Quebecers will soon have to present proof of vaccination to access the province’s liquor and cannabis stores as of Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement Thursday, alongside vaccination campaign director Daniel Paré and associate deputy health minister Lucie Opatrny.
"I hope this will be an additional incentive for some to go get their first dose," he said.
The new rule comes as Dubé estimates at least 20,000 health care workers are currently sick and out of work due to COVID 19.
“I’m just saying that if you don’t want to get vaccinated, stay home,” he said.
According to Dubé, the SAQ and SQDC restrictions “is only a start,” adding that the vaccine passport will be imposed in more non-essential locations in the days to come. And while the province is close to reaching its goal of 100,000 vaccinations a day, Dubé says Quebec will also broaden its vaccine passport in the coming months and extend it to three shots of a vaccine. Public Health did, however, promise not to impose passport modifications before everyone has the chance to receive a third vaccine dose.
On Thursday, Quebec reported 15,874 new COVID-19 cases.
Public Health has also added 26 additional virus-related deaths over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the province to 11,846.
