It is difficult to know if the removal of the mask in schools from March is rushed, estimates Dr Olivier Drouin, pediatrician at Sainte-Justine hospital.
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“If we’re really there, that’s good news. It means that things are moving in the right direction,” he said in an interview with Mario Dumont when he expressed his concerns.
However, the removal of the mask comes at the same time as the easing of many health restrictions.
“There was almost nothing left in mid-March other than the mask and the VaxiCode. We take off the mask [dans les écoles] in addition. That’s going to be a lot of measures starting at the same time. I hope it will go well,” explained Dr. Drouin.
His concern comes in particular from the fact that currently, in Quebec, it is very difficult to know the real portrait of the pandemic.
“Our only indicator currently is hospitalizations which are down, but if we look at the start of the pandemic, we are at the highest level compared to the first, second, third wave. It’s getting better, but I just hope we don’t need to go back on our words,” he said.
As of March 7, elementary and secondary school students will no longer have to wear masks in class, François Legault announced on Tuesday.
March 7 will coincide with the return of spring break in most regions of Quebec, including Montreal, Outaouais, Abitibi, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord.
However, in Laval, Quebec and Chaudière-Appalaches, as far as Bas-du-Fleuve, since students have their break a week later, they will benefit from the relief from March 14.
This new health relief would only affect primary and secondary school students, many of whom fought off the virus during the fifth wave, giving them some immunity.