1) Two surveys were released this week showing Quebecers’ growing frustration with public health measures in the #pandemic, just as the province confronts a third wave driven by the more contagious variants. In this thread, I will delve into the implications of this weariness.
2) A survey by Quebec’s public health institute found that 57% of Quebecers would find it “very difficult” to cope with #pandemic measures for another six months, up from 55% two weeks ago. And a CROP survey found mounting resentment toward restrictions. 
3) Premier François Legault suggested Friday he was open to reversing some of his latest loosening of restrictions. But he added: “We need to have a balance if we want the population to follow the measures we put in place. If we’re too strong, too hard, we may lose everybody.”
4) Such remarks by the Premier raise questions as to how he has managed the public’s expectations in the #pandemic, especially after asserting earlier this week that Quebec was “resisting” the variants and a third wave. This messaging has been confusing at times.
5) On Friday, it took courage for Quebec’s top epidemiologist, Gaston De Serres, to state publicly that the current #pandemic measures “are not sufficient to control transmission of the variants.” On Saturday, Quebec’s College of Physicians backed De Serres.
6) Legault said he'd be consulting public health experts over the weekend to reach a decision on whether to reverse his easing of restrictions, including allowing gatherings of up to 250 people in houses of worship and high school seniors returning to class five days a week.
7) Meanwhile, the province was back to reporting more than 1,000 #COVID19 cases on Saturday. The Institut nationale de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) posted an increase of 408 #variant cases. Montreal recorded the most, 175, followed by the Capitale-Nationale with 68.
8) The variants are circulating the most in schools and daycares. In the past week, more than 40 schools and daycares have announced they have confirmed or suspected variant cases, according to the authoritative website, covidecolesquebec.org. See the chart below.
9) On Saturday, the number of #COVID19 outbreaks in schools jumped by 21 to 161 — the highest increase in any sector and the fourth in as many days. Clusters in the workplace rose by seven to 294. The total number of outbreaks stood at 640, up from 612.
10) Montreal’s seven-day rolling average was 14.99 #COVID19 cases per 100,000 residents, up from a recent low of 13.89 on March 21. These numbers also reflect increased testing. Please take a look at the chart below.
11) At the neighborhood level, Côte-des-Neiges stood out in posting the greatest number of #COVID19 infections in the past week, followed by the north end and St-Laurent. In fact, the latter health district has posted the highest rate of cases per 100,000 residents.
12) So far, Quebec’s latest resurgence has not translated into rising hospitalizations, as they have in Ontario. One Ontario physician had this to say about the evolving #pandemic: “This third wave really is different, with 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.”
13) Let us hope Legault reaches the right decision this weekend, and that the government’s messaging in the #pandemic improves. End of thread. Please everyone, limit your social contacts and wear face coverings in public.
Addendum: For the past two days, Quebec has administered nearly 109,000 vaccine doses. At present, 19.12% of Montreal’s population has been partially vaccinated. That percentage should rise substantially with huge shipments expected next week.
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