an influenza resurgence is largely to blame for a sharp increase in emergency-room visits and hospitalizations across quebec — a scenario that might last for many more weeks, health officials warned on wednesday.
“it’s going to be difficult for the next couple of months,” health minister christian dubé said at a news conference during which he unveiled charts of sobering statistics about the level of contagion in quebec.
“maybe covid is not as bad right now, but influenza is still going up. the clear message we have is that for influenza (and covid), vaccination can make a difference.
“it’s not that covid is not worrisome, but our big problem is influenza,” dubé added. “and you can be vaccinated for both. there are people (at the vaccination centres) who are there expecting you.”
nearly 250 quebecers a day are being hospitalized for the flu, covid and other respiratory infections, placing the province’s health-care system under enormous pressure. in the last 14 days, the province has reported a daily average of 10,057 er visits, up by 10 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
most of that increase is being driven by patients suffering from the flu and upper respiratory infections, with more than 1,900 quebecers a day showing up in ers who have such symptoms. that is up from just over 1,000 er visits daily for the flu and other respiratory infections at this time last year.