The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and the national director of public health, Luc Boileau, will meet on Tuesday at the end of the day to take stock of the health situation. Quebec is awaiting the opinion of Public Health before discussing a plan to curb the increase in cases of respiratory viruses.
These meetings are weekly, but the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) recognizes that “the situation is currently difficult in our emergency rooms. In addition to COVID-19, the increase in cases of influenza and other respiratory viruses in children is of great concern to us,” said the Minister’s press attaché, Antoine De la Durantaye.
According to Mr. De la Durantaye, a point will be made “soon” by the ministry, which recalls that “it remains important to protect yourself and protect others when you have symptoms of COVID-19, but also of other virus”.
In Ontario, where pediatric hospitals are overwhelmed, Premier Doug Ford invited his population on Sunday to wear “a mask as much as possible”.
Asked about a potential return to wearing a compulsory mask, the politician had announced that he would rely on the “instructions” of the province’s chief medical officer, Dr.r Kyeran Moore.
The tone became more serious on Monday, as the Dr Moore “strongly” recommended wearing a mask in public places and said he is “discussing and considering” the possibility of requiring it again in Ontario schools.
Asked by The duty As for the possibility of an announcement of new instructions, the MSSS indicated Monday morning ” [analyser] the situation”, while recalling that “wearing a mask is recommended in the presence of vulnerable people […] and in public places when it is difficult to keep a distance from others”.
On Sunday, the College of Physicians of Quebec also recommended wearing a mask in public places in the face of “the worrying rise in cases of respiratory viruses in children and the overflow of pediatric emergencies”.
With The Canadian Press