COVID-19.The province’s interim health director made the announcement Tuesday, following a meeting between government and health officials the previous evening.“It’s not over yet and we have to rest vigilant,” Dr.
Luc Boileau said, referring to the health crisis. Experts say masks still a top tool as Quebec considers prolonging mandate The government has largely lifted most health measures in recent months, with officials touting it was time to find a way to live with the novel coronavirus.
In March, it nixed its vaccine passport system and eased capacity restrictions for businesses.The mask mandate, however, was supposed to be in place until mid-April.
The government had previously announced that face coverings would no longer be required in the majority of public places by that time.“As the majority of measures were lifted, we wanted to have an approach that’s more cautious,” Boileau said Tuesday.The decision to prolong the mandate comes as Quebec reported 31 new deaths and a 72-patient increase.Hospitalizations related to the pandemic — which dipped below 1,000 in mid-March — reached 1,479 in the latest update.