If you find that the Canadian Caufield-Suzuki-Dach trio is hitting hard this year, it’s nothing compared to that formed by COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Pediatric emergencies are overflowing. Children’s Tylenol is as scarce as Quebec strawberries in February and many parents are unable to even reach the 811 line for health advice.
The current situation is very difficult for the children and parents affected – not to mention the health personnel who find themselves (still) overwhelmed.
The National Director of Public Health, Dr.r Luc Boileau finally addressed the public on Monday to send a clear message.
A message that says this.
If you are sick, stay home. If this is absolutely impossible, wear a mask. And this is true for both adults and children.
It was time. The last press conference of the Dr Boileau dated back almost three weeks ago. In times of crisis, it takes a long time. Especially since the recommendations have been the subject of some confusion over the past few weeks.
Until the beginning of November, the instructions were clear. In the event of COVID-19, you had to isolate yourself for five days, then wear the mask for the next five days.
Public Health then adapted its message to take into account the fact that it is not only COVID-19 that strikes, but a cocktail of viruses. An approach based on symptoms rather than on the diagnosis of a disease has been adopted. It made sense.
The problem is that Public Health then asked people to isolate themselves only in the event of a fever. Those who suffer from coughs, sore throats or nasal congestion are invited to rub shoulders with their fellows. They are recommended to wear a mask, but we know that few of them follow the instructions. This is especially true in schools and, especially, in day care centers (a young child, anyway, cannot wear a mask).
Benoit Mâsse, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal, recalls, however, that the symptoms most likely to transmit infections are not fever, but coughing and sneezing.
It must be agreed that with all the runny noses and all the itchy throats currently, it is impossible to ask all the sick to isolate themselves for 7 to 10 days (the period of contagion for most of the viruses that circulate). . We would paralyze society.
But we must insist much stronger on the need for all symptoms to be careful. In November, for example, instructions were sent to nurseries to encourage them to welcome sick children without fever. The message must be that these children stay at home, unless it is absolutely impossible. Otherwise, we are fueling the absenteeism that we are trying to prevent.
The Dr Boileau said Monday that the peak of respiratory syncytial virus infections appears to have been reached. So much the better. But the flu and COVID-19 are on the rise.
There are still three weeks of school and daycare left before Christmas for the children to stir up virus soup. Adults will do the same during parties offices that are beginning to surge.
All this just before we all go to hug grandma and cousins in crowded houses, when the already too few healthcare workers will be even more so due to the holidays (and God knows they deserve them) .
We must therefore, collectively, take the message sent on Monday seriously. We repeat: if you have respiratory symptoms, stay at home. If you absolutely must go out, wear a mask.
frequent a party sick office, it goes without saying, is completely irresponsible.
It is the fate of the health network that is at stake. The quality of our Holidays, too.