Quebec’s government is seeing a new problem now due to the new wave of Covid-19 cases being witnessed now and increasing number of hospitalizations due to the same. The government has made it clear to not make masks compulsory in the Canadian province despite the warnings given by doctors to do so.
The cases of particularly Omicron BA. 4/5 variants are increasing on a global level. This has resulted in rising number of infections and the authorities are struggling with trying to avoid the extension or re-introduction of certain restrictions that were put before. The common masses now feel the appropriate measures being not taken properly by the government that once imposed quite strict measures before.
Quebec facing the seventh wave
Donald Vinh,a doctor with the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, advised Quebec to make the wearing of masks compulsory in indoor public places so as to prevent more infections or death rates from increasing. But the government is “afraid of angry voters,” as Vinh stated “They’re not afraid of dead voters.”
Quebec is facing the seventh wave, like other Canadian provinces. According to the data provided by the government, more than 7,000 health care workers are off the job due to the virus. Acute shortage of staffing services is being witnessed by Quebec as of now.
The province announced 1,887 people being hospitalized because of COVID-19 on Friday. This is an increase of 27 as considering the number from the previous day. The Montreal Children’s Hospital said it was “unable to see patients whose condition is non-urgent.”
View of experts
Dr. Marie-France Raynault, a senior public health adviser, told reporters on Thursday, “I believe in education and not always in mandatory measures.”
Epidemiologist Catherine Hankins, co-chair of Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, told Reuters this month a mask mandate is not yet needed but would be if this wave worsens.
“Everybody’s thinking, ‘Oh, we have the summer off,'” she said. “But … this wave is picking up now.
