In the midst of the 6th wave, experts advocate an approach that relies on caution. Quebec would take unnecessary risks by lifting the obligation to wear the mask in public places at a time when the indicators of COVID-19 are on the rise, according to these specialists
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At a time when Public Health is weighing the pros and cons regarding the possibility of extending the obligation beyond the date of April 15, the specialists consulted call for the maintenance of this measure while waiting to see the direction that will be taken. the 6th wave of the pandemic.
“I recognize that there is fatigue in the population. I’m tired as a member of the public, I’m sickened as a healthcare worker, so I get it. The problem is that the virus really doesn’t care what we think or what we feel, ”says Dr. Donald Vinh, infectious disease specialist at the McGill University Health Center.
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Cases and hospitalizations are on the rise and there is no indication that the situation will be corrected in two weeks, he raises.
In this context, he believes that it is not time to remove the mask, especially since barely more than one out of two Quebecers has received the booster dose of the vaccine, which offers the best protection against mutations of the virus. .
Thousands of infections
According to estimates by the CIRANO research center, Quebec experienced 18,000 to 32,300 new infections per day last week.
Courtesy picture
Roxane Borges. Da Silva Professor
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“The effectiveness of the mask makes it possible to minimize contamination in enclosed spaces, all the more so with this hyper-contagious variant, and therefore to reduce the potential of people who will be hospitalized, to make room for those who are waiting. [de soins] and who do not have COVID, ”raises Roxane Borgès Da Silva, professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal.
Without being irresponsible, removing the mask requirement in mid-April would be “really risky”, especially since there is a potential for reinfection even when one has already had Omicron, according to her.
“Why take risks when the measure is so non-binding and well anchored in social practices? she asks.
Wise to wait
For his part, virologist and professor at UQAM Benoit Barbeau believes that it would be wiser to wait at least another week before taking a position.
This would allow more hindsight on the trajectory of the 6th wave, he says.
According to him, we could however consider a “compromise” where the obligation to put on the mask could be partially withdrawn, according to an assessment of the risks by type of public place.
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