COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Saturday
CBC
The new cases are those reported to the Quebec government only. They are believed to be an underrepresentation of the virus's spread, given the limited availability of PCR tests and use of home testing kits.
Quebec officials say people protesting against COVID-19 measures in Quebec City this weekend have a right to demonstrate, but police will be enforcing traffic and noise bylaws.
The first protesters arrived near the National Assembly Thursday night and held another protest Friday night ahead of a larger demonstration planned for today.
On Friday, Premier François Legault said "lots of tow trucks" are standing by to remove protesters' vehicles should they hinder citizens from circulating normally.
With the exception of a few larger trucks parked along René Lévesque Boulevard, police have been forcing all vehicles to circulate, to keep traffic moving. Between the Thursday and Friday protests, Quebec City police handed out more than 50 tickets, mostly for road safety violations.
An organizer of the demonstration, Bernard Gauthier, is accusing the police of being too strict about where truck drivers and protesters are allowed to congregate.
He complained about being betrayed by authorities, saying he couldn't even park a food truck near where people will be demonstrating.
Gauthier accused the media of being complicit with health authorities and even questioned the existence of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand is reassuring residents and visitors to the annual Carnaval de Québec that the city will be safe during the weekend protests.
Several festival sites are in the same vicinity as the protests. Many restaurant and hotel owners have reported cancelled bookings for this weekend.
WATCH | Police direct traffic as protesters demonstrate Friday night in front of National Assembly:
Sports are slowly resuming across Quebec, but some young athletes are frustrated with the muddied guidelines around when and where masks must be worn.
Children and youths under 18 were allowed to return to indoor sports on Jan. 31, for practices only, with gatherings limited to 25 people. The province has said masks must be worn at all times, for all ages, if a sport is taking place in a school or as an extracurricular activity.
However, if the sport is taking place in a public space, such as a municipal facility, the new rules depend on the age of the participants: children under the age of 10 are not required to wear a mask. For all those 10 and up, a mask is mandatory at all times, except during an intense period of play, the Health Ministry said this week.
