Some Pontiac businesses will be able to reopen in the coming weeks

Some Pontiac businesses will be able to reopen in the coming weeks

QUÉBEC – Companies in the manufacturing, construction and engineering industry, as well as stores outside of shopping centers may gradually be able to reopen during the month of May.

The minister of Economy and Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, gave more details on the economic impact, and the reason for the recovery of these three sectors of industry.

Some Pontiac businesses have also started preparing their reopening.

In the coming weeks, on may 4th or may 11th, depending on the location and industry, all establishments allowed to gradually reopen must comply with health measures decreed by the public health authorities and the CNESST, as provided for in the CNESST toolkit. – COVID-19

Remember that shopping centers must remain closed until further notice. Stores with direct access to outside will however be able to reopen as of Monday, May 4th, at the same time as the all other stores outside of the Montreal region.

The revival of the manufacturing sector will be carried out in two parts, in order to respect the public health measures as established by the Santé Publique and the CNESST, in particular the social distancing measure:
1: May 11, 2020: resumption of activities, at maximum capacity of 50 workers + 50% of employees per shift.
2: – May 25, 2020: resumption of activities without any restriction as to the number of employees

Note that these authorizations could be modified or retracted in the event that public health authorities monitor a significant or unforeseen increase in the spread of COVID-19. Companies that can afford to direct their employee to continue working from home are encourage to do so.

The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, wanted to remind citizens that the hygiene measures remain in place and that it will be necessary to adapt to the instructions.

The Directeur de la Santé Publique, Dr. Horacio Arruda, reiterated that the increased risk of contagion will be inevitable and that more cases of COVID-19 are to be expected, but that the situation will have to remain under control. Otherwise, they will not hesitate to reinforce confinement measures.

Reopening of other sectors
The other sectors of economic activities that are currently inactive, notably shopping centers, catering, personal care, and the cultural and tourist sectors, are currently under evaluation by the public health authorities of Quebec, the CNESST and the ministries concerned.