With the rise in COVID-19 cases in Quebec and the good pace of the vaccination campaign among toddlers, it is difficult to predict whether Horacio Arruda will play the role of the Grinch or Santa Claus for the holidays, experts believe .
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
The Director of Public Health, Horacio Arruda.
“It is correct that we do a little relief, but by asking people to opt for safe behavior,” said epidemiologist Nimâ Machouf.
The infectious diseases consultant suggests to promote good ventilation in the dwellings, to find particularly vaccinated people there and to opt for the use of rapid screening tests.
The full professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Montreal Benoît Mâsse has fewer expectations due to the upsurge in new cases in Quebec in recent days.
This weekend alone, more than 2,700 infections have been reported. “We know it’s really inside, the danger,” he recalls. You’ll have to be careful. I think that’s going to be the message. “
Announcement coming soon
The national director of public health, Dr Horacio Arruda, had indicated last week that he was giving himself at least until today to determine whether the measures would be relaxed in time for Christmas.
While Prime Minister François Legault had said he hoped to have the OK to allow gatherings of 20 or 25 people, the average daily cases is now above 1,100.
Also, the Minister of Health Christian Dubé called for caution, especially with the arrival of the Omicron variant, tempering hopes.
On this subject, “we still know very little”, recalls Benoît Mâsse. He believes that we will have to wait weeks before knowing the real consequences of this version of COVID-19.
On Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci, White House adviser on the health crisis, also indicated that it was too early to draw scientific conclusions.
To consider
However, various factors are confusing the issue, acknowledge the experts consulted by The newspaper. This is the case with the vaccination campaign among young people aged 5 to 11. Faced with the spread of the virus, “it will really help us,” said Mâsse.
“If we have 85% of people who are vaccinated, the entire population can be considered protected,” points out Nimâ Machouf for his part.
The situation
2,700 new cases
- At the end of the week, more than 2,700 new cases have been identified.
2 deaths
- During this same period, 2 people are dead virus.
81% of the population is adequately vaccinated.
The quarter children of 5 to 11 years old received a first dose.