Wearing a mask will end “no later than mid-April” in all public places in Quebec, the Legault government confirmed on Wednesday. However, it will remain mandatory on public transport until at least May.
Posted at 9:32
Updated at 4:37 p.m.
“This is a very important step, and we can be proud of all our efforts to get here. However, we must learn to live with the virus, which is still circulating, and remain cautious. Wearing a mask, even when it is no longer compulsory, will be part of the arsenal we have to reduce the risk of transmission, among other things, ”said Minister of Health Christian Dubé in a statement.
The minister says he is aiming for the lifting of the mandatory mask by mid-April in all public places, including universities and CEGEPs. He says, however, to keep a “ten days notice”. Ditto for the end of face coverings in public transport, which should occur “at the earliest in May”. Care settings, including CHSLDs, are not included in this gradual schedule.
Remaining cautious, Quebec recalls that the mask “will remain recommended in certain circumstances”, including when a person presents symptoms of COVID-19, during the five days following isolation or during contact with an immunosuppressed person.
The exception made for public transport is not surprising. It is advocated in many places around the world. Last week, the regional director of public health of Montreal, the DD Mylène Drouin, moreover, said that the mask in the metro and buses “is here to stay”.
In addition, the Legault government also announced on Wednesday that it will bring forward to Saturday March 12 a series of reductions which were only to come into force on Monday March 14, in order to “take advantage of the weekend days with a minimum of limitations”.
Thus, from March 12, all public places will be able to switch to 100% capacity. There will no longer be a capacity limit per table in restaurants and bars. They can also return to a normal schedule, and stop keeping a register of visitors. Dancing and karaoke will also be allowed again, and there will no longer be limits on the number of participants in a rented room. The vaccine passport will finally come to an end completely, two days earlier than planned.
“insurance policies”
If it seems that the large vaccination centers would also be called upon to disappear by the beginning of April, the mask and the vaccine will remain tools for the future, in the eyes of the government. “In the future, it will be vaccination and the mask that will be the insurance policy to avoid new confinements”, affirmed the chief of staff of François Legault, Martin Koskinen in an interview with The Press a few days ago, talking about the bill that Quebec wants to table this spring to put an end to the health emergency, while keeping a “minimum” of powers.
In the office, wearing a mask is already no longer compulsory since February 28, if the distance of 2 meters is maintained or if there is a physical barrier between people. However, it continues, for the time being, to be required in traffic areas. As of March 7, elementary and secondary students will also be able to stop wearing face coverings in class, but they will also remain in common areas.
Provinces like Alberta on Tuesday lifted nearly all of their COVID-19 health restrictions. Those changes came into effect on Tuesday, including the end of capacity limits and most mask-wearing rules. Wearing a mask indoors will, however, always be required in high-risk environments and on public transport, as Quebec intends to do.
In Ontario, wearing a mask is still mandatory, but businesses such as cinemas, restaurants and fitness centers are no longer required to check the vaccination status of their customers since Tuesday.
With The Canadian Press