Quebec is changing the isolation rules for those who come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case as the province continues to loosen restrictions.
Dr. Luc Boileau, interim director of public health, said Thursday that within the “new context,” they are comfortable with easing more measures.
Anyone who is in close contact with a person who has COVID-19 no longer has to isolate — as long as they are not sick or do not test positive for the virus. Previously, anyone living with an infected person had to isolate for five days.
“They still have to watch for symptoms and have to wear a mask for 10 days and remain prudent, especially with those at risk,” Boileau said.
They should also avoid places where they have to remove their mask, such as restaurants.
“They do not need to stay at home,” Boileau said.
Boileau said if a person who has been in contact with a confirmed case does develop symptoms, then they must self-isolate.
The modified rules for isolating will come into effect on Saturday, March 12, when the province’s vaccine passport system will be entirely phased out. Bars, restaurants and casinos will also be able to return to their normal schedules and there will be no capacity limits for tables.
Dancing and karaoke will also be permitted starting this weekend.
The situation is improving in the province, Boileau said, but Quebecers still need to be careful.
Boileau warned that the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus was still circulating and an Omicron subvariant, dubbed BA.2 by scientists, accounts for about 10 per cent of cases in the province. While the new mutation is about 30 per cent more transmissible than the previous variant, it is not any more severe, he added.
He also said hospitalizations are continuing to drop after they soared during the most recent pandemic wave.
“Better days are coming,” he said.
Boileau explained that about half of the current pandemic-related hospitalizations are patients who are initially admitted for other reasons. They then test positive for COVID-19.
The decision to ease more health rules comes one day after the new projections from the government’s health reach institute. They showed hospitalizations are expected to plateau after weeks of steady declines.
Proms get go ahead
The Quebec government has also given the green light for high school senior proms.
Dr. Marie-France Raynault, an adviser to the Health Department, told reporters that last year, proms were not the source of COVID-19 outbreaks, adding that high schoolers are among the most vaccinated people in the province.
Raynault also said that when the provincial legislature resumes next week, all 125 elected members will be permitted to be seated at the same time. They will need to wear masks unless they are speaking, she added.
—with files from The Canadian Press
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