(Quebec) In the coming weeks, Quebecers should not expect to be forced to wear a mask again in public places. They will be recommended to wear one, but the decision will be left to the individual’s discretion.
This was essentially indicated by Prime Minister François Legault, during a brief press scrum on Tuesday, on the sidelines of a caucus meeting of his deputies at the Quebec City Convention Center, in preparation for the next parliamentary session.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and the National Director of Public Health, Dr.r Luc Boileau, will provide an update on this issue on Wednesday, as health specialists observe an upsurge in respiratory infections across the country, particularly among children, at a time when the COVID-19 virus is still raging and that of the seasonal flu.
“There is no question of reintroducing on a compulsory basis” the wearing of masks in public places, he commented.
The day before, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health had said he “strongly” recommended wearing a mask in all indoor public places, including schools and daycares, but without going so far as to make it compulsory everywhere for everyone. The Dr Kieran Moore made the recommendation on Monday as part of an update on the pediatric respiratory virus season, which has seen children’s hospitals across the province overwhelmed in recent weeks by a massive influx of very sick young children.
On Sunday, as the holiday season approached, conducive to gatherings and rapprochements, the College of Physicians of Quebec once again recommended that the population wear a mask in public places.
For its part, federal public health stressed Thursday that people should be extra careful because respiratory viruses are having a marked start to the season in the country, immunity to COVID-19 is declining and social contact is increasing. with the relaxation of sanitary measures.
In Quebec, wearing a mask is no longer required in most public spaces since May 14.