How to Meet Safely Over Thanksgiving Weekend in Quebec

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Public health experts are reminding Quebecers to be vigilant during Thanksgiving weekend, when the province will likely see its first swath of large indoor gatherings of the colder season.

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Quebec has managed to keep the number of daily COVID-19 cases relatively stable amid the fourth wave, but its health care system, which will lose thousands of unvaccinated staff members next week, remains fragile as the province enters its 20th month of the pandemic.

“If you look at the rates across the country, we are certainly much better than most other provinces,” said Dr. Donald Vinh, infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at the McGill University Health Center. “But of course be careful here, we shouldn’t take that as good news to be complacent on the upcoming long weekend.”

Currently, up to 10 people from different addresses or all members of three households are allowed. meet indoors privately in Quebec. If distancing is not possible, people who are not vaccinated are “strongly advised” to wear a mask.

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Both Vinh and Dr. André Veillette, an immunologist at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute and a member of the Canadian government’s COVID-19 Vaccines Task Force, believe Quebecers could do more to ensure their meetings are safe.

“We have to take our own hands in deciding what to do, what our risk is and how we mitigate that risk,” Veillette said.

This is what they suggest:

Know who you are inviting

It is a good idea to know the vaccination status of the people you are inviting, as unvaccinated guests pose a threat to everyone.

“I think we’ve come to realize that vaccines are an amazing tool to keep us out of the hospital, but they only work if everyone in a meeting gets vaccinated,” Vinh said. “The idea that most people who get vaccinated will protect people who are not vaccinated, I think is going out the window and that means our behaviors have to change.”

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Assess the risks

Even if guests are fully vaccinated, it is important to consider the potential impact of contracting COVID-19.

“If you are a caretaker, I would err on the side of caution,” Vinh said. “You may be fully vaccinated yourself, but if you get infected in a meeting and then take it to the people you care for … you could imagine that could be a problem.”

It is also important to note that no child has been vaccinated.

“We have children who are probably the main vectors these days,” Veillette said. “They catch (COVID-19) at school, they give it to their parents and grandparents, and then if some of these people are not vaccinated and they get together, I think that’s when there is a risk that the number of cases will go up. . “

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When in doubt, mask

If you are attending a meeting with unvaccinated people or are a person who could transmit COVID-19 to someone vulnerable, consider taking additional measures.

“If there are concerns about people’s exposure … or if you work in a work environment where many people gather and you are not sure about your vaccination status, when in doubt, wear a mask,” said Vinh.

Get out if you can

Although the low temperatures tend to drive people indoors during Thanksgiving weekend, the weather forecast for Montreal suggests that it could be warm enough for outdoor festivities.

“The beauty is, if the long weekend still feels like (Thursday), we’ll have sunshine and pretty warm weather,” Vinh said.

If you are indoors, ventilate

A good way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 when people eat, drink and talk in close proximity is to ventilate.

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“Ventilation is as simple as opening windows, if possible,” Vinh said. “It might not be comfortable, it might be a bit cool even for when people have dinner, but that’s an option.”

People who have air vents should also use them, Vinh added.

Consider the broader impact

Stable case numbers don’t mean we’re out of the woods, both experts said.

“When you have these holidays, whether it’s Labor Day or Thanksgiving, and then we’re going to have Christmas in a couple of months, that’s when people can get together, gather inside, that’s when there is the risk of transmission. if people have the virus, ”Veillette said.

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled Dr. André Veillette’s name. The Montreal Gazette regrets the mistake.