Quebec’s director of public health is encouraging the public to take certain steps to prevent the spread of viral infections, as more than just COVID-19 variants circulate in the province and put pressure on the health system.
Dr. Luc Boileau said at a news convention Thursday that other people stay home if they’re sick, whether it’s a cold, flu or COVID-19. They don’t go to work, school or faint in public, he said.
If other people feel better but still have symptoms such as a sore throat, stuffy nose or cough, wear a mask when in public, he said. This applies to children in school, other people in paintings, and anyone in the community. he said.
“If you have symptoms, a mask,” he said.
“It can last for several days. It can be a long time. It can last about ten days. But now we are dressed in a mask for others. “
Boileau said other people avoid unnecessary activities, such as going to watch videos or going out to dinner, when they have symptoms.
He said other people with symptoms avoid contact with others vulnerable to serious illness and maintain physical distance from everyone.
“No matter what symptoms we have, we stay away from others,” Boileau said.
He said those are undeniable steps others can take to slow the spread of diseases like COVID-19 and influenza. It is a collective duty for everyone and for the province’s health system,” he said.
During that time, other people make sure their vaccines are up to date, whether it’s for COVID-19, flu or others they might be eligible for, Boileau said.
People also have immediate checks at home to check if they have COVID, he said. Those who test positive will need to wear a mask for at least 10 days.
The province is for flu season, which is expected to begin before Christmas, while the viruses circulating lately are handled, he said.
“Please be careful,” he said.
The purpose is to announce an approach, said Dr. Jean Longtin, a microbiologist at Quebec’s Ministry of Health, who sat next to Boileau at the news conference.
He said it’s an ethical duty not to faint and put others in danger of getting sick.
“A factor for not drinking and driving, not going out and catching a cold,” he said.
The public fitness director’s request comes at a time when most hospitals in the province are operating with excess capacity and the Quebec government is running to cope with long wait times in emergency rooms.
Earlier this week, Dr. Antonio D’Angelo, chief of emergencies at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Children’s Hospital, said the situation was painful and didn’t seem to be improving.
D’Angelo said his hospital sees 250 to 300 young people each day. Many of them want to be hospitalized, but added that they are also struggling to find beds for themselves, and said some wards are “completely full. “
“We have a shortage of nurses, and we’re very, very involved in protecting patients in our emergency rooms,” she said.
Journalist
Isaac Olson is a journalist for CBC Montreal. He worked largely as a journalist and photographer for 15 years before joining CBC in the spring of 2018.
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