Montreal Public Health will take a “more aggressive” approach with the Omicron variant, while the only person so far positive – an asymptomatic traveler and doubly vaccinated – was quickly placed in isolation.
“We are going to have a differentiated approach. When we have cases of the Delta variant, we apply the current measures, whereas with suspected cases of Omicron, we will really be in a very suppressive, more aggressive approach. All contacts, even doubly vaccinated, will be isolated, and we will have a very close telephone follow-up, ”raised on Wednesday the regional director of public health in Montreal, the DD Mylène Drouin, who is not considering community transmission for the moment.
If the situation becomes more urgent, Public Health will assess whether it is necessary to “also seek contacts of contacts in certain contexts”. “If one of these cases has frequented a community, the approach in the community will be a little more aggressive. It may be that we are closing classes, ”said M.me Drouin, in turn welcoming the proactivity of the federal authorities at the borders.
We have enhanced our vigilance and our screening capacity to allow us to quickly identify suspected cases of Omicron.
The DD Mylène Drouin
As the authorities still have only “very little information on the epidemiological characteristics” of this new variant, the angle to be adopted is one of “caution”, argues the expert, who does not seem to support the idea. to have gatherings of 25 people at Christmas for the moment, as Prime Minister François Legault mentioned on Monday. “If there is, ideally it would take people vaccinated, in places that allow distancing,” she limited herself to saying.
Unequal rates among young people
By his side, the director of the COVID-19 command center in Montreal, Sonia Bélanger, confirmed that around 20,000 young people aged 5 to 11 have so far received their first dose in the metropolis, or 14% of the population. eligible. Almost a third of them have already made an appointment, however. In the general population, 80% of Montrealers are adequately vaccinated.
“It’s not over. We thought that with the fourth wave, we were on a plateau. But with the Omicron variant, what will it be? Nobody can predict it ”, illustrated Mme Bélanger.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Montreal COVID-19 Command Center Director Sonia Bélanger
On the island of Montreal, the vaccination campaign among 5-11 year olds seems to be progressing at very different rates. While in Mount-Royal and Westmount, between 22% and 24% of young people have already received their first dose, only 3% have had it in Montreal-North. In Saint-Léonard, this figure is only 3.5%, while in Villeray – Saint-Michel – Parc-Extension and Ahuntsic-Cartierville, we are talking more about 7% and 9% respectively.
About 50% of schools are “not targeted for vaccination directly at school”, revealed Mr.me Bélanger, however promising to “adjust, with each of the CIUSSS, according to the local response”.
“We will still have approaches in targeted schools, in red or underprivileged neighborhoods, where there are more barriers. But our message to parents is that if you have the capacity to go to massage vaccination centers, the sooner the better, ”said Dr.D Drouin, for whom these deviations are not surprising because they resemble the trend seen in adults.
This week marked the fifth consecutive year in Montreal where the number of COVID-19 cases “continues to rise”, averaging 250 per day, which is similar to the peak of the fourth wave. The most affected groups are the unvaccinated, especially in 5-11 year olds and 35-44 year olds. The districts of Anjou, Saint-Léonard, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Saint-Michel and Côte-des-Neiges are the most affected, with positivity rates of more than 5%.
In the Montreal network, there are 100 hospitalized patients, including 31 in intensive care. Six deaths have been reported in the past seven days. “Our contingency plans are ready, the number of reserved beds is ready, we’re talking about 500 beds that are available,” said Sonia Bélanger.
The authorities finally identify 180 active outbreaks, especially in elementary schools and daycare services. Seven sources of contamination are still active in the homeless community, while their number is declining in the work and care environments.