The number of COVID-19 cases will “increase, there is almost no doubt”

The first Christmas without health restrictions in three years is approaching, and public health is concerned to the point of recommending the cancellation of some gatherings. The Variations of the virus COVID-19 The outbreak in Quebec is “highly contagious,” warned the national director of public health, Dr.^R Luc Boileau, at a press conference.

The situation in hospitals is “extremely difficult”, and the pressure shows no signs of easing. “We’re not launched toward something that does the best,” Dee argued^R Boileau. “It will rise, we have no doubts. »

Last week the number of “new hospital Covid cases” in Quebec was confirmed to be around 1,000, the National Agency for Health and Social Services (INESSS) qualified earlier. “Plans confirm new hospital admissions in the next two weeks,” it said A statement. “However, it should be noted that the models used cannot take into account the expected increase in contacts in the coming weeks. »

To prevent this acceleration of the epidemic, D^R Boileau went there with a simple piece of advice: “You have symptoms, you don’t go to your family celebrations. It’s not a good time. »

An infected person is contagious for ten days. So, someone who gets sick today or in the next few days should draw a line under Christmas Eve. “It’s flat, but that’s what it is”, T dropped^R Boileau. It is a “civic duty”.

Even mild symptoms in one restaurant can threaten the health of another, he stressed. “Attention! The same virus can cause destruction to another person. »

An average of a dozen people die these days due to COVID-19.

However, there is no question of imposing such sanitary measures as “minor”. parties “For three families”. “We’re well educated, but we don’t need it,” he said. “A lot of people have been affected, affected by the two Christmases we’ve had. »

The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subtypes, which dominate in Quebec, are not “significantly more dramatic” than earlier mutations of the virus responsible for COVID-19. However they are “highly contagious”.

The vast majority of Quebecers are already infected, and re-infections are “generally” low. However, “about 60% [des Québécois de plus de 60 ans] COVID-19 never existed,” revealed the National Director of Public Health. This vulnerability is highly fragile and thus leaves a lot of room for infections with devastating consequences.

“That’s really the problem. There are young people who are on their second or third COVID-19. One side says it’s no big deal. Party. But the virus didn’t change. It is still contagious. »

About 35% of Quebecers are only “vaccine-immune,” meaning they’ve been vaccinated but have never been infected. According to INSPQ.

Most people who die from disease today have pre-existing chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity or lung disease from the start.

Two other viruses are turning yellow lights on health officials’ radar: influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Not only are they considered less serious than the Covid-19 virus, they are spreading less and less in Quebec, we promise.

1.4 million Canadians

1.4 million people — or 14.8% of adults infected with COVID-19 — ” Covid is long duration”, also known as “Post-Covid Syndrome” (PCS).

The complication leaves patients with shortness of breath, heart, brain or cognitive impairment more than three months after being infected with Covid-19.A statementfiled Wednesday afternoon.

Half (47.3%) of long-term COVID-19 patients have had symptoms for more than a year.

“We don’t fully understand what causes CBS or what leads to different manifestations. We don’t know why women contract CBS twice as often as men,” Canada’s chief science adviser Mona Nemer lamented when presenting the report.

He emphasized that the condition has “irreversible health consequences.” “Most of them [de ces patients] They have lost their jobs”, while “current treatments are mainly rehabilitative”.

The number of these long-term patients will continue to rise as the virus continues to spread.

Canada is not the only country to see its people affected by this mysterious disease. “Globally, data from various countries consistently show PCS in 10 to 20 percent of sufferers,” the federal report says.

Watch the video