However, just prior to Premier Legault saying he would not impose a mask mandate on public spaces, the Collège des médecins du Québec said they recommend masking in public spaces as respiratory infections surge in the province. 

“With the worrying rise in respiratory virus cases in children and the overflow of pediatric emergencies, the College of Physicians is again recommending the wearing of masks in public places in order to protect themselves and others,” the Collège des médecins du Québec tweeted. 

The Collège des médecins du Québec added that people should renew “their vaccination protection.”

Additionally, on November 16, the Quebec Minister of Health said he recommends people wear masks in busy public places.

The mask mandate in most public spaces was lifted by the Quebec government on May 14, 2022. 

After Legault said he would not be mandating masks, and that people should opt to wear them if they like, people online either agreed with him or were angry about his comments.

One user claimed that “every single death” could be “prevented” by a mask mandate, including deaths from the “lack of healthcare capacity to treat everything else.”

Another user said “I don’t know how many illnesses and deaths it will take but eventually Premiers Ford and Legault will have to reimpose mask mandates or witness the collapse of the healthcare system. We need to keep the pressure on until they act.”

One user claimed Legault cares “more about being popular than about saving kids’ lives”.