This year is different, we will stay away from each other
, summarizes the regional director of public health Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Dr Yv Bonnier Viger.
The eldest of a family of eight and a proud grandfather, Dr Yv Bonnier Viger usually takes part in family gatherings of over 70 people during the holiday season. This year, he will be alone with his wife in his house in Cap-des-Rosiers, in Gaspé.
This year, Christmas will be nothing at all
, he says. We will surely have some virtual family meetings. I’m on call anyway, I won’t make big gaps.
We will greet the children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces and all the friends behind our little computer screen.
“We have to do things differently this year, pretend there is hardly any Christmas,” says the regional director of public health Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Yv Bonnier-Viger.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Skype screenshot
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The plans are similar for the medical officer in public health at cISS from the North Shore, Dr Richard Fachehoun. Even if he lives in the orange zone, where gatherings of six people are still allowed, he does not foresee any contact beyond his family bubble.
I’ll just celebrate with my little family
, assures the doctor from Benin, who usually celebrates Christmas in Montreal, in large family gatherings that extend over several days.
We have planned a virtual lunch and supper to share with other close members and we will do some outdoor activities.
Dr. Richard Fachehoun invites the North Shore to limit their contact during the holiday season.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Olivier Roy-Martin
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Caution, but hope
Public health authorities insist that we must not let our guard down during the holiday season.
Dr Fachehoun warns residents of the orange zones. He invites the North Shore people, and the Madelinots by the same token, to be very careful if they decide to come together.
Yes, it is possible to have gatherings of six people, but there is a risk of transmission of the virus
, he recalls.
The doctor would like to point out that a distance of two meters must be respected between the guests coming from different family bubbles and that the wearing of the mask must be respected when gathering inside the houses.
He also mentions that it is recommended to do a voluntary confinement, a week before and a week after the time of the gatherings and that it is preferable to limit the number of meetings to two.
Caution will be required during the holidays to limit the spread of the virus.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Rob Kruk
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A final effort is needed, also says Dr Bonnier-Viger, while the vaccination suggests that we can celebrate Christmas normally next year.
I wish everyone to look forward to next year and think about how much fun we’re going to have to see each other again, he said. As much as possible, we should not take risks because our seniors remain vulnerable until they are vaccinated.
It would be a shame if our elders weren’t with us next year because we would have been too impatient to see each other this year.
The director of public health of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Dr Sylvain Leduc, did not wish to participate in this report.
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