Two days before the opening of the Salon international du livre de Québec, the increase in cases of COVID-19 worries many invited authors. So much so that some have decided to cancel their visit as a precaution, especially since several participants in the Salon du livre de Trois-Rivières, held less than two weeks ago, say they contracted the virus there.
For example, of the thirty or so authors affiliated with Éditions Québec Amérique who had confirmed their presence at the Salon du livre de Québec, at least three have changed their minds because of the sixth wave of the disease — and others are in reflection. “We respect this decision. From the beginning, it was always clear that the authors could cancel five minutes before their arrival. We want everyone to be comfortable,” insists Nathalie Ranger, marketing director for the publishing house. She also calls on the public to be extra vigilant.
During the literary meeting, which is held at the Quebec City Convention Center from Wednesday, no restriction on the number of visitors will be imposed, but the mask will be compulsory at all times. These same rules were in effect at the end of March in Trois-Rivières, whose Book Fair nevertheless ended with several cases of COVID-19.
“There were like everywhere else, I have the impression. During the show, we complied with the rules of Public Health in an exemplary manner. All authors and all visitors wore the mask. That said, it’s true that the authors went to the restaurant and the bar together after the fair,” defends Éveline Charland, co-director general of the Salon du livre de Trois-Rivières, who remains of the opinion that the sixth wave is not not a sufficient reason to cancel that of Quebec.
After careful consideration, the north-coastal author Gérard Pourcel still preferred to cancel his visit to the capital, where he was to promote his most recent biographical book, From Pessamit to Jerusalem: an Innu tells. “It’s a personal decision. I would have been staying with immunocompromised family members. I don’t want to risk contaminating them by exposing myself in a crowd,” explains the 74-year-old writer, who has been vaccinated four times.
The one who has already directed the Salon du livre du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean understands the delicate situation in which the organizers of the one in Quebec find themselves. “I have absolutely no idea how I would react. The reporter would be a huge problem from a financial point of view. It can jeopardize the survival of an organization, as there would be all kinds of additional expenses, but no income, ”he illustrates.
An almost normal edition
The organizers of the Salon international du livre de Québec have no intention of postponing – let alone canceling – the event.
In addition to the mandatory mask and hand disinfection, no additional rules will be enacted, we maintain, unless otherwise advised by Public Health. No question of imposing gauges, therefore, unless the authorities demand it.
“One would have thought that what is happening at the moment would discourage the population from coming, but not at all. Everything suggests that there will be a lot of people this weekend; we have already sold a lot of tickets, ”maintains the general manager of the show, Daniel Gélinas, who finds it difficult to hide his enthusiasm two days before the start of the first in-person edition of the literary event since the start of the pandemic.
According to the organization, so far only two authors have been forced to cancel due to contracting COVID-19. We are preparing for a few other cancellations for this reason, given the health situation in Quebec, but all in all, we anticipate an almost normal 2022 edition. Some 15,000 primary and secondary school students are among others expected from Wednesday for the event which will end on Sunday.