The recommendation of the College of Physicians to wear the mask in public places is causing a stir. For or against? With the cold setting in and the office holiday season looming on the horizon, The Press garnered reactions in the fields of health, education and residences for the elderly.
It must first be said: wearing a mask was already recommended in public spaces when it is difficult to respect a distance with others, underlines Judy Morris, president of the Association of emergency physicians of Quebec. The College of Physicians only made a “good reminder” on Twitter on Sunday, adds the doctor.
And it is not a hazard. “People are a little tired of hearing that, but the system is saturated. Pediatric emergencies are overflowing. We also see elderly people in adult hospitals with influenza, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus,” she says.
“People have to take the current situation into account,” notes the emergency physician at Sacré-Coeur hospital.
The DD Morris is not in favor of the return of the mandatory mask in public spaces, but she believes that Public Health should send a strong message as cold weather sets in and people stay indoors more. “People have to understand that it’s to protect the people around them,” she says.
On Monday, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health rightly “strongly recommended” wearing a mask in indoor public places, during an update on the pediatric respiratory virus season. The Dr Kieran Moore is also studying the possibility of making the mask mandatory in schools and daycares; as in Quebec, Ontario pediatric hospitals are overflowing. In parallel, Ottawa announced Monday the importation of acetaminophen and ibuprofen for infants and children to counter the shortage of drugs which persists.
And in the classrooms?
In Quebec schools, most teachers have not worn the mask since May. They are no longer obliged to do so, says Mélanie Hubert, president of the Autonomous Federation of Education. “There is no appetite from teachers to wear it at all costs. If the situation were to deteriorate to such an extent that Public Health made it an obligation, we would definitely recommend that our members follow this advice,” she said.
If there is no obligation, you will understand that our teachers are everywhere on the chessboard of society. Some are pro-mask, others are against, others are mixed. Our members are no different from the rest of society.
Mélanie Hubert, President of the Autonomous Federation of Education
The president of the Centrale des unions du Québec, Éric Gingras, confirms that teachers and school staff share the position of the general population: they do not want to go back on the subject of wearing a mask. “If it becomes mandatory, we will line up behind the scientific decisions,” he agrees.
“On the other hand, if we identify schools as being a place where it is mandatory to wear the mask, and that elsewhere, this is not the case, it will be unacceptable, if it is to replace the inadequate ventilation”, warns -he.
In a written exchange with The Press, the Association québécoise des CPE has also confirmed that it will comply with the recommendations of Public Health and the CNESST, if applicable. The Association of Pediatricians of Quebec preferred not to comment.
“Many will react badly”
In private residences for seniors (RPA), the majority of the clientele no longer wears the mask, affirms Marc Fortin, president and director general of the Regroupement québécois des residences for seniors. And the return of the face covering would be very bad news for seniors and would awaken very bad memories. “A lot of people will react badly. We’ve had so much over-containment in RPA. People have been confined to their rooms, small apartments or large apartments for six or seven weeks. There was a decline in their motor ability, and mentally many were depressed,” he said.
Seeing all seniors as vulnerable, as the government does, “is ageism,” says Fortin. He is of the opinion that seniors with weakened immune systems should wear the mask in public places, but not those who are in good health.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has indicated that it is “analyzing the situation”. “We are concerned about the circulation of respiratory viruses at the moment. Remember that wearing a mask is recommended in the presence of vulnerable people, such as the elderly, immunocompromised people and those with chronic illnesses, and in public places when it is difficult to maintain a distance from others. writes Marjorie Larouche, spokesperson for the ministry, in an email.
With Ariane Krol, The Press