No date for local reopenings amid ‘worrisome’ mortality projections from provincial health agency
Written by Paul Graif on 9 May 2020
Public health officials in Kahnawake are calling new data from the province ‘worrisome’ and say they will not give a date for the reopening of businesses in the community.
The study, published two days ago by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) shows a sharp increase in deaths in the Greater Montreal Area (GMA) if restrictions for schools and businesses are lifted as planned on May 25.
The GMA could see 500 hospitalizations and 150 deaths per day by June with a loosening of restrictions.
“This is very worrisome,” said Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) director Lisa Westaway in a daily briefing on Saturday. “We know, as we start opening up…people tend to think that they are safer because they see things opening up around them.”
Westaway said the number of cases could potentially be much higher since the research is based on an increase in contacts of just 15 to 30 percent.
For his part, Commissioner of Public Safety, Lloyd Phillips, quashed ‘rumours’ that businesses would get the green light on May 18.
“I’ll confirm right here today that that is not the case. We are not looking at opening on the 18th,” he said.
Phillips said businesses can expect more information about preparing to reopen soon. “A lot of work has been done in getting information that will be distributed to businesses in the community to help them prepare for the opening.”
