The effect of COVID-19 on the healthcare network increases after the holidays. As for the other respiratory viruses, the flu wave continues to fade, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) appears to be experiencing a new upsurge.
On Saturday, Quebec counted 2,180 hospitalized people who tested positive for COVID-19, up 5% in a week. Of these, 739 patients were hospitalized directly due to their COVID-19 infection. The others were admitted for another reason.
In both cases, the hospitalization curve reached a new high since September. And the number of people in hospital is expected to continue to rise in the coming days, with the number of admissions exceeding the number of discharges. On average, there are 15 more patients every day.
“We reap what we sow,” said Drr Donald Vinh, an infectious disease specialist and microbiologist at McGill University Health Center. When we roll back the health measures, just before a period of big gatherings with families and friends, we shouldn’t be surprised to see an increase in viral and respiratory cases. »
The number of deaths related to COVID-19 also remains high. On Monday, Quebec reported four new ones, bringing the daily average to seven. The province’s toll since the start of the pandemic is therefore 17,750 dead.
RSV slightly increasing; flu drops
Additionally, the most recent statistics released by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) show that the influenza virus continued to decline during the holiday season, while respiratory syncytial virus is on the rise.
During the week ending January 7, the positive test rate for influenza A (flu) reached 6.91% compared to a rate of 12.07% the previous week. We are far from the peak of 26.76% in the week ending December 3, 2022.
During this same week, the Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Chaudière-Appalaches regions recorded the highest influenza positivity rates, 20.34%, 17.22% and 14.80%, respectively %.
In the case of COVID-19, the test positivity rate was 11.3% in the week ending January 7. If this is lower than the previous week (13.2%), the number of positive tests has not stopped increasing week on week since the period ended November 12th. The January 7 result is the first (slight) pullback in eight weeks.
The number of RSV cases has increased over the past three weeks. The percentage of positive tests was 5.13% in the week ending December 24 and then reached 6.39% on December 31 and 6.45% on January 7.
The holiday effect
The full effects of the holiday season may not yet have been measured, notes the Dr Vinh. “We have to keep in mind that people were less inclined to line up to get tested during this time,” she said. With people returning to school and work, we are likely to see an increase in cases that have either stabilized or are declining. »
The Dr Vinh said the flu lasted a few months in the southern hemisphere and it could be the same here.
I don’t think we will see the end of the flu in January. But the impact of the flu on the healthcare system will be minimized because the number of cases is declining.
The Dr Donald Vinh, an infectious disease specialist and microbiologist at McGill University Health Center
For his part, virology expert Benoit Barbeau, a professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal, points out that in winter and with the end-of-year holidays, people are more likely to stay indoors, which favors contagion.
“Young people, in recent days, in recent weeks, have come together a lot. There are office parties, family parties. We are therefore further inside. And in that context, these viruses, especially influenza and COVID-19, have transmission advantages. Subsequent increases can then be observed. »
Prudence is therefore in order before celebrating the end of the virus season.
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- 734
- Number of influenza A virus positive cases across Quebec for the week ending January 7
Source: National Institute of Public Health of QUEBEC
