More data, transparency needed for Quebecers to 'live with the virus,' say experts

For someone immunocompromised like Annie-Danielle Grenier, living with SARS-CoV-2 means constantly calculating risk.

Grenier has Addison's disease and other conditions that affect her immune system, and even what would be for others a mild stomach flu could kill her.

"I've been stuck at home for two years now, and my boyfriend has been in isolation with me, to keep me alive," the Montrealer said.

As she watched Quebec Premier François Legault announce the province's reopening plan Tuesday, Grenier said she felt many things — but mostly, expendable.

"The population is fed up. I'm fed up. We're all fed up," Legault said, calling the province's move to lift most pandemic restrictions over the next few weeks a "calculated risk."

Grenier said she knows many people are fed up, worn down by the pandemic.

"People tell it to my face. Like, 'Yeah, but you know, it has to be for the greater good,' or, 'You know, you're the minority, so it doesn't matter. You take care of yourself, and we'll live,'" she said.

"[It's difficult] being told that, for other people to be able to enjoy themselves, or to not be annoyed with some measures, that I should die. Or that they don't care about if I do."

Grenier said she wants the province to reopen, too, but she said without even knowing how prevalent COVID-19 is in her area, she personally can't take the risk. 

"The stats, like if the community transmission is high or low — we don't have the data anymore," she said. "It's not really reliable."

Grenier is not alone with that concern. Experts say the government needs to give the population more data, and transparency, if it wants people to act responsibly while learning to live with COVID-19.

Quebec ended PCR testing for the general public in early January, as testing centres were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people infected at the height of the Omicron wave. Thousands of samples were thrown out because they could not be analyzed before they expired.

The government put in place a reporting system for rapid tests taken at home, but few testing kits are available in the province. On Tuesday, only 990 people reported their rapid test results through the site.

WATCH | Quebec public health says 2 million were likely infected with Omicron