Quebecers will no longer have to wear masks in most public places to protect themselves from COVID-19, at least from next Saturday.
Quebec’s interim director of public health, Dr Luc Boalo, made the announcement Wednesday.
However, masks will be required on public transport, healthcare facilities, long-term care homes and other places where any kind of healthcare is provided.
Older people are still encouraged to wear masks because they are at higher risk.
And all people with an active or recent infection will continue to face restrictions, Boalo said. Those with confirmed infections still need to isolate themselves and then disguise themselves for five days when they re-enter the public or have some social interactions.
The greater logic applies not only to confirmed cases of COVID-19, but also to anyone with similar symptoms, he said. Even without a mandate, people need to be careful, isolate themselves and wear a mask while they have symptoms.
“When we have symptoms, we stay at home and isolate ourselves and protect others,” he said.
Dr Jean Longtin, another public expert who spoke with Boalo, said that even if vulnerable people were not seen while ill, “it will have to become a normal social [behaviour]”
Without a mandate, “it’s more of a social responsibility,” he said.
As long as the transit disguise continues, children on school buses will no longer have to wear masks, Boalo said, a decision made by the province because children are no longer disguised at school.
Boalo also stressed that the province calls on everyone to respect the choice of others to wear masks voluntarily, as many expect to do.
Quebec will be the last of the provinces to abolish mandatory disguise, and Longtin said it will be the last jurisdiction in North America. The only other province with a mandate still in place, the PEI, plans to repeal it as of this Friday.
Boalo had already hinted at the news at his last press conference on April 28.
He then explained that the peak of the sixth wave of COVID-19 has probably passed and a downward trend can be expected in the coming weeks.
BOALO EXPECTS “SELF-DEFENSE REFLECTIONS” WITHOUT MANDATE
The long-term future is much more uncertain. Boileau spoke on Wednesday about the need to monitor the options and the waves that come from here and take steps to alleviate them before things get too serious.
However, last week he also said that the authorities “do not want” to return the mandate to the masks, even probably in the autumn, if a new wave arrives, saying that people know enough now to understand the risk and act responsibly.
“I think people will spontaneously have self-defense reflexes,” Boalo said.
However, he also asked people to remember that “the virus can change, mutate, have characteristics that surprise us.” For example, a future option could focus more on children, he said. This kind of change could change the province’s plans.
Longtin said there are two factors that the province will closely monitor with the arrival of future waves: first, the characteristics of the option and second, the effectiveness of the available vaccines.
The current set of vaccines, developed in 2020, is slowly declining in effectiveness as options continue to evolve. However, updated vaccines are expected.
In fact, Quebecers should expect another vaccination campaign in the fall, although it is not yet certain what form it will take, Longtin said.
THE FIGURES SHOW THAT THE VIRUS IS STILL CIRCULATING WIDE
The update came after the province registered a drop in overall hospitalizations. As of Wednesday morning, 2,176 people were hospitalized for the virus, 19 less than the day before.
Although testing is limited to certain at-risk populations, a positive rate of 11.6% on Wednesday suggests the virus is still widespread in the province.
There were also 7,586 health workers absent from work due to the coronavirus.
Over the weekend, Quebec celebrated its 15,000th death from COVID-19.
In a later press release, the province explained more about the motives behind some of the camouflage rules that remain.
“The obligation to wear a mask on public transport is maintained due to the difficulties of passengers in managing the distances between them,” the statement said.
“It should also be noted that for many people these services remain their only possible means of transport.”
– With files from Canadian Press and Luca Caruso-Moro from CTV
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