There is no question for the moment of lifting the obligation to wear a mask at all times in CEGEPs and universities in the province. The lifestyle of the students – and not their vaccination rate – explains this decision of Public Health.
Quebec announced earlier this week that as of November 15, high school students would no longer be required to wear a mask in class in areas of the province where they still had to be worn. However, they must continue to cover their faces in common areas and on school buses.
Students from CEGEPs and universities will have to wait a little longer. Public Health considers it “preferable” to maintain the current measures.
“Yes, college and university students are more vaccinated, but they do not live in a vacuum: they mingle with the rest of the 18-29 year olds, who are less so. In addition, at CEGEP and university, students can come from elsewhere, and live in a residence or apartment, but return to other regions for weekends and holidays, ”explains Marjorie Larouche, porter. word of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).
Rapid tests at McGill
In a message sent to its community on Thursday, McGill University also observed that during the weekend of Halloween, its students had been “numerous” to “gather for the holidays as well as to attend. bars and restaurants ”.
Although it specifies that cases of COVID-19 have been rare on its campuses this fall despite the fact that 85% of teaching activities have resumed in person, the University has announced the establishment of a pilot project. rapid tests on its campus for people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19.
Starting next week, students, teachers and other staff will be able to get tested on a voluntary basis.
These rapid tests “come in addition to the protective measures already in place” on campuses, announces the Montreal university in a message to its community. The results are available in about 20 minutes, but if a test is positive, it will need to be confirmed by a PCR test carried out at a screening center.
As in all Quebec universities, it is not necessary to be vaccinated to take courses at McGill University. The vaccination passport is however required in libraries and for certain activities.
Hospitalizations are expected to decrease
In addition, the increasing number of cases in the province should not have a short-term impact on hospitalizations, which could continue to decrease for the next few weeks, according to a report by the National Institute of Excellence in Health and in social services released Thursday.
For Quebec as a whole, projections suggest that the number of new hospitalizations could continue to decline slightly, especially in Greater Montreal.
Elsewhere in Quebec, occupancy rates for regular beds and intensive care beds are relatively low and are expected to remain stable over the next two to three weeks.
“Normally, the increase in cases translates into an increase in hospitalizations, but if the increase in cases affects the younger groups a lot, the increase in hospitalizations is going to be small,” says Dr.r Gaston De Serres, epidemiologist at the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) and member of the Committee on Immunization of Quebec.
The MSSS identified 588 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the daily average to 533, up 27% over one week. Thursday’s absence of deaths brings the daily average to three. This is a slight decrease from last week.
The number of hospitalizations has decreased, to a total of 241 people hospitalized now, seven less than the day before. There are now 63 people in intensive care, a decrease of seven.
Vaccine efficacy
This drop in hospitalizations and deaths comes as a new INSPQ study published Wednesday shows that COVID-19 vaccines are 95% effective against deaths and 94% against hospitalizations, even in the presence of Delta variant.
“It’s very interesting and satisfying as a result. It fits very well with what was published a few months ago by the INSPQ, ”says Alain Lamarre, professor-researcher specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute for Scientific Research.
Vaccine efficacy against all infections is at least 89% in individuals for whom at least one of the two doses was an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). However, the efficacy is 73% in those who received two doses of AstraZeneca. “It is still very effective against severe forms,” says Mr. Lamarre.
What is more, this excellent vaccine efficacy is also lasting. Vaccine efficacy against hospitalizations and deaths remained relatively stable until the end of the study, ie seven months after the second dose.