(Montreal) Dr. Horacio Arruda, who gained attention during the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic in Quebec, has been reassigned as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).
His appointment was announced by the Council of Ministers in a press release on Wednesday evening without further details.
DR Arruda was leading public health activities when he was appointed in the summer of 2012 by the then Minister of Health, Yves Bolduc.
Although Quebecers know their national director of public health, he resigned in January 2022 to Prime Minister François Legault, who took over as the province’s number of hospitalizations due to Covid-19 peaked.
D has been severely criticized by manyR Arruda for controversial recommendation of curfew in wake of health measures. Others questioned his abilities after his comments about using rapid tests or wearing a mask that gave a false sense of security.
Mr. Arruda returned to the position of Assistant Deputy Minister at MSSS, a year and a half after his departure.
His successor as Director of Public Health, Dr. Luke Boileau, combined the two functions.
