Here's Everything You Need To Know About Quebec's Latest COVID-19 Restrictions
On April 6, Premier François Legault announced a tightening of Quebec's COVID-19 restrictions in order to curb the "rapid spread" of virus variants.
From new rules in schools to more red zones, here's everything you need to know about the province's latest round of restrictions.
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What's closing this time around?
In red zones, the government's main focus was on closing gyms on April 8 and returning to alternating school days for secondary 3, 4, and 5 students as of April 12.
In addition, a maximum of 25 people will be allowed in places of worship, sports facilities except for "swimming pools, ice rinks and places to play tennis and badminton" are closed, and no extracurricular school activities will be allowed.
For orange zones, less severe measures were installed, including limiting the number of people allowed in places of worship, sporting facilities, and making wearing masks compulsory in all schools for all levels.
The curfew will be at 9:30 p.m., except for the emergency regions of Quebec City, Lévis, and Gatineau, which have an 8 p.m. curfew until April 12.
Are there any new rules in red zones?
Along with the already established rules, there are a couple of new things you need to remember if you're living in a red zone.
First and foremost, you can no longer go work out at your local gym as of Thursday. It's also mandatory to wear a mask whenever you do outdoor physical activity in a group of maximum eight people.
If you're a high school student, you'll be going back to alternating school days, won't be able to do any extracurriculars, and you must wear a mask at all times, even in a classroom.
You'll still be able to go shopping or go to the cinema, however, but expect the rules to be enforced more than they already are.
"Those in charge of businesses and companies must understand that the variant is very dangerous. If you don't enforce the rules, you risk being shut down," said Legault.
When will things reopen again?
The government didn't give a timeframe as to when we can expect things to be open again.
What Legault did hint at, however, is that Montrealers might be in for another 8 p.m. curfew if things don't get better.
"We will not hesitate. If there is an increase, for example, in the number of cases in the coming days in Montreal, we're going to put the curfew back to 8 p.m.," said the premier.
