What figures did the Legault government use to decide on the closure until further notice of theaters and cinemas? This is the question that many are asking in the cultural community, which seems to have had little to do with the explosion of COVID-19 cases, according to the latest figures from Public Health. But the picture of the situation remains incomplete, warn public health experts, who call for caution.
According to data from the Direction régionale de la santé publique de Montréal obtained by The duty, there were in Montreal on Tuesday some 347 active outbreaks, of which only one was attributable to an “art, culture or entertainment” activity. And again: this category also takes into account outbreaks related to restaurants and bars.
Regional Public Health was unable to specify where exactly this single reported outbreak emanated from. It is therefore impossible to know if it is linked to the Quai des brumes, which last week invited its customers to go for a screening test after several cases were reported following a performance by singer Alex Burger.
Be that as it may, the number of outbreaks recorded in cultural circles remains very low compared to the 126 active outbreaks as of December 21 in primary schools in the metropolis.
“We are like caught in the crossfire. On the one hand, if the situation is as catastrophic as we are saying at the moment, obviously we want to do our part, even if it means closing our doors. But at the same time, we also have the impression that despite our efforts to limit the spread and our good results, we are still being punished, ”explains the director general of the Conseil québécois du théâtre, Catherine Voyer-Léger, when these figures are brought to his attention.
The health indicators of last week concerning cultural places were not more alarmist, which did not prevent the Legault government from decreeing Monday the immediate closure of theaters and cinema.
As of December 14, there was only one outbreak of 12 cases among participants in an “arts, culture or entertainment” activity in Montreal. Conversely, about a third of the contaminations came from an elementary school, a portrait similar to that of this week, moreover.
“I am not an epidemiologist, but 12 cases, it seems to me that it is not really much, compared to the records of 5000 cases which one registers at the moment. I really have the impression that we are paying for the unintentional people who wanted to organize parties in bars on weekends. The government has decided to put us all in the same package, ”regrets Marco Fortin, general manager of Cinéma Beaubien, who still has to go for the closure announced on Monday.
Avoidable closure?
Marco Fortin is convinced that cinemas could continue to function safely in the current context, with beacons. Benoît Mâsse, professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal, doubts this.
He recalls that the figures concerning the number of outbreaks by sector of activity are not exhaustive, as the search for contacts has more or less been left behind in recent weeks by Public Health. In this sense, the number of people infected in theaters or cinemas could be considerably higher, he believes.
“I know it’s a tough time for the cultural industry, but now is not the time to talk about exceptions for indoor spaces. The time is too serious: we are facing the worst crisis we have had since the start of the pandemic, ”underlines Benoît Mâsse, pleading for the imposition of strict confinement in the coming days, and perhaps even a curfew.
However, he recognizes that theaters and cinemas are among the safest places, since they are well ventilated and distancing is possible.
For this reason, the virologist Benoît Barbeau admits to having been surprised by the change of course of the Legault government with regard to cultural places. It is believed that the 50% capacity limitation announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday would have been sufficient to contain the virus in these places.
“I think we wanted above all to give a hammer blow to reduce our contacts. Probably that the gatherings on social networks have also tainted the decision, ”analyzes Mr. Barbeau, who expects a toughening of the rules in other sectors in the coming days, such as theaters and cinemas do not count for great – something in the surge in cases.
Primary schools and factories
In addition to primary schools, the manufacturing industry plays a large part in the rise in contamination. In the week of December 5 to 11, nearly half of the cases related to an outbreak in the workplace in the province were associated with the manufacturing field, according to the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ). Even if they are the first victims of the new health measures, employees in the restaurant and entertainment industry at the start of the month only accounted for 4% and 2%, respectively, of cases in the workplace.
“We are aware that the measures have consequences for individuals, communities and businesses, but the primary objective is to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why the tightening of measures applies widely to all sectors of society in a spirit of social distancing, ”reiterated the Ministry of Health and Social Services by email Tuesday.