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Sharp increase in cases among health workers
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Jean-Louis Bordeleau
March 28, 2022
Health
Quebec must prepare to once again face the unforeseen events of the pandemic. Infections are on the rise again, and the number of contaminations could reach "half of what we saw in January," the acting national director of public health, Dr. Luc Boileau, estimated on Sunday. Already, 8,600 healthcare workers have to be absent from their workplace, a 60% increase in one week.
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The situation has changed a lot in recent days,” Dr. Boileau dropped right off the bat during an exceptional press conference. Quebec recorded 107 new hospitalizations on Saturday, reversing a trend that had held for nine weeks. “If the current trend continues, the number of hospitalizations will continue to increase. »
This resurgence was "expected", he recalled, due to the lifting of sanitary measures, but "the addition of [sub-variant] BA.2 on top surprised" the experts. If these two factors are combined, this latest surge in contamination could reach “half of what we experienced in January”, according to scientific consensus. About two-thirds of the infections recorded in Quebec already come from the BA.2 subvariant, said the acting national director of public health.
This new strain is so contagious that each infected person infects 10 others on average, notes Dr. Hélène Carabin, associate epidemiologist at the University of Montreal.
This average was 8 with Omicron, and 2 to 3 for the original virus. "Vaccination alone will not be able to completely stop the spread of the virus," she warns.
Consequence: not only is the number of patients suffering from COVID-19 increasing, but
the number of infected hospital staff is increasing as well. As of Sunday, about 8,600 health care workers had to be absent, most of them due to infection, which represents a 60% increase in one week. “There is a strong push at this level,” summed up Dr. Luc Boileau.
This weakening of the capacity to provide care in Quebec is of particular concern to authorities in regions where the number of employees is generally lower, such as Gaspésie, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean or Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
The spread of COVID-19 is stronger in these regions than in Montreal, because they were less affected by the fifth wave, points out to Le Devoir Dr. Maryse Guay, public health specialist at the Direction de la santé publique of the Monteregie. “These regions are getting caught up in the virus,” she says.
The lessons of Europe
“No question” however of reintroducing new so-called “population-based” health measures, said Dr. Boileau.
This laissez-faire attitude receives the approval of all the experts consulted by Le Devoir . “I believe that the government had no choice but to let society reopen a little, otherwise adherence [to the rules] would have been more complex and difficult”, underlines virologist Benoit Barbeau.
Leaving it to others to call the situation a “sixth wave,” Dr. Boileau nevertheless urged the public to be extra careful.
Hand washing, wearing a mask, physical distance and isolation for infected people remain in order. “After five days of isolation, we can, yes, get out of our isolation, but making sure to overprotect others, advised Dr. Boileau. […]
Contagion is ten days! »
He refrained from estimating the duration of this new wave, for lack of conclusive data. “Systematically, the trends that we see in Europe, we see them a few weeks later here,” observes Dr. Carabin on the other hand .
Indeed, no less than 18 of the 53 European countries under WHO surveillance are currently experiencing a resurgence of the virus.
We are always able to get through it, but the problem is the people who still have to wait for their surgery, their cancer treatment, etc. They suffer longer, they don't get the care they deserve, and that's the problem.
—Maryse Guay
The rise in hospitalizations has continued unabated for two weeks in France and Italy, while it has lasted for three weeks in England, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the latter country, however, the peak of hospitalizations seems to have been exceeded for a few days.
The higher vaccination rate on this side of the ocean coupled with the extent of the immunity acquired with Omicron should allow Quebec to get through this new wave more easily, specify the various experts. “We are always able to get through it, but the problem is the people who still have to wait for their surgery, their cancer treatment, etc. They suffer longer, they don't receive the care they deserve, and that's the problem,” emphasizes Dr. Guay.
Infections in parliament
The virus notably sneaked inside the walls of the parliament in Quebec. Prime Minister François Legault tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. Transport Minister François Bonnardel announced on Sunday that he had contracted the virus. Deputy Prime Minister Geneviève Guilbault also placed herself in isolation after her daughter tested positive.
During his press briefing, Dr. Luc Boileau placed the responsibility for the contagion in the hands of individuals. “Each person must act responsibly, for themselves and for others,” he said.
“If you want to take risks, don't take risks with vulnerable people. Don't go see your grandparents after seeing a lot of people the previous days,” recommends Dr. Carabin in turn .
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/sante/691788/le-dr-boileau-fera-le-point-sur-la-covid-19