All COVID-19-related measures and directives that were still in force have officially been lifted across Quebec as of July 19.
The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux linked this decision to improvements to the epidemiological situation, due to much of the population having achieved immunity through infection and vaccination and the availability of treatments for the virus.
In general, the wearing of a mask in healthcare settings became optional last April, but the measure remained in force under specific circumstances such as direct contact with an infected individual or during outbreaks. From now on it will be up to healthcare facilities to determine which situations require a mask, based on recommendations by the Institut national de santé publique (INSPQ).
Quebec has also reduced the isolation period for people in close contact with COVID-19 patients to five days in all care settings, including residential and long-term care centres.
The government says that while COVID-19 has now been integrated into more global management practices for respiratory infections, the virus continues to circulate and preparations for the fall vaccination campaign for COVID-19, seasonal flu, and pneumococcus are underway. (SR)
