premier legault says quebec is ready for a fourth wave of covid-19
'the main reason we're ready is we have 84 per cent of quebecers who have received at least one dose.'
aug 12 2021
3 minute read
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by: philip authier
quebec — premier françois legault says quebec is ready for the fourth wave of covid-19 , a wave he ardently hopes will be short and cause the least damage possible.
but much depends on the willingness of quebecers to step up and get both of their vaccines.
“there will unfortunately be a fourth wave and we see it already,” legault told reporters wednesday.
“ it will be the wave of the unvaccinated because the majority of people in hospital are people who are not vaccinated.”
currently, 84 per cent of the eligible population have received at least one dose. legault said he would like to see “at least 80 per cent,” of the total population, which would include those under age 12, vaccinated.
“it is possible that we would get the go-ahead from the federal government for those under 12,” legault said.
criticized by the opposition for his government’s handling of previous waves, legault insisted this time things will be different.
“yes, we’re ready,” legault said. “the main reason we’re ready is we have 84 per cent of quebecers who have received at least one dose.”
“we hope that with the announcement of the passport that quebecers decide to get vaccinated.”
he said the current trend of about 350 new cases a day translates into four or five new hospitalizations a day.
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“we really need to be careful,” legault said. “we hope it (the next wave) will be small and short, but at this point it’s very tough (to know how long it will last).”
legault made the remarks at a news conference held after he toured a suburban quebec city farmer’s market. as he did last summer, legault is planning to visit a series of regions before the national assembly resumes sitting in september.
but in a sign the government is not taking the covid-19 situation lightly, legault announced the government will again extend its use of the health emergency act , which grants it sweeping powers, beyond the end of august, when it is scheduled to expire.
“we must, as a government, give ourselves the power to the keep quebecers safe,” legault said.
his remarks suggest plans for softening covid-19 regulations already announced for the coming weeks — such as the phasing out of the regional colour code system — are now being reviewed, given the delta variant situation.
on wednesday, education minister jean-françois roberge took a first step back, announcing elementary and high school students will have to continue wearing masks i n common areas of their schools and on the bus. the original plan was to dispense with masks.
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“the situation has evolved, changed in the last few weeks,” legault said, adding that given the fourth wave, people should be cautious about removing their masks. many quebecers had hoped to be done with masks by the fall.
legault said quebec is also studying the idea of making vaccination obligatory for health-care workers.
“we did not make a decision,” legault said. “we do not exclude it.”
quebec has, however, excluded the idea of imposing vaccination on teachers and restaurant workers.
legault also confirmed the government will resume its weekly covid-19 news conferences so quebecers have a better idea of what to expect this fall.
but he has rejected requests from the opposition parties to have a parliamentary debate on the idea of vaccination passports, announced last week.
despite criticism from human rights watchdogs , legault said he is worried about what such a debate could lead to.
“right now we sense there is a strong majority of the population that supports the vaccination passport,” legault said. “we also need to be careful, not give opponents a platform from which to influence the public using unfounded arguments.”
he deflected criticism from the opposition about government foot-dragging over measures to improve ventilation in schools. on wednesday, it was revealed
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co2 monitors would not be installed by the start of the school year, as promised, but over the fall.
insisting school air is perfectly safe, legault accused the opposition parties of creating a tempest in a teapot in hammering away at the issue.
“it’s safe, it’s under control, there’s no risk for our children and it’s not worse than anywhere else in the world,” legault said. “this may be the only place in the world where we talk about this subject. i think it’s because of the opposition that decided to focus on this.”
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