It was the announcement we’ve all been waiting for.
Premier François Legault has confirmed rumours he would be announcing more restrictions for the holiday season. He announced late this afternoon that as of Monday, the province of Quebec would go into a new lockdown to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
According to the premiere, non-essential businesses will be forced to close their doors across the province from Dec. 25 through Jan. 11.
The only businesses allowed to remain open will include grocery stores, pharmacies, garages, and pet stores.
In a surprising twist, he also said that big-box retail giants like Walmart and Costco would only be allowed to sell essential goods such as groceries and medication. Non-essential items will not be allowed to be sold during that time.
Legault also announced that as of Thursday, Dec. 17, and until Jan. 11, office workers must work from home. Meanwhile, elementary schools and high schools will be closed for an extra week during the holidays – until Jan. 11. Daycares will remain open, but the government is asking parents to keep their children at home if possible.
The only real good news to come out of his press conference is that the rules surrounding outdoor activities will be eased. Some outdoor activities, for example, such as sports will be allowed (with restrictions). Meanwhile, outdoor spaces such as the Botanical Garden will be open.
Backyard gatherings, however, are still prohibited.
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Earlier today, Quebec recorded 1,741 new cases of COVID-19, and thirty-nine new deaths were registered, seven of which happened over the past 24 hours.
The island of Montreal was responsible for 540 of the cases and 17 of the deaths.
Quebec also reported that 69 more people are being treated in hospital since Monday for COVID-19, bringing the total number to 959. Of these, 125 people are in the intensive care ward.
The seven-day average for new COVID-19 infections is now 1,791 per day.