Non-essential businesses to close
Non-essential businesses to close
All non-essential businesses will be closed until April 13th.
The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, made this decision to continue the fight against the outbreak of COVID-19 in the province and to ensure compliance with the health emergency measures imposed by his government.
As of midnight and one minute in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, all non-essential services and economic activities in Quebec must stop. The Prime Minister has asked all organizations that can close today to do so, stressing that the closings are for physical locations and that telework can continue.
Asked by a TVA journalist whether the news media, such as CHIP 101.9, are considered essential services in the current context, the Prime Minister clarified that, indeed, news services are necessary for the broadcasting of information to citizens.
In the list of essential services and businesses that can remain open and operational are all the professions in the health and social services network, communication services, public security services, essential businesses (food stores, pharmacies, convenience stores), banking and financial services, and others. Mr. Legault also assured that the situation will be reassessed daily.
The businesses and services targeted by this list must ensure that the people present in their establishments respect, as far as possible, the principles of social distancing. Restaurants can only remain open if they offer a delivery or take out service and the Société des alcools du Québec and the Sociéte québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) will remain open.
To consult the List of essential services and commercial activities, visit https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/ website.
The Prime Minister called on business leaders and all entrepreneurs to take advantage of this break to prepare for the restart of Quebec. In particular, they will have to put in place precautionary measures for workers as soon as activities resume.
