End of the mandatory mask indoors as of May 14 in Quebec

As of May 14, Quebecers will no longer be required to wear a mask in indoor public places such as businesses, schools and daycare services. The mask will however remain required in hospitals, medical clinics, CHSLDs and public transport in order to protect the most vulnerable.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, the acting national director of public health for Quebec, Dr.^r Luc Boileau, justified the lifting of the compulsory wearing of the mask by the improvement of the health situation. All indicators are « down »: number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, absent health care workers, infected students and outbreaks, he listed. “We are on the way out of this sixth wave,” said the D^r Boileau.

In its latest projections published on Wednesday, the National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) predicts a decrease in new hospitalizations within two weeks, which would increase the number of beds occupied by patients with COVID. -19 to 1327 (with a confidence interval between 1214 and 1450). There were 2176 on Wednesday.

Despite this improvement, the D^r Boileau warned Quebecers that the virus would continue to spread over the next few weeks, but at a slower rate. “We still have to be careful. The pandemic is not over,” he insisted. The influenza virus is also making a comeback in Quebec, after a two-year absence.

“Even if wearing a mask is no longer compulsory for public places, that does not mean that it is a ban on using it, underlined the D^r Boileau at a press briefing. It can be worn by personal choice or for the sake of protecting others. »

Public Health recommends that vulnerable people, such as the immunocompromised, continue to wear a mask in public places. She also suggests it in private residences for seniors and intermediate and family-type resources.

Maintaining the mask in public transport

The acting national director of public health justifies the maintenance of the wearing of the mask in public transport “for a certain time”, because of the difficulties in “controlling the traffic” and maintaining a distance between the passengers there. However, this obligation could be lifted “during the spring”.

The authorities remind that people who have had COVID-19 must wear the mask for a minimum of five days during any social interaction following their isolation. People who live with an infected person must wear it for 10 days.

Despite the relief announced on Wednesday, the D^r Boileau does not foresee a jump in the number of COVID-19 cases after May 14. “Our calculations and our projections show that it will come at a good time when the slope should continue to drop and not generate an additional surge in cases and hospitalizations. »

Cases are also expected to decrease during the hot season. “If we look at last summer, we had about three months of respite. The previous summer, four months of respite », indicated, during the press briefing, the D^r Jean Longtin, microbiologist and clinical expert in support of the scientific management of the pandemic of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).

Public Health expects a seventh wave in the fall. She is preparing for a new vaccination campaign that will target more clients at risk of complications if they catch COVID-19. A fourth dose is already offered to people aged 60 and over.

« What we want is above all to prevent serious infections and there are people who are more vulnerable, because of age first, or even those who suffer from specific diseases or who have an immune system less efficient for all sorts of reasons. […] These people must be protected, ”explained the D^r Luc Boileau.

The acting national director of public health does not intend to restrict access to Quebecers for a booster dose next fall. “It is certain that the young adult in great shape who has had two doses or who has done the Omicron or the BA.2, perhaps we will not tell him “run after, go absolutely”. According to the MSSS, 38% of 18 to 39 year olds have received their third dose so far.

Asked whether wearing a mask could become compulsory again during the seventh wave, the D^r Boileau replied that he “is not intending to bring back measures”. « There is no one in the world who is able to predict what will happen with the coronavirus, » he nuanced. New variants may appear. “We are not immune to a surprise that will, everyone on the planet, lead us to adjust our measures. »

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