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Quebec encourages citizens to wear a mask when going out

Quebec encourages citizens to wear a mask when going out

12 May 2020 à 12:00 am

The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, recommends wearing a mask or face cover to citizens when they go out in public, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Mr. Legault also attended the daily press briefing Tuesday afternoon wearing a mask himself, as did the National Director of Public Health, Dr. Horacio Arruda and the Minister of Health, Danielle McCann.

« The role of the mask is to protect others. Since for a while you can get infected without having symptoms, you can get the virus without knowing it. So it’s a matter of respect for others, for our friends, for our neighbors, for our mothers » – François Legault.

However, the government reiterated the importance of continuing to apply the measures previously introduced, including social distancing, to prevent the spread of the virus. The Premier also mentioned that Quebecers will have to get used to these practices in order to find a slightly more “normal” pace of life.

Why is it not mandatory to wear a mask?
Although Quebec does not want to make the wearing of the mask mandatory, François Legault did not close the door to this possibility under certain conditions.

Quebec now has 39,225 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In Outaouais, there are 354, but none have been observed in the MRC Pontiac. The death toll stands at 3,131 in Quebec (8 in Outaouais).

To learn more about the coronavirus, the population is invited to consult the site Québec.ca/coronavirus. Information can also be obtained using the coronavirus line at 819 644-4545 or 1 877 644-4545 (toll free).