1) Premier François Legault tacitly acknowledged Thursday that schools are driving community transmission of the #coronavirus when he warned he might close them for longer than the holiday break next month. In this thread, I will explain why more needs to be done.
2) The Premier noted that 324 classrooms have been shuttered due to #coronavirus exposure in the past two days. In fact, the situation is more worrisome. In the past seven days, the total number of active #COVID19 cases in schools has jumped by 579. 
3) Since Wednesday, covidecolesquebec.org has reported 16 more schools with at least one #COVID19 infection. Quebec is now grappling with no fewer than 415 outbreaks in schools across the province. It’s not just classes being shut; entire schools have closed temporarily.
4) But the problem is also serious in the workplace. The government reported a total of 741 active outbreaks in the workplace, up by 17 since Wednesday. The number of #COVID19 clusters rose by three to 90 in daycares. And then there are the deadly outbreaks in eldercare homes.
5) Of the three settings in which #COVID19 outbreaks are erupting — schools, the workplace and long-term care centres — the easiest option would be to close schools for a bit longer during the holiday break. But is that option the best and only response to the rising second wave?
6) Despite the fact that 30 health professionals and experts called on the government in September to install portable air purifiers in classroom, the Quebec Education Ministry has not yet acted. The government announced this week that it will study the issue further.
7) As for the rising fatalities in eldercare homes, Health Minister Christian Dubé said the order has gone out to boost infection control in these facilities. But given that 360 people have died to date in these centres during the second wave, shouldn’t more be done now?
8) Meanwhile, Montreal posted 325 new #COVID19 cases Thursday, the highest single-day increase since Oct. 9. (See the chart below.) The city’s rolling seven-day average is once again rising: 143 cases per million population from 138.56 the day before.
9) Montreal also reported eight lives lost to the #pandemic on Thursday, greater than any other region in the province. The death toll in the city has climbed to 3,562. That compares with 1,432 #COVID19 deaths to date in Toronto, 884 in Boston and 24,096 in New York City.
10) If the #pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we cannot be too careful in dealing with the #coronavirus. This latest resurgence calls for a much more comprehensive plan than closing schools for an extra two weeks. End of thread. Stay safe, everyone.
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