Bien que la hausse des cas de COVID-19 semble ralentir au Québec, la transmission est encore en croissance dans plusieurs régions, a prévenu jeudi la Santé publique. Québec plaide pour un meilleur respect de « l’étiquette respiratoire », alors que le très transmissible variant BA.5 est maintenant devenu prédominant dans la province.
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« On voit que la croissance des cas tend à se stabiliser. Mais ici comme ailleurs, la situation varie selon les régions. […] Our objective is to reduce transmission as much as possible before the beginning of autumn, when we know that we are going inside and that we are increasing the risks, “said the strategic medical adviser at the Ministry of Health on Thursday. Health and Social Services (MSSS), DD Marie-France Raynault.
She argued that COVID-19 infections are still growing in “several regions”, including Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie – Centre-du-Québec, Estrie , the Laurentians, the Capitale-Nationale or Chaudière-Appalaches.
However, the situation is much more “stable” in the regions of Montreal, Laval, Outaouais, Lanaudière, Montérégie, or even in Terres-cries-de-la-Baie-James and Nunavik. Abitibi-Témiscamingue, it seems “in slight decline”, said Mme Raynault. “In more growing regions, people should apply a little more measures, because the situation is not under control,” she insisted.
Living with the virus means living normally, but taking basic precautions that affect transmission.
The DD Marie France Raynault
That said, community transmission remains “very strong” everywhere, even in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, she continued, indicating that the BA.5 variant – which represented approximately 43% of cases in Quebec at the end of June – “ remains extremely contagious. “Probably today, it is predominant in Quebec as in several other jurisdictions. This is the case in Europe,” noted the official. This subvariant of Omicron now accounts for two-thirds of cases in the United States.
Mme Raynault calls on Quebecers to respect the basic instructions, in particular five-day isolation in the event of symptoms, followed by a five-day period of vigilance, by wearing a mask during all outdoor outings. “There are many people who continue to go to work or see friends even with symptoms,” denounced the doctor.
Under control in the network
Fortunately, the impact on the health network is under control, according to Mme Raynault, for whom hospitalizations will continue to rise for some time to come, because there is always a delay between the drop in cases and the decrease in hospitalizations. “People hospitalized in intensive care are in a lower proportion. It’s good news. It shows that vaccination works to prevent serious complications, ”she insisted, recalling that more than half of people are admitted to hospital for a reason other than COVID-19.
On Wednesday, in new models, the National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) said it expected a “stabilization of the number of new hospitalizations” in the next two weeks. The number of hospital admissions linked to the virus would reach “around 160 per day”.
The results of the PCR tests by age group indeed suggest that the 7e wave could soon peak. Cases appear to have peaked among Quebecers under the age of 60. On the other hand, the trend is still clearly on the rise among people aged 60 and over, who are more vulnerable and therefore more at risk of being hospitalized. Public Health will provide an update on the COVID-19 situation this Thursday.
On Thursday, however, the COVID toll continued to increase. Quebec reported an increase of 93 hospitalizations, 18 additional deaths and 2,457 additional infections.
What is the respiratory etiquette that Public Health recommends applying?
- Refrain from going out if you have symptoms of COVID-19;
- Wear a mask if you absolutely have to go out with symptoms, or during large gatherings, or even in public transport;
- Isolate yourself for five days in case of symptoms, then remain vigilant for another five days, by wearing a mask for example;
- Wash your hands frequently, and practice physical distancing of two meters when possible;
- Get vaccinated with a booster dose as soon as possible, at least three months after the last dose.
With The Canadian Press