The new variant of COVID-19 BA.2 “hits hard” in the regions of Quebec, worries the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, who does not however intend to change strategy and announce new measures.
• Read also: 6th wave: The PLQ and the PQ want expanded access to PCR tests
• Read also: Symptoms, but tests that come out negative
• Read also: Pandemic 2022: a new, more virulent variant?
The Minister admits he is concerned about the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. But, this 6th wave “was planned”, affirmed Mr. Dubé, assuring “that there is no reason for the moment to change our strategy, because people must learn to live with the virus.”
Nevertheless, hospital capacity remains “his greatest concern”.
Above all, indicates the Minister, that the BA.2 variant hits hard in the region.
The rapid increase in this now accounts for 50% of positive cases.
Unlike Montreal, “the regions were hit less by Omicron,” he says.
The possibility of adding targeted measures in the regions has also been discussed between the Dubé cabinet and public health, but for the moment, this is not the strategy envisaged by the experts. The Minister asks people to continue to protect themselves with the mask and to respect the measures that are already in place in the event of infection. He also asks the elderly and at risk to be extra careful.
The minister pointed out that there are already 10,000 absences in the health network due to COVID infections.
The health rules, however, allow employees to return to work more quickly after being infected.
THE PLQ AND THE PQ WANT EXPANDED ACCESS TO PCR TESTS
Liberals and PQ call the Legault government to relaunch large-scale screening techniques in order to be able to follow the evolution of COVID-19, of which a 6th wave has begun in Quebec.
For the moment, PCR tests, carried out in laboratories, are reserved for certain categories of the population, which prevents the authorities from “seeing the extent of the current wave”, recalled the PQ MP Joël Arseneau, in a press briefing. in the National Assembly.
“The means that are available to advanced nations should be put in place, precisely, to ensure that they can see the magnitude of the wave coming,” he then declared.
Joel Arseneau and his vis-à-vis in the Quebec Liberal Party, Monsef Derraji, are therefore asking Quebec to once again allow greater access to PCR tests, while resuming the analysis of wastewater, a proven method for tracking the spread. of COVID-19 in the population.
“Now we have two drugs. We have an antiviral and a monoclonal at the hospital level. If we do not have access to PCR tests, we risk missing the right drug at the right time for some patients, “said Monsef Derraji.