Covid-19 update Outaouais cases:  868

Residents asked to isolate for five days but can be contagious for ten

Sophie Demers

 

cs ] Covid rapid tests are available to anyone for free with a health card. However the province asks that positive and negative test results be registered with them every time a test is taken.
As of April 22, there were 209 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 868. Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 38,679 cases in the region. There have been 299 Covid-19 related deaths in the Outaouais. Currently, there are 09 individuals with Covid-19 in hospital, six of whom are in intensive care. A total of 146 CISSSO employees currently have the virus.
The majority of Covid-19 cases are in Gatineau, with 27,074 cumulative cases and 523 active. AThe MRC de Papineau has had a total of 5,275 cases and currently has 163 active cases; the MRC de Pontiac has had a total of 1,336 cases and currently has 46 active cases; the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais has had a total of 3,068 cases and has 65 active cases; and, the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau has had 1,711 total cases and currently has 54 active cases. The origin of 17 cases is yet to be determined.
Masks will be required until end of may at least
Quebec recommends that individuals who have Covid-like symptoms should take a rapid test. If positive, individuals should isolate for five days. After 5 days, if symptoms improve and the individual has not had a fever for 24 hours, without taking medication for fever, they can resume their regular activities.
Unvaccinated people and children under 12 must get a negative test result before resuming regular daily activities. If the result is positive, they must continue to self-isolate.
Those that are immunocompromised no longer need to isolate for 21 days when they test positive. The isolation period for immunocompromised individuals has been reduced to 10 days.
Although the minimum isolation period is five days for properly vaccinated individuals,health officials say people remain contagious for
approximately 10 days.
In order to get a more accurate test individuals must swab in the mouth but rubbing the swab on each cheek for five seconds. After that individuals should continue the test as normal with swabbing in their nose.
Pharmacists can prescribe the antiviral Paxlovid to patients who have COVID-19 symptoms and are at risk of developing complications. These individuals' must have a positive test result.
–Vaccination and testing
Those over 60 years of age can get their fourth vaccine, second booster shot. An interval of three months is required between booster doses.
Municipal, provincial and federal governments continue to
encourage citizens to get vaccinated and stay up to date with
boosters.
Individuals hoping to get their first or second vaccination can do so at six walk-in clinics in the region or book their vaccine appointments by visiting https://portal3.clicsante.ca/ or by calling 1-877-644-4545.
The Gatineau testing clinic is located at 135, St-Raymond Blvd. and is open weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm. Rapid antigen screening tests are available to individuals at pharmacies, depending on the stock at each location.
To report a positive or negative rapid test, individuals can visit Québec.ca/testcovid-19.