We have bad news to report. Quebec has officially banned karaoke across the province, citing it has been a cause of transmission of COVID-19. The decision comes after more than 80 cases of COVID-19 were linked to a superspreader event at a Quebec City bar.
The Quebec government released a statement Friday morning saying that it applies immediately to bars, community centres, and other places where karaoke can be performed.
"Due to the real risks of transmission of COVID-19 represented by holding karaoke activities, whether in bars or elsewhere, we have decided to suspend them in public places throughout Quebec," said Quebec's director of public health Horacio Arruda.
"It does not prevent the establishments concerned from continuing their other activities, on condition that they comply with the instructions in place," he said.
According to CTV News, the ban affects some 500 bars across the province.
Along with banning Karaoke, the government is also ordering that bars in Quebec must now keep a register of their clients.
"This practice, which was already encouraged, aims to further facilitate the identification of contacts by public health authorities in the event of contamination," the ministry says.
