Divided opinions on the upcoming end of mandatory mask wearing in Quebec | Coronavirus

Quebec’s acting national director of public health, Dr. Luc Boileau, is expected to announce on Wednesday that wearing a mask will no longer be mandatory in most public places as of May 14.

The information first reported on Tuesday by the Diary of Quebec and the Diary of Montreal was confirmed by Radio-Canada.

Exceptions

The mask would remain compulsory in health establishments and public transport. People placed in isolation for a period of 10 days due to COVID-19 must also continue to wear it.

Wearing a mask should remain recommended in situations considered to be more risky, such as when you find yourself in the presence of vulnerable people.

Dr. Donald Vinh, infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), believes that public health should look twice before announcing the end of a health measure so far in advance.

Despite some stabilization in the number of people hospitalized to treat COVID-19 in Quebec, there is no guarantee that the situation will continue to improve by May 14, warns Dr Vinh.

In medicine as in other sciences, making predictions can be risky, he reminds us.

Caution

You have to be careful [et éviter de] make promises you can’t keep […] Things can change from week to day or day to dayconfides the scientist in an interview with Radio-Canada.

” We are not in this “business” to make predictions and especially not promises based on predictions. »

He believes that people at risk, either because of their age, immune status or physical condition should continue to wear the mask in public, a good one preferably, and avoid enclosed spaces and indoor activities in places .

Dr. Vinh also recommends that these people get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to put the odds in their favor.

Dr. Elyse Berger Pelletier, emergency physician at the Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, trusts the competent authorities to determine whether or not the time has come to end the obligation to wear a mask in the majority of places. public.

A wind of hope

The doctor believes that public health has always played it safe regarding relaxation of health measures.

If the authorities see that it’s the right time, I think it will also give a breath of hope to the population, then that’s not a bad thing.argues Dr. Berger Pelletier.

She welcomes the expected maintenance of the wearing of compulsory masks in hospitals. In addition to helping to slow the spread of COVID-19, masks and barrier measures in general help protect staff and patients from other viruses such as influenza and gastroenteritis.

There for a long time

The emergency physician expects health professionals to continue wearing the mask for a long time, even after it is no longer mandatory.

” We have so many viruses these days in the emergency room that we will continue to carry it […] We want to protect ourselves. »

The president and director general of the Quebec Regrouping of residences for seniors (RQRA), Marc Fortin, hopes that the reductions surrounding the wearing of the mask will be adapted according to the different types of establishments which house seniors.

If, in his view, the measure should be maintained in the common areas of the CHSLDResidential and long-term care centerintermediate resources and units (sections or floors) of RPAprivate residence for seniors reserved for persons requiring care, autonomous seniors must be exempted.

Avoid ageism

We would prefer to treat them like the rest of the population, not to ageism. These people are free, they are autonomousargues Mr. Fortin.

the RQRAQuebec group of seniors’ residences estimated that around 150,000 people live in RPAprivate residence for seniors in Quebec, which represents 17% of seniors.

Between 60 and 65% of residents of RPAprivate residence for seniors are completely autonomous.

With information from Sebastian Bovet and Pierre-Alexandre Bolduc