Covid-19 update: 677 active cases in Outaouais
— Quebec announces that pharmacies can now prescribe Paxlovid as covid cases rise
Sophie Demers
As of April 4, there are 239 new Covid-19 cases reported in Outaouais. There are currently 677 active cases in the region. This brings the total number of cases in the area since the beginning of the pandemic to 36,811. There have been 293 Covid-19 related deaths in the Outaouais. Currently, there are 11 individuals with Covid-19 in hospital, one of whom is in intensive care. A total of 154 CISSSO employees currently have the virus.
The majority of Covid-19 cases are in Gatineau, with 25,898 cumulative cases and 436 active. The MRC de Papineau has had a total of 4,951 cases and currently has 96 active cases; the MRC de Pontiac has had a total of 1,266 cases and currently has 33 active cases; the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais has had a total of 2,901 cases and has 68 active cases; and, the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau has had 1,615 total cases and currently has 33 active cases. The origin of 11 cases is yet to be determined.
–Provincial safety regulations updated
The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) recommends that individuals who have Covid-like symptoms should take a rapid test. If positive, they should isolate for five days. It is also recommended that those who test positive wear a mask during any social interactions, keep a distance of two meters from others, and continue to isolate for an additional five days if symptoms persist. High school students are asked to return to school five days following a positive test result, with 24 hours of no fever, even if some symptoms remain.
Although the minimum isolation period is 5 days for properly vaccinated individuals, people can remain contagious for 10 days, say health officials.
Pharmacists can now prescribe the antiviral Paxlovid to patients who have COVID-19 symptoms and are at risk of developing complications. These individuals' music have a positive test result.
The medication can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization by nearly 89% in vulnerable patients.
Masks are still required in public places. By mid-April at the latest, wearing a mask will no longer be mandatory in public places, except on public transport. In May, wearing a mask will no longer be mandatory on public transport.
–Vaccination and testing
Starting March 29, the government of Quebec will make 4th booster doses available to those over 80 years of age as well as the immunocompromised population. Doses will be given to those in private seniors' homes (RPA), long-term care homes (CHSLD), and ressources intermédiaires et de type familial (RI-RTF).
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
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.
