The significant increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Mauricie, raised some concerns on Wednesday in the municipality of the MRC de Maskinongé.
“We didn’t have a case before! Then it gets worse, ”said a citizen met by VAT News.
In the last week, the CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Center-du-Québec reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 in the MRC, including 15 in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts. These new infections represent 21% of all confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic in the small municipality.
“It’s sad, because it’s going to become as flat as at the start of the pandemic,” said another resident.
Regional public health has spoken of outbreaks related to workplaces, restaurants, bars and private gatherings.
According to testimonies collected by VAT News, it is rather a Halloween party that would be the trigger for the latest outbreaks.
A person infected with COVID-19, who worked at the processing plant of the Yum Yum Potato Chips company in Warwick, is said to have spread the virus without knowing it. Another outbreak also led to the preventive closure of the plant on November 2.
The management of the New France Microbrewery has opted for a preventive closure of its establishment on November 5, for a period of 5 days. All employees have been tested for the disease and the restaurant was able to reopen its doors on Wednesday.
The Bistro Tabarouette has also closed its doors, but this time until November 12. Management informed its customers that it was becoming difficult to deal with the hearsay of the last few days. “Employees also found that some people were not going to get tested even after being contacted by public health. So for the safety of our customers, the bar will be closed until November 12, ”wrote the management of the Bistro.
“It’s deplorable what’s happening, but I salute the initiative of these entrepreneurs who take the lead and close their doors before the situation escalates. The costs are significant, there was Bon appétit Maski at the Microbrasserie Nouvelle-France last weekend. The tables were taken for the evenings of Friday and Saturday. Then they closed their doors, so imagine the financial losses! None of these owners want to be cited as the next outbreak site. They prefer to temporarily close their doors, ”explained the mayor of Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Michel Bourassa, on Wednesday.
For its part, the public health directorate has asked the population showing symptoms, including those who are vaccinated, to quickly screen them.