The regional director of public health for Montreal, the DD Mylène Drouin, believes that the obligation to wear the mask in public places should not be lifted until Quebec is “comfortably installed in the downward slope of the curve” of COVID-19. This protective measure is all the more important, according to her, as a flu season is coming.
“We were vaccinated [contre la grippe] some time ago, reminds the DD Drouin, in interview with The duty. It was in November for the most vulnerable. »
The acting National Director of Public Health of Quebec, Dr.r Luc Boileau, had already announced a week ago that wearing a mask would be required indoors at least until the end of April. According to the D.D Drouin, the reassessment of this measure must be carried out not only in the light of the cases of COVID-19, but also in the light of those of influenza.
In the metropolis, the number of outbreaks linked to COVID in care settings and resources for the homeless – the only ones that Public Health now identifies – rose from 59 two weeks ago to 90 last week.
Of these 90 outbreaks, 31 took place in private seniors’ residences, 30 in hospitals and 22 in CHSLDs. “We had about ten while roaming, but these are small outbreaks, indicates the DD Drouin. We are still happy to see that it is not an outbreak. »
According to the regional director, the sixth wave of COVID-19 has not yet peaked in Montreal, but the progression of the disease is slowing. “We have an increase in hospitalizations, but of lesser importance in proportion to what the rest of Quebec has experienced,” she observes.
Hospital capacity
The latest assessment in Montreal hospitals reports 418 patients with COVID-19, including 24 in intensive care. “All in all, we’re still doing well,” she said. Hospital capacity is not compromised, even with the fact that there are many healthcare workers affected. »
The DD Drouin expects hospitalizations to increase further over the next ten days. However, this will have nothing to do with the fifth wave, she specifies.
The doctor explains that Omicron is hitting Montreal seniors more at the moment. The incidence has “increased a lot among people aged 75 and over” and the increase in visits by the elderly to Montreal emergency rooms bears witness to this, she adds. “Even if these individuals have been vaccinated, there is still a proportion [d’entre eux] who can develop a more severe form of COVID-19, says Dr.D Drouin. There are very vulnerable people. »
About 85% of people aged 65 and over in Montreal have obtained their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. “We still have covers that are interesting for seniors,” judges the regional director. For the fourth dose, however, there remains “a little bit of work to do” among those aged 80 and over, according to her. A vaccination round is underway. “About 25% of our 80+ year olds have had their second booster dose so far,” she says.
The DD Drouin reminds Montrealers who have symptoms similar to COVID-19 to carry out a rapid screening test (by taking a swab from the inside of the cheeks, at the base of the tongue and in the nostrils) and to avoid visiting vulnerable people.