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1) Quebec Premier François Legault on Monday appeared to take comfort in the fact that #COVID19 hospitalizations in the province are not soaring as they have in the U.S. and Europe. In this thread, I will try to explain why the premier’s sanguine view is far from justified.
2) “The good news is about hospitalizations — we’re still under 600,” Legault said, even as Quebec set a record of 591 (up by four) during the second wave. Legault added the figure is “a lot less when we compare ourselves with other states like the United States and Europe.”
3) Legault’s reassuring message is at odds with the assessment by Canada’s chief public health officer. Dr. Theresa Tam warned Saturday that although Quebec has reported lower increases in hospitalizations than some provinces, it continues to treat a very high number of patients.
4) Quebec is posting the second-highest rate of #COVID hospitalizations in Canada, at 69.28 per million population. Manitoba’s rate is the highest, 172.06 hospitalizations per million, but its absolute number if 234. Ontario’s rate is 34.32 per million, with 500 hospitalizations.
5) And as the number of #COVID19 cases hovers between 1,200 to 1,400 a day in Quebec, it would stand to reason that the province will report more hospitalizations in the coming days. In the past two weeks, the number of active outbreaks has climbed by about 150 to 1,555.
6) Quebec’s health-care system was already fragile before the #pandemic, with lengthy wait times for surgery and cancer therapy. During the #pandemic, the system has become overwhelmed with a huge backlog of cases and burned-out medical staff.
7) During the first wave, it took just 14 days to go from 107 #COVID19 hospitalizations in Quebec to 612. During the second wave, it has taken 59 days to go from 110 hospitalizations to 591. But facing an unpredictable #pandemic, the current number can shoot up quickly.
8) Meanwhile, the #COVID19 trend in schools is growing worse. The province reported a total of 457 active #COVID19 outbreaks in schools, up by six since Sunday. The number of active cases among students and staff jumped by 170 to another record tally, 3,363.
9) Schools shuttered 59 classes in Quebec last Friday due to #COVID19 exposure, setting a new record total: 1,300. That’s not counting some schools that have closed temporarily. Since Sunday, 20 more schools have confirmed at least one case, according to http://covidecolesquebec.org .
