Quebec is affected by a new flu season, “unusual in April”. The increase in influenza cases is noticeable within the community, but also in the province’s hospitals, announces the acting national director of public health, Dr.r Luc Boileau.
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The population is invited to follow the same health instructions for the flu as for COVID-19, i.e. to isolate themselves in the event of infection.
About 55% of the 2,060 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized are in hospital for a reason other than the virus. Nevertheless, “the situation remains worrying”, expresses the national director of public health.
Some 12,700 employees of the health network are also missing due to COVID-19, indicates the Dr Luc Boileau. “We are still in pandemic growth. The situation is fragile.” INESSS predicts in its projections 278 new daily hospitalizations within two weeks.
With the Easter holiday approaching, the Dr Boileau maintains that the pandemic is still not behind us. “She remains active right now and will be for a few weeks.” He invites the population to remain vigilant during the long weekend and to manage their own risk. “People are able to make their choice,” he said.
The Dr Luc Boileau was accompanied by Daniel Parlé, Associate Deputy Minister of the General Directorate for Executive and Operational Management of the Pandemic of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the Dr Jean Longtin, microbiologist and clinical expert supporting the scientific management of the MSSS pandemic.
More details to come…