The fourth wave that swells in Quebec could be the worst of the pandemic, according to some observers. For now, the number of infections and deaths is still a long way from previous pandemic outbreaks.
According to the INSPQ calendar, the first wave began in February 2020 and ended in July 2020. The second wave began shortly after and ended on March 20, 2021. The third took place between March 21 and July 17, 2021. And since then, Quebec has suffered the fourth wave.
This last wave, which one could qualify as “Omicron wave”, will not resemble the preceding ones. Nearly 80% of the Quebec population is vaccinated twice, which confers broad protection against hospitalizations, but protected populations can still contract the variant in circulation. The relationship between cases and hospitalizations is no longer so direct.
The case curve is climbing at full speed right now. It is impossible to know for the moment when it will come back down, and to what extent it will leave behind a large number of dead and seriously ill.
This text is taken from our newsletter “The Coronavirus Mail” of December 20, 2021. To subscribe click here.
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