebec residents to use quick home tests, the results of which are only monitored through a self-report site. “What is frustrating is that the government stopped the whole screening approach with PCR, which means we do not have the right indicators to look at the current wave, either in the counties or in Montreal,” said Parti Québécois, a health critic. Joël Arseneau told reporters this morning. He called on the government to allow more people to be screened at PCR screening clinics “to ensure we can see the size of the coming wave”. This sentiment was echoed by liberal health critic Monsef Derraji in a separate press conference. “It is absolutely necessary to extend the use of PCR tests,” he said. “Today,… PCR is only available to people at high risk, in populations at risk, I think it’s time to reconsider this decision.”
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12:45 pm
No new COVID restrictions: ‘We were worried, but it was anticipated,’ says Dubé
Following on from my previous live coverage, here is our story, by Philip Authier in Quebec City, about what Health Minister Christian Dubé had to say today about the sixth wave. 12:05 p.m.
Two weeks ago, Dubé said he did not wait for the 6th wave, at least until August or September.
Yesterday, public health officials confirmed that Quebec was in the middle of the sixth wave of the pandemic, estimating that it started around mid-March. At the time, Health Minister Christian Dubé said the province was expected to face the risk of a sixth wave in August or September at the earliest. He made the comments on March 16, after a reporter asked if Quebec was expecting a sixth wave of COVID. “It’s a possibility, but it’s a possibility we can manage right now,” Dubé said.
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He said Quebec public health officials were monitoring the situation elsewhere. “It’s very clear” that “we’re fine” right now for a variety of reasons, Dubé said. He noted that many Quebec residents had acquired some immunity through infection during the Omicron wave, the province has a high vaccination rate and the disease tends to subside as the weather improves. “But (public health officials) also say that if there is a risk, there is a risk that could be in August or September,” Dubé said. “What we have learned over the last five waves is that we need to be prepared,” he said, adding that this is why the government must retain some emergency powers until the end of the year. He added: “Everyone wants to make sure we are ready if there is ever a sixth wave in the fall.”
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11:45 a.m.
Chart: Current situation compared to one year ago
11:45 a.m.
Charts: Quebec cases, deaths
11:45 a.m.
Charts: The Quebec Vaccination Campaign
11:05 a.m.
Cases, hospitalizations continue to rise as Quebec reports 12 new deaths
Quebec has recorded 3,319 new COVID-19 cases, the provincial government announced this morning. That is 252 more than yesterday. Case counts include only individuals who have undergone PCR at state screening clinics. It does not accurately reflect the number of cases, as it does not include the results of home rapid tests. Hospital admissions continue to rise and are at their highest level in just over three weeks. In addition, 12 new deaths were reported, bringing the total to 14,365.
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Vaccination is on the rise now that Quebec has expanded its suitability for fourth doses. The number of shots fired yesterday was the highest in more than five weeks. Some other key statistics from the latest Quebec update for COVID-19:
Montreal Island: 653 cases, 3 deaths. Net increase in hospitalizations: 38, a total of 1,238 (151 were admitted to hospital, 113 were discharged). Net increase in intensive care patients: 6, a total of 66 (15 were admitted to the ICU, 9 were discharged). 19,860 PCR tests were performed on Tuesday. 17,145 doses of vaccine were administered in the previous 24 hours.
10:55 a.m.
Video: Dubé stays on track as the sixth wave hits
The end of the emergency decree as the sixth wave begins is not contradictory, says the minister Sorry, but this video failed to load.
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As cases and hospitalizations rise again, Quebec will not add restrictions Sorry, but this video failed to load.
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10 am
Quebec will not add restrictions despite growing cases, hospitalization, says Dubé
Quebec has no plans to reintroduce restrictions on COVID-19, says Health Minister Christian Dubé.
title: “Covid Live Updates Doctors Concerned About Quebec Plan To Lift Mask Mandates Professional Order Says " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-23” author: “Ernest Vaughn”
Date of publication: March 31, 2022 • 8 minutes ago • 12 minutes reading Montreal Wears Masks on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Photo by Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Updated all day on Thursday 31 March. Questions / Comments: [email protected]
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Top updates
Federal guidance on the fourth dose of COVID vaccine is expected in early April Doctors ‘concerned’ over Quebec’s plan to lift mask orders, professional order says As of Friday, vaccinated travelers to Canada do not need a COVID-19 test Widening access to PCR tests, Quebec opposition parties say No new COVID restrictions: ‘We were worried, but it was anticipated,’ says Dubé Two weeks ago, Dubé said he did not wait for the 6th wave, at least until August or September. Cases, hospitalizations continue to rise as Quebec reports 12 new deaths Video: Dubé stays on track as the sixth wave hits Quebec will not add restrictions despite growing cases, hospitalization, says Dubé The province is now officially in the sixth wave of pandemics, says the INSPQ Quebec health care reforms continue to plague veteran nurses Alberta will wait for the measures as the province sees COVID-19 increase COVID hospital cases in London are rising to almost two months high Governments want COVID vaccine developers to target hunting higher for better shots Quebec COVID guide: Vaccinations, tests Sign up for our free nightly coronavirus newsletter
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2:50 p.m.
Federal guidance on the fourth dose of COVID vaccine is expected in early April
The National Immunization Advisory Committee is expected to issue guidelines for the fourth installment of the COVID-19 vaccine in early April as public health indicators rise across Canada, the Canadian Press reports. A spokeswoman for the Public Health Service of Canada said Thursday that the agency expects to publish NACI advice on fourth installments for “older people at higher risk for serious illness” in the coming days. Ontario Health Minister Christine Eliot, meanwhile, told lawmakers Thursday she expects to receive advice from the NACI immediately. “We are working on booster vaccines and are also considering whether a fourth vaccination is needed … We are waiting for NACI advice … on which age group should receive the fourth vaccine, if necessary,” he said.
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“We are actively pursuing this and continuing our project throughout the province of Ontario.” NACI previously recommended that individuals “moderate to severely immunosuppressed” receive a fourth dose of the vaccine six months after their third vaccination. The committee says data on the fourth dose are currently limited, but those who are immunosuppressed are at higher risk for both severe COVID-19 outcomes and reduced protection over time. Earlier this week, U.S. regulators approved a fourth dose for Americans 50 years of age and older if at least four months have passed since their last vaccination. The Food and Drug Administration gave the green light to the measure on Tuesday and the Centers for Disease Control later recommended the extra reception as an option, but did not urge those who met the conditions to rush to make an appointment.
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The issue of additional amplifiers has become more pressing for some due to public health indicators. Hospital admissions have begun to rise in some areas and sewage trends suggest the cases are too high after many provinces fired their vaccine passports and mask orders this month. 2:30 p.m.
Germany plans to relax COVID quarantine rules as cases skyrocket
Germany plans to end mandatory quarantine for most people who catch COVID-19, the health ministry said on Thursday, as the numbers isolated by the infection exceed four million. Read our full story. 2:30 p.m.
Shanghai extends lockdown to more residents as COVID cases rise
Shanghai is set to put the vast majority of its residents in a lockdown for COVID from Friday, as it extends restrictions to include the western half of the city and extends restrictions to the east, where people have already been forced to stay home since Monday.
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Read our full story. 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Pfizer vaccine is potentially associated with hearing loss
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report reporting extremely rare cases of hearing loss and other hearing problems after the COVID-19 vaccine was injected. The WHO reported 367 cases of tinnitus and 164 cases of hearing loss among the 11 billion vaccines administered – ranging from a few minutes to 19 days, but more often within a day of the piston. Read our full story. 2 p.m.
Doctors ‘concerned’ over Quebec’s plan to lift mask orders, professional order says
The Quebec Doctors’ Professional Order says it is concerned about the province’s plan to lift mask orders by mid-April. Via Twitter, the Collège des Médecins du Québec reported that as the sixth wave begins, “we are concerned about the planned lifting of the mask requirement in public places.
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“The situation is changing rapidly and the mask remains one of the most effective measures to reduce the spread. “Let us be careful, let us be protected.” Mask commands are the only restrictions left in Quebec. The province says it plans to lift most restrictions on masks by mid-April, when they will only be mandatory on public transport. At the beginning of the 6th wave, we are worried about the planned lifting of the obligation to use a mask in public places. The situation is changing rapidly and the mask remains one of the most effective measures to limit its spread. Let us be careful, let us protect ourselves. – College of Physicians of Quebec (@CMQ_org) March 31, 2022
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1:30 p.m.
As of Friday, vaccinated travelers to Canada do not need a COVID-19 test
From the Canadian Press: Vaccinated travelers will no longer need the COVID-19 test to enter Canada from Friday. The change is a departure from Canada’s policy from the early days of the pandemic, and the troubled tourism industry describes it as a significant benefit. Travel agents say they have seen an increase in demand for flights since the change was announced two weeks ago. Domestic tour groups have also reported a large increase in bookings in recent weeks. Although no screening will be required after April 1 for people who are considered fully vaccinated, Health Canada still requires anyone arriving outside the country to wear a mask in public for two weeks.
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The rules for unvaccinated Canadians and other travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement remain unchanged, and these individuals will have to undergo a negative test or data that has been in place for some time after infection to enter the country. Reminder for travelers, from tomorrow, April 1, fully vaccinated individuals will no longer be required to provide the COVID-19 test to enter Canada. pic.twitter.com/9VgjmlWKP4 – Jean-Yves Duclos (@jyduclos) March 31, 2022
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1:15 p.m.
Widening access to PCR tests, Quebec opposition parties say
Two opposition parties are calling on the government of Prime Minister François Lego to extend access to PCR tests amid the sixth wave of the pandemic. Quebec severely restricted access to laboratory testing in the middle of the fifth wave, when clinical trials could not meet demand. It is now limited to certain sections of the population, including health workers and people aged 70 and over who have symptoms. The province has told other Quebec residents to use quick home tests, the results of which are only monitored through a self-report site. “What is frustrating is that the government stopped the whole screening approach with PCR, which means we do not have the right indicators to look at the current wave, either in the counties or in Montreal,” said Parti Québécois, a health critic. Joël Arseneau told reporters this morning.
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He called on the government to allow more people to be screened at PCR screening clinics “to ensure we can see the size of the coming wave”. This sentiment was echoed by liberal health critic Monsef Derraji in a separate press conference. “It is absolutely necessary to extend the use of PCR tests,” he said. “Today,… PCR is only available to people at high risk, in populations at risk, I think it’s time to reconsider this decision.” 12:45 pm
No new COVID restrictions: ‘We were worried, but it was anticipated,’ says Dubé
Following on from my previous live coverage, here is our story, by Philip Authier in Quebec City, about what Health Minister Christian Dubé had to say today about the sixth wave. 12:05 p.m.
