Preventing Staff Shortages When The Omicron Variant Spreads, Health Workers Can Work Even Though They Are Positive For COVID-19

Illustration of a COVID-19 vaccination center in Canada. (Wikimedia Commons/Northwest)

JAKARTA - Canadian authorities have decided to allow essential workers who have been infected with COVID-19 to continue their duties, amid the spread of the Omicron variant that is putting pressure on the healthcare system.

Canada's second most populous province, Quebec, "had no choice" but to allow some essential workers to continue working, despite having tested positive for COVID-19 to prevent staff shortages from hampering its healthcare services, Health Minister Christian Dube said Tuesday.

Quebec, which has been setting daily records since the Omicron variant started a new wave of rapidly escalating infections, recorded 12.833 new cases on Monday, the highest one-day tally of any region in Canada during the pandemic.

"Omicron's transmission has been so exponential that large numbers of personnel had to be withdrawn - and that poses a risk to the network's capacity to care for Quebec residents," Dube told reporters at a briefing, citing Reuters December 29.

"We made the decision that under certain conditions, positive staff will be able to continue to work according to the priority list and risk management," he said, adding more information would be provided in the coming days.

Dube further said that the province of Quebec will also offer a third or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone over the age of 18 starting January 4.

Last week, Quebec ordered bars, gyms, and casinos to close and directed people to work only from home. It also limits the size of a private home and restaurant gatherings to six people.