Quebec public health director says 'all options are on the table' in face of 6th wave

Roughly two weeks before the province is expected to lift nearly all masking requirements, Quebec's interim public health director says he's not ruling out maintaining the mandate and even possibly reimposing some health measures in the wake of another surge in COVID-19 cases.

"All options are on the table," said Dr. Luc Boileau in an interview on Radio-Canada's Première Heure Thursday morning. 

But at a news scrum Thursday, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé told reporters "there is no reason for the moment [... ] to change the strategy."

On Wednesday afternoon, the province's public health institute (INSPQ) officially confirmed that Quebec is in its sixth wave of the pandemic, citing indicators such as the high positivity rate, the number of sick health-care workers and the number of hospitalizations, driven by the highly contagious BA.2 variant.

The key indicators have been on the rise since mid-March, and health officials believe they'll ramp up in the days and weeks ahead.

"The month of April will be difficult," said Boileau, adding cases will likely drop off come May. He said it's time people understand the importance of this wave and most of all, the habits to follow. 

"When we have COVID-19, the virus stays contagious for 10 days. Not five days — 10," he said.

Boileau said, in accordance with public health guidelines, people should strictly protect themselves for the first five days and then remain vigilant for the following five by wearing a mask and keeping a distance of two metres from others.

"Resume some activities, but don't go to parties, dinners, or see lots of people or the grandparents," he said. 

Boileau said he's counting on the good sense of Quebecers to be careful and to reduce their contacts.

"If we are able to see this change in behaviour and attitude in this wave, it will help us all."

He said he is also watching the evolution of the situation closely. 

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Dubé said that while the government is concerned about the rise in cases and hospitalizations, the situation was expected.

He said what wasn't anticipated, however, was the pace at which the BA.2 variant would spread. In the last few days, it has become the dominant strain in the province, accounting for 50 per cent of infections.