Posted at 11:00 a.m.
Reached by telephone on Tuesday, pediatrician Marie-Claude Roy delivered a plea for the rapid return of extracurricular, artistic and sports activities for young people.
Now that the schools are reopened (it was THE priority), it is “urgent” to relaunch these activities, she says. And especially sports.
“Currently, for several sports, the youth season is falling apart”, underlines the DD Roy, pediatrician at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS and member of the board of directors of the Association des pédiatres du Québec.
All the investment, all the motivation, all the work behind it, all the positive feedback they’re going to get out of it, they’re losing it. We have to go.
Pediatrician Marie-Claude Roy
On December 30, Quebec suspended the practice of indoor group activities for an indefinite period. Discussions are underway between the government, Public Health and community partners with a view to a gradual recovery. According to our sources, we are aiming for the date of January 31, but Public Health is waiting to see the impact of the reopening of schools on the epidemiological situation before making its recommendations.
Elsewhere in Canada, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces have also suspended sports and recreational activities to deal with the Omicron variant. In western and central Canada, on the other hand, as in the United States and in European countries such as France, the United Kingdom and Germany, young people have not been forced to cease their activities.
Hinge step
According to the DD Marie-Claude Roy, these repeated suspensions for two years could have long-term impacts on the new generation, among whom we are already seeing more and more problems of sedentary lifestyle, obesity and addiction to screens. Childhood, she reminds us, is a pivotal stage in the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.
“Zero risk does not exist, continues the DD Roy. With clear measures, as was already the case before Christmas, all the conditions are met so that we can allow the return of these activities in relatively safe conditions, while accepting that it will not be perfect. »
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Pierre Lavoie, co-founder of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie
“National Emergency”
Pierre Lavoie, co-founder of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, speaks of the return to sport as a “national emergency”. As soon as Omicron’s cases start to go down, he says, we have to move on. “And when I say an emergency, it’s not in two months: it’s in the next few days,” he summarizes.
Coaches, clubs and federations will be able to continue to show imagination to get young people moving while waiting for the full recovery, underlines Pierre Lavoie. Hockey clubs, for example, could hold skills competitions. Coaches could also take young people outside to allow them to develop new skills.
What Pierre Lavoie fears the most is dropping out of sport, especially among young people aged 15, 16, 17.
Lots of young people have already lost the desire to move. We must make it a priority to give it back to them.
Pierre Lavoie, co-founder of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie
Sports psychologist Bruno Ouellette, father of two athletes aged 11 and 14, struggles to understand why sports for children and adolescents are still suspended, while professional sports and elite sports have been able to continue. “We send the message that it’s only important for the top level,” he said. Frankly. We shoot ourselves in the foot. »
Bruno Ouellette also regrets that there is not yet a timetable or criteria for recovery, nor even a social debate on the subject. “And is there any evidence to justify stopping sports? he asks. Science, we use it when it suits us. »
” As soon as possible ”
In a written statement, Minister Isabelle Charest said she was working with Public Health and partners to resume sports practice “as soon as possible” and in a “safe manner”.
“The return to sport is important for the entire population, particularly for our young people, and I am convinced that Public Health understands how essential it is,” she writes. We have to do things in order, we continue to follow the recommendations of Public Health and follow the instructions. We must continue vaccination efforts, it will put in place the winning conditions for the return of sport. »
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The Dr Donald Vinh, microbiologist-infectiologist at the McGill University Health Center
Microbiologist-infectiologist at the McGill University Health Centre, the Dr Donald Vinh also believes that it is important to relaunch youth activities. But the number one criterion, according to him, is not speed: it is safety.
“If we say: everyone can participate, vaccinated or not, without mask, without ventilation, without rapid tests and by mixing all the participants, it is sure that it will be a disaster and lead to outbreaks, illustrates-t- he. But if we do it in a safe and responsible way, I think it could be done. »
Various measures can be put forward, such as the vaccine passport, the establishment of bubbles, the control of the number of people in the locker rooms, the wearing of a mask (when possible) and better ventilation of the premises. The use of rapid tests could also be an asset. “You just have to do it in a safe way, sums up the Dr Vinh. And we have the means to do it. »