The proverb says: “To evil something is good”. So that we can say that about COVID-19, when it has caused nearly 30,000 deaths in Canada, including about a third in Quebec, that it has brought the health care system to its knees in many places of the world, that it has upset the economy of the entire planet, one must be, at first glance, a lover of silly proverbs. However, if we learned from this painful experience, we might reap long-term benefits.
Very few cases of influenza were reported during the winter of 2020-2021, when the tests were so numerous and the vaccination rate was similar to the same period of the previous year. Physical distancing measures, hand washing, wearing masks in public places have undoubtedly contributed to the decline in the prevalence of influenza.
Few are ready to relive the containment regime the government imposed during the winter of 2020-2021 to quell the COVID-19 virus. But we could certainly keep certain habits that are not too restrictive and that would reduce the incidence of diseases transmitted during the winter, including colds and flu.
Wearing a face cover in confined spaces, opening windows to ventilate, washing hands frequently do not constitute serious obstacles to freedom. No doubt, loved ones will want to hug and kiss each other over the holidays, but is it really necessary to kiss all the colleagues in the office? The handshake is well established in our mores, but unless you clean your hands each time, it is a vector of viruses. Let’s do like the Japanese: let’s bow slightly! Going to work when you have the flu is not a sign of bravery, but of carelessness for the health of others, who can be in the risk categories without it showing. Staying home when sick is in everyone’s best interests.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that the 300 or so flu deaths per year in Quebec are not inevitable. Even the most painful experiences can be useful …