COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend
CBC
*Quebec's Health Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends.
Quebec's three main opposition parties are criticizing the provincial government's decision to impose a 10 p.m. curfew, which began New Year's Eve, arguing the health order is a sign of the government's failure to prepare.
If the premier had acted earlier, then there would be less of a need for such strong measures, Opposition Liberal house leader André Fortin told The Canadian Press on Friday.
The curfew was imposed in an effort to curb the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Other measures, such as closing restaurant dining rooms, delaying the reopening of schools and closing non-essential businesses on Sundays, also took effect Friday at 5 p.m.
The new restrictions have added even more strain for restaurateurs who have been struggling to recoup losses caused by previous pandemic restrictions.
"We lost over $80,000 in the last three weeks," said Jae-Anthony Dougan, chef and co-owner at Tropikal Restobar.
"Christmas parties, New Year's Eve and day events — it is what it is."
In a tweet Friday, Quebec Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon said he spoke with representatives from the restaurant industry and said the government will find ways to compensate those struggling with lost inventory. Details are expected next week.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Quebec, the number of children in hospital with the virus has gone up as well.
But experts are urging parents not to panic, as children are not necessarily in hospital due to a severe case of the virus.
"A lot of children who are being admitted for other reasons are testing positive for COVID-19 by PCR test at the time of their admission, even though COVID-19 is not the actual cause or reason for them being hospitalized," said Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Montreal Children's Hospital.
Papenburg attributes the rise in numbers to rampant community transmission of Omicron, and he says it's important to continue to encourage parents and their children to get vaccinated for "protection against severe disease."
As Omicron often presents as a typical winter cold or the flu, experts are advising parents to get their child tested if they have symptoms such as a runny nose or cough, and keep them isolated pending a negative rapid or PCR test.
Experts are asking parents to use their judgment about the use of emergency departments and are encouraging young people to follow public measures.