Too early to ease health measures?

With thousands of hospitalizations and nearly 12,000 employees still absent from the health network, the situation is still too “difficult” to further ease health measures, insisted François Legault Thursday at a press conference. A majority of readers agree with the Prime Minister, although some of them would like there to be softenings for vaccinated people. Here is an overview of some 300 responses to our appeal to all.

Omicron too present

Let’s not blame the Public Health Department and the government for keeping their foot on the brakes. The effects of Omicron are still too present to bring us closer to this dear freedom. Why run the risk of reopening and closing everything in a relatively short time? For once we cannot blame the authorities for their laxity, their inconsistency, that they do not put the cart before the horse.

— Jean-Pierre Grondin, Matane

Two weights, two measures

I do not agree with Mr. Legault’s strategy. Before the holidays, half of the outbreaks were in our schools that were poorly ventilated and yet still deprived of air purifiers. Yesterday, when I saw an air purifier at my dentist, he told me that it was required by the CNESST. Why are there double standards? To hide the management shortcomings, Mr. Legault maintains draconian measures that stifle the business community and the cultural community. Ontario, which is also experiencing a fifth wave, was able to present a progressive plan for deconfinement. I think that we must put an end to the health emergency and bring the debates back to the National Assembly.

— Gaetane Lemay

Too many stage managers

And what would you do in their place? Far too many stage managers are undermining the efforts of the government by their statements based on their perception of the facts. The CAQ governs according to the facts, assesses the risks and is on the lookout for the limits of hospitalization capacity. Do you believe they do this with a glee of heart? We, Quebecers, are the best in chialage. As individuals living in a society, let’s start by behaving responsibly for ourselves and others.

—Jocelyne Poirier

Let’s think about hospitals!

Everyone is fed up with COVID-19 and restrictions, but the situation in hospitals requires us to persevere a little longer. Many tend to forget about hospitals when speaking out.

—Pierre Leduc

Mental health matters

I am not saying to eliminate the sanitary measures, but to attenuate them to allow the people who collaborated by accepting the vaccination from the outset to lead a more pleasant life. The level of sanitary measures in Quebec is much greater than elsewhere, but the situation (cases, death, hospitalization) is certainly not better. The weakness of the health system should not be the only concern. Mental health also matters.

—Jean Dagenais

Solidarity and compassion

Yes, it is too early and I fully support the government, which is following the recommendations of Public Health. I too am at the end of these restrictions, but when I think of my fellow citizens, of the surgeries that are delayed, of the people who are dying, I become more patient out of solidarity and compassion. It is entertaining, but painful to see the festival of stage managers who one day blame the government for the sanitary measures in place and then others who, on the contrary, attribute the responsibility for the lack of measures to it. Let’s stop being selfish and think more about the community

— Antoine Chartier

That’s enough !

That’s enough ! To save the health system, which is on a ventilator, we agree, it’s all the other sectors and pillars of our society that lack oxygen! What’s the point of trying to save the dead (and bed counting) when the rest of the living are divided, bitter on both sides and the economy is going straight into a wall! Inconsistencies in sanitary measures such as massage parlors open, while restaurants are closed, it is difficult to understand and I say: enough is enough!

— Johanne Chalifoux, Saint-Eustache

Open restaurants

Restaurants could easily be opened at 50% capacity for two- and three-dose vaccinees. We’ve been following the rules for almost two years.

—Robert Thibaudeau

As much freedom as a non-vaccinated

Right now, I’m wondering why I got vaccinated three times! I’m at home, I don’t meet anyone… so I have as much freedom as a non-vaccinated person.

—Denis Marquis

Until February

I agree with the Prime Minister. Still at least until the first week of February, so as to assess the situation after two weeks of the start of the school year. Over a lifetime, two more weeks won’t make a big difference. For our health network, this is essential.

—Jackie Garcia

Need for oxygen

I have a lot of questions right now. If all restaurant owners and their employees are triple vaccinated and their customers are too, explain the risk to me? I believe, in this case, that the risk of catching COVID-19 is much smaller than the risk of the triply vaccinated giving up and rebelling. We need a little oxygen not to crack!

— Maryse St-Gelais

Disaster in hospitals

When we see the catastrophic situation in our hospitals, we can only agree with the maintenance of these restrictions!

—Bertrand Harvey

Reduced measures

It is high time to ease health measures despite the pressure on the health network. The government repeats ad nauseam that we have to learn to live with the virus, that we see the light at the end of the tunnel and he always begins his press conferences by presenting us with the good news of the day before painting the catastrophic portrait of the situation to justify the maintenance of measures. Let’s be realistic and return to lighter measures by allowing the reopening of restaurants, bars and cultural events while extending the application of the vaccine passport to medium-sized businesses.

— André Lebeau, Montreal