Sylvain Leduc indicated that the daily average number of cases of infection is still high, one month after the confirmation of the first case linked to a variant in the region, on March 12.
We have an average of about 35 cases per day, which would bring us to more than 1,000 cases, when we talk to each other on May 12.
That’s a lot of the case, he adds. That would be too much, in fact, because we know that this number of cases also generates a significant number of hospitalizations and as we have seen, deaths as well.
, he raises.
According to him, the next month promises to be difficult if the Bas-Laurentiens do not change their way of doing things.
We will have to resume our good habits.
Dr Leduc reiterated that the variants are mutations of the virus and that they are more easily transmitted from one person to another.
However, he said he was relieved to see that most seniors have received their first dose of the vaccine, but is worried that variants of the virus are hitting younger people who have not yet been vaccinated.
Sylvain Leduc maintains that approximately 25% of the population of Bas-Saint-Laurent has received at least one dose of vaccine.
However, he made it clear that this also means that three out of four people are still not protected against the virus and that health measures must therefore always be followed carefully.
A last month marked by variants
Doctor Leduc recalled that the last month has been difficult in terms of the transmission of the virus.
Since the confirmation of the presence of a first case of the variant in Bas-Saint-Laurent, nearly 800 residents of the region have contracted the coronavirus.
Five additional deaths have also been added to the regional toll, for a total of 35 since the start of the pandemic.
This is not the kind of month we would have liked.
Doctor Leduc also recalled that the unit of the Rimouski regional hospital intended for patients with COVID-19 has been reopened since the arrival of cases caused by variants after being closed for a few weeks when cases of infection were on the decline.
The number of contacts on the rise
Sylvain Leduc also explained that the most recent epidemiological surveys indicate that residents of the region have increased the number of daily contacts they have with other people.
He claimed that this increase was noted from February. A marked decrease in the number of contacts had however been noted by public health at the return of the holiday season.
According to Dr. Leduc, some citizens have been surprised
by the return of a more sustained spread in mid-March.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Plusieurs personnes ne croyaient pas que ce virus pouvait revenir en force. Maintenant, on doit prendre acte. […]We have the means to pull ourselves together “,” text “:” Several people did not believe that this virus could come back in force. Now we have to take note. […]We have the means to pull ourselves together “}}” lang = “fr”>Many people did not believe that this virus could come back in force. Now we have to take note. […] We have the means to pull ourselves together, he argued.
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