(Quebec) Quebec announces the end of the wearing of masks in class for high school students, in particular because of the high vaccination coverage of 12 to 17 year olds. It will also be allowed to dance and sing in bars and the mandatory teleworking instruction ends in workplaces. The new relief will take effect on November 15.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, confirmed on Tuesday that the obligation to wear a mask in class in secondary schools in the province will be lifted on November 15. The mask will remain compulsory in common areas and during school transport.
For the time being, wearing a mask in class was compulsory in regions deemed more at risk by Public Health. It is in particular in Montreal, in Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Laval, Mauricie-et-Center-du-Québec, in Montérégie, in Outaouais and in certain sub-regions of Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent (La Matapedia).
Some 94.7% of young people aged 12 to 17 received a first dose of the vaccine.
In addition, Public Health gives the green light to the reopening of dance floors in bars and restaurants. It will also be allowed to participate in karaoke activities according to certain health instructions. The person who sings should wear a face covering if they cannot stand two meters away from the musicians. Wearing a mask remains compulsory during the dance. In restaurants, the obligation to keep a customer register is also being abandoned.
For public gatherings, people will be able to move around without necessarily having to be assigned to a single place. Dancing will also be permitted.
Also, the mandatory teleworking instruction is no longer.
Winter sports and gyms
In gyms, wearing a face cover is required when moving indoors. However, it can be removed during intense physical activity. In this case, a distance of two m must be respected. The vaccination passport is necessary to access these places.
For outdoor winter sports and recreational activities, such as cross-country skiing, hockey, the vaccination passport is not required. On the other hand, it will be used for activities requiring the use of a ski lift such as downhill skiing and sliding. People will have to wear a face cover (scarf and neck warmer will be accepted) in closed gondolas, it was said on Tuesday.
All of the announced relaxations go into effect on November 15. According to Mr. Dubé, these are prudent measures in the context where the evolution of the pandemic remains under control.
Children: a first dose before Christmas
Wearing a mask remains compulsory in class for elementary school students since the 5 to 11 year old group is still not eligible for vaccination. According to forecasts, a first dose of vaccine could be offered to young people aged 5 to 11 before Christmas, if Health Canada gives the green light soon.
This is the government’s objective, confirmed the director general of the executive and operational management of the pandemic, Daniel Paré – also responsible for the vaccination campaign in Quebec. Quebec has not yet set a vaccination target for this group. The rate is expected to be a little lower than among adolescents due to the young age of the pups, the D said.r Arruda.
A government information campaign on childhood immunizations is due to be launched shortly.