Prime Minister François Legault on Tuesday ruled out the hypothesis of reimposing the wearing of a mask to stem the rise in infections by respiratory viruses.
“There is no question of reintroducing [le masque] on a mandatory basis,” said Mr. Legault.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, will take stock on Wednesday in Quebec with the national director of public health, Luc Boileau.
“There will be recommendations and it will be done tomorrow by Christian and Dr. Boileau,” he said when he arrived at a meeting of his deputies at the Quebec City Convention Center.
Mr. Dubé’s office explained that the government no longer has the power to require the wearing of a mask since the end of the state of health emergency.
On Sunday, the College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ) recommended wearing a mask in public places in the face of “the worrying rise in cases of respiratory viruses in children and the overflow of pediatric emergencies”.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged his people to wear “masks as much as possible” as the province’s pediatric hospitals are overwhelmed.
“Not made there”
The Minister for Health, Sonia Bélanger, affirmed that the current situation does not require the restoration of the state of health emergency, in force in Quebec from March 2020 to June 2022, which notably enabled the government to impose the closure of businesses as well as a curfew, in addition to the mask.
“It’s not me who will decree the socio-sanitary emergency, I don’t think we’re there,” she said when she also arrived at the Quebec City Convention Center on Tuesday.
The government is awaiting public health recommendations before making a decision on the mask, the minister said.
“We are looking at what is happening in the other provinces in particular and Dr. Boileau will give us the guidelines,” she said.
Mme Bélanger said the mask “is part of the good measures”.
“Like hand washing, like distancing, like staying home,” she explained.
The crisis unit formed by Mr. Dubé to respond to emergency room overcrowding is currently dealing with the specific aspect of pediatric care. The government wants to restore pediatric designated clinics to promote rapid access and care, as was done last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said.
“It is true that the situation in pediatric emergencies is currently worrying, the crisis unit is looking for interventions in particular, she said. Experts in the prevention of infections in infectious diseases are there to help decongest the pediatric network in Quebec. »