Return of mandatory masks in health institutions?

Public health has warned that “ Three Epidemics » Threatens Quebec, while flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are spreading simultaneously.

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Some health institutions have made it mandatory to wear face masks.

“It’s hard for people to hear that we’re going back to masks, but it’s very logical because the Covid virus is changing,” says retired virologist Jacques Lapierre. “People have been vaccinated for more than six months, so immunity begins to wane. »

However, Mr. Lapierre believes.

“It’s good to have uniformity from one hospital to another,” said the retired virologist.

COVID-19 has been on the rise in Quebec for several weeks.

Commonly called Eris, the EG.5 variant has been in place since its arrival last July and more and more people are choosing to wear masks again when in public to avoid infection.

“People don’t want to hear about COVID anymore because it’s caused a lot of problems for a lot of people,” said Mr. Lapierre said. He reminds us, however, that we must be careful not to “return to an inescapable situation.”

Joel Lemay / QMI Agency

A booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine

Since most people have been vaccinated for more than 6 months, the virologist believes it would be wise to “re-stimulate your immune system” by returning to the vaccine.

Health Canada has approved a new vaccine against COVID-19. It is capable of protecting against Eris’ distant relative, the Omicron XBB.1.5 subtype.

AFP

“The virus is changing and moving away from what we’ve found to be immune in previous vaccines, so the FDA met to review the form of the vaccine. »

Watch the full interview with Jacques Lapierre above.