The interim director of public health Dr. Luc Boileau explained the decision in a press conference on Tuesday, saying the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations amid the province’s sixth wave prompted him to recommend maintaining the measure – just 10 days before it was expected to be lifted. . “The virus is still circulating significantly,” Boileau said. “We prefer to take a more cautious approach and it is our responsibility to do so.” He said the measure would be maintained for the next two weeks and would be regularly re-evaluated by public health officials. “It’s not our goal to keep it [masks] “forever,” he said. CLOCKS Dr. Luc Boileau explains how Quebec can live with the virus:

Boileau explains why restrictions such as limit collection will not return

Quebec’s interim director of public health says vaccination is not the only reason the government no longer plans to respond to COVID-19 waves with restrictions such as concentration limits. 0:56
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Prime Minister Francois Lego hinted that the province was leaning towards extending the measure beyond the scheduled date of April 15, but said he did not expect any new restrictions in the run-up to the sixth wave. “Fortunately, many people have their three vaccines, so the impact so far is that we do not expect to add new measures,” he said. According to recent forecasts from the Quebec Provincial Institute of Health (INESSS), the county is expected to see an increase in both infections and hospitalizations in the coming weeks. Boileau estimates that Omicron’s highly contagious subtype, BA.2, accounts for 75 percent of new cases. The decision to cover comes as the province recorded 72 more hospitalizations and 31 deaths on Tuesday. “The pandemic is not over,” Boileau said. He reminded Quebec residents who tested positive for the virus that they should be isolated for the first five days and then remain vigilant for the next five. “You can be contagious for a period of 10 days,” he said. “This is not the time to go to restaurants, to shows, to do sports with others, or to entertain people,” Boileau said. Experts have warned that given the recent rapid spread of BA.2, now is not the time to wear masks. While Quebec no longer offers PCR testing to the general population, a new study from Montreal shows the county saw up to 32,000 new COVID-19 infections a day last week. Currently, only Quebec, PEI and Nunavut still require a mask in public, with Nunavut scheduled to terminate its mandate within the next week. The PEI, which was due to relinquish its mandate on Thursday, announced on Tuesday morning that it would retain its mandate until 28 April. Other provinces have resisted calls for an extension or reinstatement of public health restrictions, although cases have risen in some parts of the country.

Extension of the 4th dose

Vaccination remains an effective tool for preventing complications and hospitalization for the virus, Boileau said. Last week, Quebec opened access to the fourth dose of the vaccine in Quebec residents who are more vulnerable to serious complications from COVID-19 – seniors over 80, people with immunocompromised people and residents of nursing homes. But the government is also calling for attention to be paid to people aged 60 and over, saying that the vast majority of people currently in intensive care are in this age group. On Tuesday, Boileau announced that Quebec is opening its fourth installments to people 70 and older through Wednesday and Monday, April 11 to people 60 and older. Quebec Public Health encourages all Quebec residents who have not received the third dose of the vaccine to receive it. Dr Jean Longtin, a microbiologist at the Ministry of Health who spoke to the media on Tuesday with Boileau, said the effectiveness of the vaccines tends to decline after five to six months. CLOCKS The Montreal epidemiologist explains why masks are still needed:

Mask orders should be extended in Quebec, the doctor says

Dr. Christopher Labos spoke to CBC News about the sixth wave of the Quebec pandemic and how he thinks it is best to continue mask orders for now to reduce the risk of hospitalization. 6:01