New restrictions come into force in Quebec for the holidays

New restrictions come into force in Quebec for the holidays

Premier François Legault announced yesterday (December 16) in a press conference that the province would be tightening public health restrictions going into the holidays. He backtracked on his statement earlier this month, that gatherings of 20 people would be permitted starting December 23. The limit is now set at 10 (or three families).

These new measures came after Quebec recorded 2,736 new cases of COVID and 5 deaths on Thursday.

The government is not stopping there, other measures have been announced. High school or graduate students will not physically return to class until January 10 and will be required to wear the mask at all times. The courses scheduled for the week of January 3 will be given remotely.

Capacity will be reduced by 50% in shops, places of worship, restaurants, bars, theaters and several other types of establishments. Dancing and karaoke will again be prohibited. The same goes for “office parties” Legault said. These new measures will apply starting Monday.

– The vaccination passport will be required in places of worship and spas. It will also be imposed on visitors and caregivers in residential and long-term care centers (CHSLDs) and private residences for the elderly (RPA).

– It will be possible to hold wedding ceremonies and funerals without a vaccination passport, but if necessary, the limit will be set at 25 people; with passports the limit is 250.

– Tournaments and sports competitions will be suspended. Regular season games will be maintained, but the practice of any indoor activity must be limited to a maximum of 25 people.

It was also mentioned that the Omicron variant represents 20% of new cases, according to Quebec’s screening. The National Institute of Public Health reports that 101 of 523 positive tests as of December 14 revealed the presence of the variant.