On Sunday, three regions moved from the yellow zone to the orange zone: Montreal, the Capitale-Nationale, and Chaudière-Appalaches are now at the moderate alert level and are subject to stricter rules. Indoor gatherings have also increased from 250 to 50 people for the entire province, with a few exceptions.
The contagion is growing, outbreaks are increasing and the capacity of the system to treat the sick is decreasing, admits the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, who announced at the end of the day on Sunday that three health regions were on alert moderate (orange zone) and that two other regions went into early warning (yellow zone).
The regions of Montreal, Chaudière-Appalaches and Capitale-Nationale - with the exception of the MRCs of Portneuf and Charlevoix - are placed in the orange zone. Part of Lanaudière (MRC des Moulins and L’Assomption) and Laurentides (MRC Rivière-du-Nord, Deux-Montagnes, Mirabel and Thérèse-de-Blainville) are changing from green to yellow. The Outaouais, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Estrie, Laval and Montérégie remain in the yellow zone, and the other regions remain in the green zone.
"We are not in confinement, but I ask you to avoid unnecessary visits as much as possible. Avoid dinners with family, friends, and parties. Avoid moving from an orange zone to a yellow zone, if it is strictly not necessary ", asks the Minister of Health Christian Dubé.
The announcement comes as community transmission has intensified over the past week. The rise in the daily COVID-19 toll exceeded 400 cases for the second day in a row, Sunday; a record for the province since May.
Restricted rules in the orange zone
The rules have been tightened since midnight for regions that have changed zones. In the orange zones, gatherings in private residences are limited to six people or a maximum of two families. Bars and restaurants remain open, but with a maximum of six people per table. The sale of alcohol is prohibited after 11 p.m. in all establishments, and bars must close at midnight.
