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“Unfortunately, what can happen between now and October is that things will get worse.”
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June 28, 2022 • 5 hours ago • 4 minutes of reading • 8 comments Dr. Donald Vinh of the McGill University Health Center advises travelers to get a booster shot at least two weeks before leaving to prevent their holidays are ruined by persistent fever or quarantine. regulations. Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
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With a recent increase in hospitalizations in Quebec and the rise of new variants that can prevent immunity from previous infections or vaccinations, health experts are warning citizens to take safety measures into their own hands to prevent COVID-19 spoils your summer vacation.
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“The hospitalization curve associated with COVID over the last week had not only stabilized, but (Tuesday) we saw the turning point pass: the number of hospitalizations began to increase around 10% over previous counts, ”Drs. Donald Vinh of McGill University Health Center. “And if the numbers coming to the hospital are increasing, that’s probably because of the new variants, and that would be BA.4 and BA.5.”
On Tuesday, 1,226 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, the highest number since late May. The number of hospitalized patients has increased by 113 since Friday. The province also recorded five more deaths.
New variants believed to be partially responsible for the increase in cases in Quebec, along with relaxed safety protocols, decreased immunity and fewer people receiving booster vaccinations, have also been blamed for a recent increase in cases. cases in Europe and the United States.
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In France, the health minister on Monday advised people to wear masks again in busy areas and especially on public transport, as the country sees a further increase in COVID-19 cases caused in part by new variants of the virus. .
France recorded 17,601 new infections in the last 24 hours, Reuters reported, the highest figure for a Monday since April 18. Last week, the country’s vaccination chief confirmed that the country was in the midst of a new wave of COVID-19, with 15,000 people hospitalized. . Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece have also experienced recent increases.
In the United States, variants BA.4 and BA.5 accounted for just over 50 percent of all new COVID-19 infections in the United States over the past week, the Centers for Control and Prevention reported. of U.S. Diseases, up from 35. percent the previous week.
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Variants were not even listed in Quebec in early May, but accounted for nearly 16 percent of all cases as of June 5, the last date for which the Institut national de santé publique du Québec has published statistics. Depending on the rate of increase, Vinh estimates that variants now account for 25 to 30 percent of Quebec cases.
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that BA.4 and BA.5 viruses were able to evade antibody responses from people who were previously infected or who had been fully vaccinated and potentiated against COVID-19.
“Our data suggest that these new Omicron subvariants are likely to cause increased infections in populations with high levels of vaccine immunity, as well as natural immunity BA1 and BA2,” Dr. Dan Barouch, author, told CNN. of the article. . “However, vaccine immunity is likely to still provide substantial protection against serious diseases with BA4 and BA5.”
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The best way to keep people from getting sick is to keep up to date with their vaccines, Vinh said.
“Those who only have two doses or less should know that this is inappropriate,” he said. “They must have a minimum of three doses.”
In Quebec, 59% of the eligible population has had a booster vaccine. 15% have had their second booster injection, Canada’s highest rate.
For those thinking of traveling, people don’t need to “live in paranoia and avoid leaving home,” but they should try to do so safely, Vinh said. He advises travelers to get a booster shot at least two weeks before leaving to prevent their vacation from being ruined by a persistent fever or quarantine rules.
To avoid becoming completely infected, the best idea is to wear a mask while indoors, or to stay outdoors and well away from other people.
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“Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean you have a force field around you,” he said. “If it’s you and 3,000 people at an outdoor festival, you better mask yourself too.”
When traveling, remember that airports and planes are closed spaces and wear masks all the time, he added.
The loosening of government restrictions has given many the impression that COVID-19 is over, Vinh said, when in fact pandemics tend to flow and go down. When cases start to rise invariably, either in the summer or fall, he said it could be difficult to convince many to be more vigilant.
“Unfortunately, what can happen between now and October is that things will get worse,” he said. “But October is an election, and they may not want to shake the boat then.”
rbruemmer@postmedia.com
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