COVID situation stabilizing, but restrictions must be eased slowly: Quebec health director
Global News
The province's top doctor said Quebec's low hospital capacity, as well as a slower COVID-19 booster campaign, prevents the province from moving as quickly as other jurisdictions.
The COVID-19 situation in Quebec appears to be improving, but restrictions must be eased carefully due to the fragility of the hospital system and slow uptake of vaccine boosters, the province’s interim public health director said Thursday.
Dr. Luc Boileau told reporters that the situation appeared to be “stabilizing” and that several indicators, including hospitalizations, were trending downward.
“We’re not crying victory, but it feels good to say there are things that seem to be improving,” he told a news conference in Montreal.
Quebec reported a 117-person drop in the number of people hospitalized with the virus on Thursday, and new projections released by a government health research institute suggested the province’s hospitals could continue to see a “modest” decline in the next two weeks.
Boileau, however, dashed hopes that the positive numbers meant the province would further ease health measures immediately. He said Quebec would take a “week-by-week” approach to lifting restrictions.
The province has already announced it would loosen some restrictions on private gatherings and youth sports next week, as well as allow dining rooms to reopen at half capacity. The following week, on Feb. 7, entertainment and sports venues will be allowed to reopen at 50 per cent capacity, with attendance capped at 500 people.
Boileau said he hopes the province will be able to make further announcements in the following weeks.
But he said Quebec’s low hospital capacity, as well as a slower COVID-19 booster campaign, prevents the province from moving as quickly as other jurisdictions. England, for example, announced Thursday that it was dropping nearly all its health measures, including mandatory masking and vaccine passports.
