The 4th wave comes before the start of the academic year

The recent rise in COVID-19 cases is driving Quebec into a fourth generation, but the situation is likely to worsen with the start of the academic year in a few weeks.

Also read: 4th Wave: Vaccine passport, Legalt confirms soon

Benoit Barbeau, a virologist at the University of Quebec in Montreal, admitted, “I did not expect the number of cases to increase so quickly, it would start before school started.”

More than 300 cases

On Thursday, Premier Franకోois Legalt confirmed at a press conference that the province was actually entering the fourth wave of COVID-19.

In recent weeks, the number of daily cases has been increasing. As of Thursday, 305 new infections had been reported.

Quebec has been beyond this bar for over two months.

However, two weeks ago, many experts said they expected a fourth wave to come with the start of the school year in late August.

“What surprises me is that we still have a good vaccination rate. It is worrying to see this increase,” said Christian Jacob, president of the Association des Microbiologist du Quebec.

By comparison, only 150 cases were reported on this date last year. However, vaccinations have not yet begun.

For d^Back Nimâ Machouf, epidemiologist, shows how contagious this condition is in the delta variant.

“The virus has not disappeared, it still exists, and it will find a taker in people who have not been vaccinated,” she explained. Now it’s their choice to be careful. Vaccines are available, free and available. “Note that 90% of those infected in the last week of July were not fully vaccinated, according to the government.

“It could explode”

According to Jacob, we should expect an increase in cases if further detention measures are not withdrawn.

In addition, the beginning of the school year due to internal contacts facilitates the spread of the virus.

“It could explode, d fell^Back Machouf. We are not in the tide yet, but to get there, we need to act quickly. “

“The school is going to be a potential catalyst for an increase in the number of cases,” said D.C.^R Carl Weiss, a microbiologist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

Currently, 60 infected people are hospitalized in Quebec, of which 16 are in intensive care.

Evolution of COVID-19 infections

Daily cases 10 days

• July 25: 70
• July 26: 109
• July 27: 135
• July 28: 132
• July 29: 102
• July 30: 223
• July 31: 149
• 1^Is August: 133
• August 2: 191
• August 3: 195
• August 4: 305

Cases are active for 10 days

• July 25: 878
• July 26: 897
• July 27: 952
• July 28: 990
• July 29: 984
• July 30: 1094
• July 31: 1131
• 1^Is August: 1150
• August 2: 1233
• August 3: 1334
• August 4: 1472

Source: National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ)