Editorial: Quebec’s COVID plan is each for himself, it seems

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The seventh wave of the COVID pandemic is here according to Director of Public Health Luc Boileau, but both he and Minister of Health Christian Dubé say there is no need to re-impose public health measures. The situation is “under control,” Dubé said on Thursday, echoing Prime Minister François Legault’s comments earlier this week.

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Is really?

And if so, for how long?

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise, as newer and increasingly contagious variants sweep through the population. At the same time, doctors have warned that this rebound comes at a time when the hospital network is already under strain, as the holiday period and COVID-infected staff absences exacerbate existing staff shortages.

Dubé and Boileau attributed the rise in cases in large part to the fact that many with COVID did not follow isolation guidelines, which specify that those infected must remain in isolation at home for five days and then avoid seeing other people and wear a mask when they are. in public. another five

Those who put themselves back into circulation prematurely are acting irresponsibly. But what about the government’s own responsibility to citizens? You are saying one thing while your actions (or inaction) send a different signal. At the same time, with officials reminding people of the importance of vaccination, that wearing masks is a good idea in crowded spaces, and telling citizens to remain “extremely vigilant,” this government has been ruling out the possibility of returning to impose rules on masks or other public health measures. , something that would help keep the pandemic under control. It’s hard to imagine that the removal of almost all mask-wearing requirements hasn’t also contributed to the rise in cases. Relatively few people seem to be wearing masks these days.

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Even if vaccination has mitigated the blow of COVID for many, it remains a deadly threat to the most vulnerable among us. At the very least, for the sake of the immunocompromised and elderly, it would make sense to reimpose masks on public transport, an essential service. Asked about this by a reporter at Thursday’s news conference, Dubé dismissed the idea, speaking of the value of wearing masks.

More and more, it seems, it is each one for himself.

Dubé scoffed Thursday when asked if not re-imposing mask rules has anything to do with provincial elections in October approaching. Still, barring an imminent collapse of the hospital system, the government is likely to be increasingly reluctant to take measures that are deeply unpopular with a segment of the population courted by Quebec’s Conservative Party, whose star appears to be ascending.

Certainly, it is essential that the government puts the lives and health of Quebecers before votes, and that it be guided by science, not polls. Anything less would be inexcusable.