COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Tuesday
CBC
The Quebec government will hold a technical briefing Tuesday morning regarding isolation periods for those who test positive for COVID-19.
Currently, those who receive a positive result in Quebec must isolate for a minimum of 10 days.
However, other provinces have since reduced the period to five days, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. The United States also only requires a five-day isolation.
Some health care workers may be forced to give up their vacations, as the Quebec health care system grapples with a near-critical labour shortage.
Regional health boards have special powers under a ministerial decree to ensure there's sufficient staff during the public health emergency. Those powers include changing schedules and cancelling time off.
Quebec's health ministry said more than 11,000 health care workers are currently missing from the network due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is forcing some facilities to consider cancelling vacation.
"It's like déja vu. It's the first wave all over again," said Kristina Hoare, who speaks for Quebec's largest nursing union, the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ).
"It's almost like a PTSD for a lot of these healthcare workers of: 'I'm going to have to change my whole life around because I don't have a choice.' It's going to be between spending time with your kids and your family and being stuck at work."
Starting Monday, Canadian Armed Forces personnel will be deployed in Quebec to assist in the province's vaccination efforts, as the health-care system struggles with rising hospitalizations.
About 200 military personnel will be participating, but only a few are medical staff. The vast majority will be assisting with planning and logistical tasks related to the vaccination campaign in several regions including Montreal, Laval and the Eastern Townships.
According to a spokesperson for the Canadian Armed Forces, military personnel could be present in vaccination centres welcoming people to the site, guiding them through the process, and cleaning and disinfecting.
Third dose appointments are now available on Clic-Santé for those aged 55 and up.
Vaccination rates for children age 5 to 11 can be wildly different depending on where you live on the island of Montreal, according to Montreal public health.
Overall, only about 45 per cent of children between the ages of five and 11 in Montreal have received a first dose.
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