7th wave has begun, but no new COVID-19 restrictions coming, Quebec health officials say

A little more than a week after telling Quebecers it was too soon to say if a seventh wave of COVID-19 had begun in the province, the continued surge in cases and hospitalizations since then has changed the mind of the province's public health director.

"For me, it's a seventh wave," said Dr. Luc Boileau. "It's a surge that's taking the shape of a wave," acknowledginghis claim still needs to be confirmed byQuebec's public health institute (INSPQ).

This wave is the province's first since the removal of virtually all public health restrictions, including mandatory masking on public transit.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Quebec hospitalshas grown more by more than 50 per cent, from 1,007 to 1,534 in the last month.

Boileau said that the growing number of COVID-19 patientscould peak in the coming weeks, and he doesn't believe the situation will continue to worsenthroughout the summer.

WATCH| Health minister responds to idea of adding restrictions:

Dub argues why new restrictions are not needed

2 years ago

Duration 0:55

Quebec's health minister Christian Dub says people have the power to control the latest wave of COVID-19 on their own.

But despite the speed with which COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks, the province doesn't plan to imposenew public health restrictions.

"There's no specific announcement [today]. I don't want anyone to get worried," said Health Minister Christian Dub at a news conferenceThursday. "We're no longer at the point of imposing things when people are well aware of the risks. It's just a question of reminding them."

Duband Boileau in their first joint COVID-19 update in monthsstressed thatQuebecersmustrespect isolation rules and avoid gatherings after testing positive for the virus.

They urgepeople to isolate for five days once symptoms appear and to only resume essential activities while wearing a mask for five additionaldays, as long astheir condition has improved.

It is important to avoidgoing to restaurants andfestivals or visiting friends during this period, the public health director said.

"Clearly, there are a lot of people that are not respecting the isolation period," said Boileau.

"The situation is under control, but we have to remain careful," Dub said.

Boileau and Dub are also once again asking Quebecers in at-risk populations, including people over the age of 60,to get their a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose if it's been at least three months since their third shot.

The Health Ministry has prepareda chartto help people decide if and when they should get vaccinated again.

So far, only 55 per cent of eligible Quebecers have received their third dose, according to public health data.

On Thursday, theprovince reported1,755 confirmed cases,which is most certainly an underestimate, giventhe limited availability of PCR testing.

Quebec stopped providing the tests to the general public in January during the Omicron wave. On Thursday, Dubsaid there are no plans to expand the use of those PCRtests.

Why no mask rule in pharmacies?

Although the government insistsnew public health restrictions are not needed, it should consider imposing rules that can help limit the spread of the virus without putting a burden on the population, saidDr. Matthew Oughton, an attending physician in the infectious diseases division at the Jewish General Hospital.

He acknowledged that would not be easy.

"It will be difficult for the government to make an announcement about widespread reinstitution of measures, given a lot of pushback and resistance," Oughton said.

He applauded the provincefor maintaining mandatory mask rules in health-care settings, but said masks should also be required inpharmacies, where people often go to receive health services.

"Think about how important pharmacies have become to our societal response to COVID," he said."Where do you to go get a rapid antigen test? At the pharmacy. Where do you go get vaccinated? Often, at apharmacy."

"I think we should recognize that pharmacies have a high chance of having people who are either sick or at risk of becoming sick."