Analysis: Quebec now reporting worst COVID-19 resurgence in Canada

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Concentrations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 have spiked again in Montreal wastewater, providing further evidence of a dramatic resurgence of the virus amid a surge in influenza cases in Quebec.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Quebec has reached 2,300, a level not seen since January and once again burdening the province’s fragile public health system. One million Quebecers have been infected with COVID-19, influenza and other viruses in the past two weeks.

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So far in December, 163 people have died from COVID-19 in Quebec, compared with 450 deaths in all of December last year. Since the outbreak began, 19,230 Quebecers have died from COVID-19 complications, the highest death toll in any province in Canada.

Quebec is reporting the most severe COVID-19 activity of any province or territory in the country, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This resurgence may be driven by the new, more contagious virus variant JN.1, which is also spreading rapidly in the United States.

Dr. Luc Boileau, head of Quebec’s public health agency, noted that JN.1 has proven to be highly contagious, but not more virulent or dangerous. The latest mortality figures appear to support Boileau’s assertion, but the virus remains deadly for older people, especially those in their 80s.

A health expert in his early 60s, an avid cyclist and skier told the Montreal Gazette he was shocked by the coronavirus last week. He was treated with Paxlovid and received a booster shot in early October.

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It was not a joke, he said, but declined to be named in order to discuss his case candidly. He suspects he contracted the coronavirus at a Hanukkah party.

A doctor at a Montreal emergency room said that during a typical shift, there are 35 to 40 patients lying on stretchers in the corridor waiting for beds, and about four of them are positive for the new coronavirus.

The doctor said that we do get infected with the new coronavirus, but their condition is not as serious as before. He also did not want his name published because he was not authorized to speak to the news media.

What surprises emergency room experts, however, is the large number of patients with underlying lung and heart disease who are now hospitalized with influenza and other respiratory viruses. All of this is happening in emergency rooms at a time when staffing shortages are severe across the health care network.

Health Minister Christian Dube on Tuesday urged Quebecers to get their COVID and flu shots. Since October 1, nearly 1.5 million Quebecers have received a COVID-19 vaccine. So far, 43.1 per cent of Quebec’s population over the age of 60 has received a booster shot.

Boileau said he did not expect to reintroduce public health protection measures despite the so-called “double epidemic”. He recommended hand washing, even though SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne virus and studies show it can spread through aerosols even over distances.

Maybe Quebec should heed the advice of New York City, which is urging people to wear masks during the resurgence.

aderfel@postmedia.com

twitter.com/aaron_derfel

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