Late this afternoon, Premier Francois Legault announced that as of February 8, some businesses including hair salons, retail stores and museums will be allowed to re-open across the province.
Shopping centres will be allowed to reopen with strict occupancy rules and physical distancing measures enforced.
Students will also be allowed to “gradually” return to college and University starting once a week.
However, the province's curfew will remain in place, as Legault encouraged Quebecers to keep up their efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Today we are arriving at the conclusion that yes, we can do a small or slight loosening of the lockdown,” he said. “We have to do it gradually to give ourselves the opportunity to win this war.”
Legault also said that six zones are moving to orange alert. In those regions, restaurants, gyms and outside activities can resume as of Monday.
The six regions moving to orange alert are: Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord et Nord-du-Québec.
The other 11 regions of Quebec will remain in the red zone until further notice.
It is still mandatory for everyone in red zone regions to work from home if possible.
The curfew in these regions only will move to 9:30 p.m., from the current 8 p.m.
We will update this story throughout the evening.
