Vaccination against COVID-19: Montreal awaiting details from provincial and federal



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Public health in Montreal is waiting for other levels of government to really begin preparations for the possible COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

“We have different experiences that we will use to be able to build the best models [de vaccination]. But we have to wait until we have the parameters, and that’s what we don’t currently have. They will come from the federal and provincial governments: the type of vaccine, their number, priority groups, etc. Montreal’s regional director of public health, Mylène Drouin, explained at a press conference on Wednesday.

Already a unit in the command center of the Montreal health network is dedicated to the issue of vaccination against COVID-19. However, Drouin said the group had not yet reached the stage of deciding where to get vaccinated. “We are still waiting for instructions, there are still many unknowns,” he said.

For its part, François Legault’s government is working on some scenarios for the next vaccination campaign, which heavily depend on the number of doses provided by the federal government and the types of vaccines available. The hypothesis of a deployment in January is considered by Quebec.

In the data | Our interactive content on COVID-19

Winter activities for Montreal

Dr Drouin also took stock of the epidemiological situation in Montreal. Only 4% of new cases are healthcare workers. Almost half comes from transmission within homes. A “good part” is also attributable to contacts outside the work context, for example meetings with friends.

The doctor also pointed out that most of the outbreaks are small – fewer than ten or even five cases each. At 4.6%, the positivity rate for screening tests in the metropolis is slightly nosy. Above all, it is relatively contained in all areas, even the hottest ones.

Despite everything, the Montreal authorities are concerned about the pressure the holidays will put on the health system. The situation in hospitals is already beginning to “weaken”, according to Sonia Bélanger, CEO of the CIUSSS du Center-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.

Currently 200 network employees have a positive test result and 150 are awaiting a result. And with the “well deserved” vacation that staff will take in a few weeks, the workforce will be further reduced.

“It is clear that probably, from the first week of December, we will gradually go with a decline in activities [hospitalières] »Warned Madame Bélanger.

Montreal mayor Valérie Plante, for her part, has anticipated the program of winter activities which will be detailed on Thursday. In particular, the Municipality intends to improve the possibilities for snowshoeing, skiing or walking in the parks.

In the Ville-Marie district, for example, an ice rink will open in Cabot Square. “We want people to move,” the mayor said. Winter resorts will also be created, decorated and animated, to enhance the Christmas shopping in the shopping streets of the neighborhoods.

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