We may be approaching the peak, Legault says
Projections come today as Quebec hits 100 deaths, 550,000 jobs lost
Into Week 3 of the crisis, Premier François Legault says the province may be approaching the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, which could mean an earlier return to normal life.
One day before the government, somewhat reluctantly, publishes a projection of how the pandemic might play out over the coming weeks, Legault opened his daily briefing Monday expressing cautious optimism, saying he is encouraged by what he sees on the horizon.
The premier specifically highlighted the province’s relatively low number of hospitalizations. As of Monday, 533 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospitals, including 164 in intensive-care wards. While that’s eight more people in hospital, a day earlier there were 23 new hospitalizations, so the admissions have slowed. It is also well within the health care system’s capacity.
“We may see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we must continue to do everything we can to win the battle against the virus,” Legault said.
“It’s good news when we look at the level of hospitalizations,” he added. “It’s encouraging. Obviously, this is one day, but what
I want to say is if we had several days like this we could say we are approaching the peak and that we are getting closer to normal life.”
The rate of growth in new cases is down to eight per cent. It has ranged as high as 20 per cent some other days. There are 8,580 confirmed cases in the province. Montreal leads the province with the number of cases pegged at 3,977.
On Monday, it was revealed nine people died at a Côte-des-neiges seniors residence.
Legault said he is, nevertheless, saddened by the number of deaths, which have now topped 100. A total of 121 Quebecers have died of COVID-19, an increase of 27 from Sunday. Half of the deaths have been in the 80-89 year old bracket.
“That’s hard,” Legault said. “You never get used to those numbers. Behind those numbers are people, families.”
On Tuesday, Legault will give Quebecers a look at what could happen in the coming weeks as the province continues to operate under a partial lockdown until May 4. In announcing a $100-million employment subsidy program Monday, Labour Minister Jean Boulet estimated between 550,000 and 600,000 jobs have been lost already in the pandemic.
Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province’s director of public health, will release a projection of how the pandemic could unfold. Ontario released the same kind of projection last week, concluding that with health measures the death toll could run as high as 15,000.
Quebec will go ahead despite the known reluctance of Arruda, who says the exercise is almost pointless because of the range of variables. Legault, however, said he wants to be as transparent as he can with the people.
“Nobody (on my staff ) feels like presenting scenarios,” Arruda said at Monday’s briefing. “I will tell you, honestly, that projections beyond April 30 ... nobody wants to play Jo Jo Savard (a well known Quebec psychic). It becomes astrology. Scenarios are complicated. I know scenario rhymes with Horacio, but if I could I would skip them.”
Legault said he understands it’s not an easy task, but added that when he was president of Air Transat he was in the same situation in preparing budgets.
In some situations where physical distancing isn’t possible, at the grocery store, on public transit, if you are sick, wear (a mask).
“It’s better to have a forecast that is not perfect than to not have any forecast,” Legault said.
Arruda, however, was not wavering in his position over the use of masks. Although Canada’s chief health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said earlier Monday that wearing a face mask could protect others, Arruda warned a mask can’t replace other measures.
Physical distancing, washing your hands and protecting the most vulnerable are the most important actions.
“In some situations where physical distancing isn’t possible, at the grocery store, on public transit, if you are sick, wear it,” Arruda said about the masks.
Legault also said the province is well-equipped with ventilators, but there could be the shortage of operators to run the machines. The good news is that the province’s veterinarians, with some training, will be able to take over the task.
But responding to criticism, Health Minister Danielle Mccann also said the province will not change its policy of giving rooms in public long-term care centres to new residents should the families move their parents and grandparents out.
“It’s not easy to make that decision but, unfortunately, I think we have to go that way to give an opportunity to other people to have a room,” Mccann said at the briefing.