Christmas gatherings for ten people maximum, capacity reduced to 50% in shops, ban on dancing and karaoke; to “win the battle” against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, Quebec orders a series of new restrictions. The rise in cases is expected to reach new highs in the coming days, as around 3,700 cases are reported for Thursday.
“I don’t have good news for you. Unfortunately, in recent days, we have seen an explosion in the number of cases, ”Prime Minister François Legault said from the outset, solemnly, at a press conference on Thursday. “I know Quebeckers are tired, but everyone has a role to play if we want to win the battle,” he continued.
As of Monday, all businesses will have to reduce their capacity to 50% of the maximum, up to a limit of 250 people. The same will apply to bars, restaurants, theaters, amphitheatres and places of worship. In the latter, the vaccination passport will also henceforth be applied. Established as high-risk activities, dancing and karaoke will henceforth be banned.
It will ultimately not be possible to gather up to 20 people around the turkey at Christmas. Rather, it will be a maximum of ten, as was already the case. And the government recommends holding only one “party”. “If you want to make a Christmas party, make it.” But don’t do ten evenings with ten people, ”implored the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé.
“If I had known today that we would announce that, maybe I would not have done it”, admitted the national director of public health, the Dr Horacio Arruda, on the gatherings. “But it was a calculated risk, acceptable”, he justified.
From the first press briefing, I said that what I would say today might change tomorrow. I knew we were facing a beast that was going to bring us huge surprises.
The Dr Horacio Arruda
The school remains open
Quebec, however, has chosen not to close the schools. In the primary network, classes can resume in person on the scheduled date, but in secondary school, the first week of classes – between January 3 and 10 – must be virtual. It will be the same for CEGEPs and universities, if applicable. The mask will again be compulsory at all school levels.
“As for outdoor activities and sports, we leave it open,” also revealed François Legault, mentioning that tournaments and competitions will however also be prohibited from Monday.
Not ruling out new confinement, however, he repeatedly defended himself not having been careful enough. “It goes up, it goes down, and you have to follow that every day and act accordingly. You do not have to be afraid. We’re not here out of pride, wanting to make sure that what we said a week ago is still true today. We look coldly at the data. When things are going well, you have to give a little hope and when things are going badly, you have to say it, ”he insisted.
The key, the authorities argue, will be to limit the increase in hospitalizations “as much as possible.” According to our information, these official scenarios project full hospitals as soon as December 27. Quebec could also run out of fans by the end of the year if the bar is not given quickly. “For the moment”, Christian Dubé does not, however, foresee any load shedding in the network.
Internally, authorities have reportedly found that two doses of the vaccine do next to nothing against Omicron which, although less virulent, is much more contagious. We could no longer speak of “collective immune protection”, as public health in government would have emphasized.
A reduced interval
Quebec also orders the reduction of the interval between the second and the third dose to a minimum of three months; it was six months so far. “On the strength of that, we will definitely adjust our schedule. Additional meetings will be available, ”assured Christian Dubé, confirming that 1,500 people have already offered to mobilize via the I contribute platform.
As of Monday, December 20, Quebecers 65 and over will be able to make their appointment. And starting Monday, December 27, it will be the turn of the 60 and over. Vaccination may also be faster in some areas. The government hopes to vaccinate 100,000 people a day.
In CHSLDs and private seniors’ residences (RPA), where 99% of residents already have their booster doses, all visitors and caregivers will now have to present a vaccination passport, as a preventive measure. “We will also make our rapid tests available there,” promised Mr. Dubé, without however advancing on a deadline. “You have to wear the mask, you have to be careful. Distancing, especially in common areas, be careful. Even if you have your third dose, the virus is circulating, ”he said to the users of these residences.
Although the new health measures come into force on Monday, Quebec will nevertheless assess the risk of maintaining the shows scheduled for this weekend. Analyzes will also be carried out to determine whether a third dose will be necessary to obtain the vaccination passport.
With Denis Lessard, Press