Public health authorities are asking Quebecers to stop wearing masks if they are not sick in order to limit the shortage of these products related to the coronavirus.
A watchword was also sent to all health establishments in Quebec to make “rigorous management” of all protective equipment, including putting them under lock or watch, said Wednesday the Minister of Health Danielle McCann, in a press briefing to provide an update on COVID-19.
Photo Agence QMI, Joël Lemay
Deputy DG of Public Health Protection, Yves Jalbert, and Minister of Health Danielle McCann Wednesday in Montreal.
–
–
–
Without confirming that there had been theft of masks or other medical items, Mme McCann said there was “uneven use”.
Accompanied by the Deputy Director General of Public Health Protection, the Dr Yves Jalbert, however, she was reassuring, recalling that the risk of infection was always low and that there was only one confirmed case.
Recall that this is a woman from Verdun, Montreal, who was returning from a trip to Iran, a country now hit hard by the coronavirus.
Minister McCann said there are 33 other potential cases in Quebec that are currently under review. Since the start of the epidemic, 203 negative cases of coronavirus have been reported.
“Strong image”
In many foreign countries, especially in Asia, many people have been seen wearing masks and protective equipment. But the authorities do not want that for Quebec.
“It’s a strong image, but we would like to repeat that this is not necessarily what we want to see here,” argued the Dr Jalbert.
Supported by Minister McCann, the latter recalled that the famous masks did not guarantee protection for the citizens who wear them.
“Wearing the mask for a person who is not infected himself or in direct contact with an infected person, not only is not necessary, but can even be harmful,” he said. That leads us to have a wet mask, we are going to be more likely to put our hands to our mouths, which is a behavior that can create contamination. “
Ottawa will be there
The 34 cases of COVID-19 so far detected in Canada involve people who have recently traveled to countries affected by the disease – China, Iran and Egypt – or who have had close contact with a close who went there.
A Vancouver elder is in critical condition from COVID-19.
Ottawa promises to be there if the provincial and territorial health systems need additional resources to deal with the coronavirus. However, we are at the stage of analyzing the needs of the provinces.
“We take the COVID-19 outbreak very seriously. This is changing fast, day by day, hour by hour, “said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland who chaired the first meeting of the ministerial committee established to respond to the spread of the disease.
– With Émilie Bergeron, QMI Agency
Today’s report
- Total deaths: 3285
- Deaths in Quebec: 0
- Total confirmed cases: 95 411
- Confirmed cases in Quebec: 1
–
