If mask mandate ends, it won’t be back
Not only is Quebec’s mask mandate expected to end on May 14 and they won’t bring it back, no matter what. Politicians have heard loud and clear that the populace is hardened to seeing several dozen Covid deaths daily and that we don’t expect (or want) the authorities to do anything about it – a useful piece of data.
Some are even objecting to hand sanitizing. This convention began when we still didn’t have a clear picture of Covid transmission and it probably doesn’t do much against it, but I don’t think it’s a massive burden (and it doesn’t cause antibiotic resistance either).
Kevin 09:44 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
I don’t think it’s hardened as much as it is numbed and confused by numbers.
It will be interesting to see what French media does in the next few weeks when we hit those two milestones (15,000 dead, and matching last year’s death toll).
cc 10:11 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
denmark (the country with the best COVID tracking and response) has been done with mask mandates since february, and they are also stopping their vaccination programme
Tim S. 10:50 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
“The two doctors later said, when asked, that even masking could still go through phases if serious crises arrive in the future — especially considering that cold weather brings worse COVID-19 waves — but that they don’t foresee it right now.”
I’m OK with that. I note, though, that the provincial election and wave 7 are scheduled for about the same time. It would be nice to know who will be calling the shots during that period.
Tim S. 11:04 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
Actually, to add on:
For the sake of people who are still more vulnerable, masks should be mandatory for essential services – schools, grocery stores and so on – or they be obliged to offer curbside pick-up + work from home options for their employees.
Kevin 11:54 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
@cc
There are so many differences between regions that comparisons are difficult. General health and age of the population, which tranches have been vaccinated and boosted, what was the weather like over the past month, what’s the ventilation situation indoors…
As for Denmark, that country started getting hit by Delta last November and Omicron in December– weeks before those strains arrived in Quebec — and it shut down schools, told people to WFH, and started giving boosters much earlier. While it’s no longer issuing ‘invitations’ for boosters now (the overall number boosted in that country is higher than in Quebec), it’s current plan is to have a new vaccine campaign in August.
jeather 12:09 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
I hate the hand sanitizing a lot lot more than masks. And I don’t LIKE masks, but at least they work.
Tee Owe 12:19 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
The (for me) interesting thing about Denmark is that despite complete abolition of any restrictions, infection rates (percentages of those tested) and hospitalizations (Covid+ numbers who were admitted because of Covid) are both going down. Lots of people are getting Covid,but it’s mild – something to look forward to?
Mr.Chinaski 12:35 on 2022-04-29 Permalink
At work, each friggin computer spot (500+) has a giant bottle of hand sanitizer + a large box of wipes. I haven’t seen a single person use them. It’s useless, like the 3-ply and cotton mask BTW. Only properly-fit K/N95 would do a real credible job.