Optimism that INSPQ surveys will return to normal is faltering in Quebec

The optimism exhibited by the cubers at the beginning of the summer is slowly evaporating. When the fourth wave breaks out over the province, the immediate exit from the health crisis feels less and less in the eyes of the population. This is according to a survey conducted by the National Institutes of Public Health of Quebec (INPSQ).

Coralie Laplante
Tap

Fewer and fewer people believe that in the year 2021, after one and a half years of being marked by the pandemic, life will resume its normal course. By the end of June, 58% of Cubans believe the epidemic will end by the end of the year. In August, only 37% of the population shared this optimism.

The mood of the population changes depending on the progress of the waves of the virus, explains the medical anthropologist ve Dubé in INSPQ.

“We really saw it fluctuate on the waves. In every tank, there is an increase in optimism, because the end can be believed. [de la pandémie] Is near, ”she said, as she did in the early summer of 2021.

“For a year and a half, we have been constantly adapting. Many times there has been a lot of hope [où l’on prédit que la situation va s’améliorer] “Genevieve Beauley-Pelletier, a psychologist and associate professor at the University of Quebec (UQAM) in Montreal, inspires her part.” In the long run, it wears us out, “she adds.

Last June, 87% of Cubs felt the worst of the health crisis was over. In early August, 69% of the province’s population approved of such a statement.

Recent advances in the Delta variant, including the prolonged closure of the American border to Canadians and the restoration of control measures in some countries have changed public perceptions of the near end of the crisis.

“This information has degraded us, weighed really heavily, much more than we announced the same measure a year ago,” Genevieve Boule-Pelletier explained.

According to Ève Dubé, the pessimistic trend will increase as the fourth wave develops.

Pandemic fatigue

According to Genevieve Bully-Pelletier, it is clear that pandemic fatigue plays a role in the collective mental state.

It is a pandemic syndrome, but also due to health restrictions imposed by the coronavirus. The specialist explained that physical and mental fatigue, sleep disturbances, demotivation, blurred vision and difficulty concentrating are all symptoms associated with pandemic fatigue.

Returning to the office and starting the academic year increases anxiety in the population and, at the same time, increases the feeling of fatigue in the wake of the epidemic. The psychologist noted that the ongoing pandemic fatigue over time also affects adherence to health measures.

Hospitalization less than August 2020

Meanwhile, Quebec on Tuesday reported 345 new COVID-19 cases and 3 additional deaths. As three other people were hospitalized with the virus, the number of those admitted to the hospital increased slightly.

The number of patients in intensive care has dropped by 2 to 29 since Monday. A total of 102 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the province.

Compared to August 2020, the number of hospital admissions and those in intensive care during the same period this year was lower, Health Minister Christian Dubey told a news conference on Tuesday.

However, he said he was “concerned” about the increase in the number of cases in August 2021.

The daily average of new cases counted in seven days remained stable for three days at 450. This number is 19% higher than the same period last week.

The vast majority of new cases identified affect people who have not been vaccinated or received their first dose within 14 days: 235 of the 345 new cases occurred within this category.

75% of the target has been exceeded

With regard to the vaccine, Public Health indicates that an additional dose of 32,597 was given on Monday. Quebec has surpassed the target of vaccinating 75% of the eligible population. As of Tuesday, 75.5% of cubes aged 12 and over had received at least one dose of the vaccine. The ratio would reach 78.5% if we included people who had COVID-19 and had been vaccinated.

Worldwide, 85% of people 12 years of age and older have ever rolled up their sleeves at least once.

With Pierre-Andre Normandin, The Press