The one who was in the spotlight for the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Doctor Horacio Arruda, has been reappointed assistant deputy minister at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).
The Council of Ministers announced his appointment on Wednesday evening in a press release, without further details.
Dr Arruda had been leading public health actions since the summer of 2012 when he was appointed by then health minister Yves Bolduc.
The one Quebecers knew as their national director of public health, however, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister François Legault, who accepted it, in January 2022 when hospitalizations were reaching peaks in the province, due to COVID. -19.
Several people had strongly criticized Dr Arruda for his controversial recommendation of a curfew, in the wake of health measures. Others had questioned his skills after his comments on the use of rapid tests or even wearing a mask which provides a false sense of security.
Dr. Luc Boileau succeeded him as Director of Public Health, and he is also Assistant Deputy Minister in the Directorate General of Public Health.
A previous version of this text claimed that Mr. Arruda was returning to his post at the ministry, a year and a half after his departure. In fact, Mr. Arruda never left his position as deputy minister; his mandate, which he has held since 2012, was renewed.
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