To prevent the situation from “spilling over into hospitals”, the Legault government is tightening its measures even further. From December 26, indoor gatherings in residences and restaurants must be limited to six people “or two family bubbles”. More than 9,000 new cases of COVID-19 will be reported on Thursday.
“The measures announced this evening, we think that is enough to keep control in hospitals, but we will not hesitate in the coming days, if necessary, to add measures”, warned Prime Minister François Legault.
By Sunday, he chooses to “let the people who absolutely want to meet ten to do it”, while asking Quebecers “who are able to postpone their holidays to do it”. “You are also asked to have only one supper or one evening, on the 24th or 25th, but not both evenings. ”
Over the past seven days, hospitalizations have jumped from 309 to 445. “We think that in the next few days, there is going to be a good increase in hospitalizations. What we want is that it does not spill over into hospitals, that we are able to continue to treat everyone, ”Mr. Legault insisted, recalling that 70% of hospitalized patients are 60 years old and more.
François Legault then delivered a direct message to the unvaccinated: “no matter what you can read or listen to, it is clear that you put yourself at a much greater risk of not being vaccinated”, he told them. . In adults, the 10% of non-vaccinated people represent 50% of hospitalizations. Christian Dubé, the Minister of Health, has also promised that “if we must go further in the bans on non-vaccinated since the situation could deteriorate further, we will not hesitate to do so”.
The unvaccinated, I ask you for Quebec and for the others, please, stay at home if you do not want to be vaccinated.
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
“New paradigm” of screening
The national director of public health, Dr Horacio Arruda, revealed that the province will change its testing strategy, as COVID-19 testing centers have been taken by storm in recent days. “We are going to move to a new paradigm of self-management of the disease,” said Mr. Arruda.
From now on, PCR tests “should be reserved for symptomatic people”. “You really have to go to the testing clinics if you have symptoms and you don’t have rapid tests at home. If you have symptoms and you have a positive result with a rapid test, you self-isolate and you can go for a PCR test. But you can also just rely on the quick test and stay home, ”said Dr.r Arruda.
In the event that “you have been in contact with a positive case”, Quebec recommends isolation for ten days. Again, you will have to go to a screening clinic “only if you have symptoms”. And it is “strongly recommended” to make an appointment.
So far, Quebec’s daily capacity is around 50,000 tests per day. Mr. Arruda recognizes that it will be necessary “to have an approach which will allow us to use our tests in a most efficient way”. “These new directions will make it possible to prioritize the people most susceptible to COVID-19 and to speed up the process,” he said. He said test results will be communicated quickly by email to those who have consented, after which people can notify their contacts.
On Tuesday, 758,160 additional rapid tests were delivered to wholesalers, and will be sent to pharmacies in the coming days. “The United States is very aggressive in the rapid test market. If the federal government cannot supply us so quickly, we will do the same. We are going to be aggressive on the international market directly, ”Christian Dubé promised on this subject.
N-95 relief and masks
Regarding load shedding, Mr. Dubé confirmed that Quebec still has “leeway”. “We are able to go to level 3 to 4 of the ministry. We think this is sufficient. If ever we need to do more, we will do it, ”he said. In other words, “there will be no emergency operation load shedding” for the moment ”.
“It’s never pleasant to postpone even non-urgent operations, but that’s where we set our goals. There are Quebeckers who will be called in the coming days to postpone surgeries, ”he admitted, before adding that there are no“ issues in living environments ”such as RPAs or CHSLDs, where entry is limited and the situation “under control”.
As for access to N95 masks for all health and day care workers, a repeated request from several unions, the Dr Arruda said she was waiting for an opinion on the matter. “There are no issues,” added Mr. Legault on this subject.