Wearing a mask will no longer be mandatory in Quebec as of May 14 | Coronavirus

Not everywhere…

Wearing a mandatory mask will nevertheless be maintained in certain places, in particular public transport, health establishments, medical clinics, CHSLDs, during outbreaks or in the presence of vulnerable people.

Explaining that the pandemic situation shows very tangible signs of hope to bring us to the other side of the wavethe director of public health in Quebec explained that wearing a mask will become optional in closed public places and that it will therefore be a personal choice based on the civic responsibility of each and everyone in the face of the pandemic reality.

” He [le masque] will soon be optional and we will be able to wear it by personal choice or for the sake of protecting others. »

Even if wearing a mask is no longer mandatory […] it is not a prohibition to use it, warned Mr. Boileau. Wearing a mask in public remains an effective gesture of protection against COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, insists public health.

Dr. Boileau therefore invited Quebecers to respect the choice of those who will continue to wear it in public as well as the choice of those who decide to no longer wear it.

People who contract COVID-19, but also those who have symptoms similar to the disease – whether their rapid test is positive or not – will be responsible for wearing a mask in public for at least ten days.

In its latest report, public health reported 30 new deaths and 19 fewer hospitalizations in Quebec over the past 24 hours.

Nearly two years of mandatory wear

In Quebec, the obligation to wear a mask in indoor public places has been in effect since July 18, 2020. The announcement of its lifting is eagerly awaited, especially since it was postponed twice last month. , first on April 5, then on April 21.

Quebec is one of the last two Canadian provinces where wearing a mask remains mandatory in indoor public places.

The only other province to still impose this measure is Prince Edward Island. However, Charlottetown announced last week that this obligation will end on May 6.

In Quebec, such an announcement was to be made on Monday, but it never took place.

Last Thursday, Dr. Boileau announced that the measure would remain mandatory until May 14, without commenting on the follow-up, contenting himself with saying that he wanted to continue to observe the evolution of the sixth pandemic wave. .

Concerns persist in the union environment

If it constitutes a relief for a large number of Quebecers, the abandonment of the compulsory mask in the majority of public places nevertheless raises concerns, in particular at the Centrale des unions du Québec.

The end of wearing masks in public spaces also involves workplaces, and we remain concerned about the health and safety of people at risk, immunosuppressed people and pregnant women. The same goes for people who will remain insecure about the virus and its consequences.writes in a press release the president of the CSQ, Éric Gingras.

According to the CSQ, even if the mask will no longer be mandatory in most workplaces, employers have an obligation to provide a safe work environmentrecalls the central trade union.

This is why the union is asking for the preventive withdrawal of pregnant women, especially in schools, in order to minimize the risk of infection for them, as recommended by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ), adds the CSQ.

Considering that Quebec is preparing to cross a big step the CSQ urges employers to continue to provide masks for workers who wish to continue wearing them.