The lifting on May 14 of the obligation to wear a mask in public places in Quebec could be confirmed this Wednesday by the acting national director of public health, Dr Luc Boileau.
Several sources say that this decision will be announced when Dr. Boileau will give an update at 11:00 a.m., at a press conference in Quebec, on the evolution of the current situation of COVID-19 in Quebec.
However, Quebec reported an increase in coronavirus-related hospitalizations on Tuesday.
During his last press conference, on April 28, Dr. Boileau had already acknowledged that the compulsory wearing of masks in public places could fall on May 14, if the improvement in indicators continued in the following days. He then explained that the peak of the sixth wave of COVID-19 had probably passed and that this trend could continue in the coming weeks, according to projections from last week.
However, he pointed out that the obligation would remain in force in public transport and hospital settings beyond May 14.
On Tuesday, Quebec health authorities attributed 27 new deaths to COVID-19 and an increase in 24 hours of 25 hospitalizations, to 2,195, while 76 patients were in intensive care, a decrease of two.
A total of 7,401 health care workers were absent on Tuesday for reasons related to COVID-19, such as preventive withdrawal, isolation or awaiting results.
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