Quebecers in curfew starting Saturday

Quebecers in curfew starting Saturday

Premier François Legault announced yesterday that a curfew will be implemented from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., from this Saturday until February 8. The government says it wants to put in place a “shock treatment” to force Quebeckers to isolate themselves at home in order to break the second wave of the pandemic. Fines of $ 1,000 to $ 6,000 could be imposed on people who break the rules.

As of Saturday and until February 8, it will be forbidden to travel outside of your place of residence during the curfew in Quebec. Travel for health care, humanitarian reasons or when a worker has no choice but to go to work is permitted. People will also be allowed to go outside within one kilometer of their home for the needs of their pets.

Closure of grocery stores from 7:30 p.m.
Grocery stores will have to close at 7:30 p.m. to give employees time to get home and customers to finalize their shopping before the curfew falls. Pharmacies will remain open, as will gas stations. Restaurant dining rooms will remain closed, but deliveries and take out orders are still permitted. Hairdressing salons will also be closed. In the Pontiac, several shows have already announced that they will have to cancel all the appointments scheduled until February 8.

Gatherings will now be prohibited in places of worship. Other sectors, however, were spared, such as the shooting of films and television series, as well as Montreal Canadiens games.

Situation in schools
“For me, school is the priority”, repeated François Legault. The government is opting not to postpone the return to school of primary school students, who will be able to meet their classmates again from next Monday. However, students will have to follow more stringent health measures.

High school students will have to continue to take their courses remotely next week, but will be back in school on January 18, after which they will be required to wear procedural masks in class. François Legault invites parents who can to keep their young children at home, but daycare centers will still remain open for everyone.

Confined to their homes during the curfew, Quebecers will still be able to indulge in outdoor sports, which will now be limited to the family bubble. Cross-country skiing and downhill skiing will be possible, but only during the day.

The constant rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths linked to COVID-19 leaves the government no choice said François Legault yesterday (January 6).