And with the long weekend ahead of us, many people will plan to gather with friends and family, especially those celebrating Easter and Easter. After all, it’s been a while since there was a long weekend with so few COVID-19 restrictions in place. CBC News spoke with experts who shared tips on reducing the risk of infection during weekend rallies.

Shall we gather?

Indoor gatherings are allowed. After all, the province has lifted most restrictions on the pandemic. But the big rallies this weekend are risky. “People need to consider minimizing unnecessary concentrations,” said Dr. Donald Vin, an infection specialist and medical microbiologist at McGill University Health Center. “This, however, is unrealistic, and perhaps even extreme.” Quebec has just surpassed 2,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations this week for the first time since mid-February, when the province recovered from a fifth wave powered by Omicron that pushed the healthcare system to its limits. And while PCR tests are not as available as they once were, Quebec reported more than 3,000 confirmed cases on both Wednesday and Thursday. No one can stop you from going to that big dinner with 20 or 30 people, but experts say it is important to be prudent and take care of others, especially those who are most vulnerable to illness. Dr Donald Vinh, an infectious disease specialist at McGill University Health Center, said the rapid test is a good tool to use if you have no symptoms and are trying to determine if you should go to a rally. (Submitted by Sandra Sciangula)

What if I have symptoms?

Experts agree that if you have symptoms of COVID-19 – however mild it may be – you should cancel your plans and stay home. “If you have symptoms, do not push it,” said Dr. Matthew Owton, an infectious disease specialist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. “Do not put those around you in danger of being exposed. Say, ‘Thank you, sorry, I’ll stay home’ and maybe order DoorDash or Uber or something.” Oughton says you need to watch out for symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and body aches. On Wednesday, Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec’s interim director of public health, said the province is also experiencing a non-seasonal flu wave. COVID-19 and the flu have many common symptoms. Even if you have doubts about what you have, Boileau urged people to stay home to avoid infecting others.

Can quick exams help?

Although rapid antigen testing is not as effective at detecting COVID-19 as PCR testing, it can be a useful tool. “If you have no symptoms, you should test yourself with a quick test a few hours before the event, paying close attention to your nose, as well as the inside of both cheeks or the back of your neck, ribs.” , said Vin. CLOCKS Learn about the new rapid test procedure:

The Ministry of Health explains the new procedure of rapid examination

Dr. Jean Longtin, a microbiologist at the Quebec Department of Health, describes the new rapid sampling process for COVID-19 that appears in a government video. 0:58
Quick tests may also be helpful for people who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and no longer have symptoms. In any case, if you are positive, it is better to cancel these plans for dinner. “Getting vaccinated in at least three doses and making sure everyone around you gets three doses of the vaccine this weekend will go a long way in reducing the spread of the virus if someone you come in contact with actually has COVID-19,” he said. Vinh. People who have not yet received their third dose – and that means 46 percent of Quebecers – are more exposed to the virus. Despite the rain in the weather forecast, Quebec residents will be happy to meet during this great weekend. (Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press)

How do I reduce the chances of an epidemic?

Good news. It’s spring. Although it is expected to rain this weekend, you are still much more likely to gather with others outdoors than you would be in mid-January. “Ventilation is absolutely everyone’s best friend,” Oughton said. “If the weather works and you can do some of your meetings outside, that’s great because, outside, people are naturally and relatively well distanced, [and there’s] a lot of air circulation “. If you have to stay inside, then open some windows and you should also think about covering. “Realistically, people are less likely to wear masks for an indoor gathering,” said Prativa Baral, a Montreal-based PhD candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Montrealer Prativa Baral, an epidemiologist and PhD candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that with the virus circulating so widely in Quebec, its impact should not be underestimated. (Jerome James)
“But if there are people who are not vaccinated in your concentration, if there are people who are at higher risk because they are immunosuppressed or for various other reasons, then I would recommend wearing a mask to also reduce the risk.” Baral also encourages people to lie down for a few days after a gathering to see if they have any symptoms. This way, if they catch COVID-19, they avoid infecting others.

The 6th wave started. How important is this weekend?

Given how circulating the virus could be, Baral says this weekend is a “critical one” that could affect the shape of the province’s sixth wave in the coming weeks. Although he points out that high vaccination rates – especially among Quebec people aged 60 and over – should help reduce the effects, he says it is important for people not to underestimate the virus. “Everyone around me is getting COVID right now in Montreal, people who haven’t had COVID in the last two years. So there’s a lot of virus around us,” he said. “Anything we can do to increase these levels of protection will be helpful.”