Quebec premier announces end to curfew Monday, back-to-school plan
CBC
Quebec's much-maligned second curfew of the pandemic is coming to an end Monday, said Premier François Legault as he joined key cabinet ministers to announce a relaxing of some COVID-19 measures Thursday afternoon.
Legault addressed Quebecers in a news conference that began at 3 p.m., alongside Education Minister Jean-François Roberge, Health Minister Christian Dubé and interim Public Health Director Luc Boileau.
He also announced schools will be reopening to in-person learning Monday, with all students wearing masks indoors. Students and educators who test positive or are in close contact with a COVID-19 case are being asked to isolate themselves for five days.
Several CEGEPs and universities have already announced that they plan to reopen later this month.
Stores in the province, ordered to close on Sundays for the past two weeks, will be allowed to reopen on Sundays as of next week.
Legault said the province has brokered a deal with a Quebec company to purchase 70 million rapid tests for at-home use by Quebecers. Those tests will be distributed gradually over the coming weeks and months. Students will receive tests in the days following their return to classes, as well.
The premier said he hoped to reopen restaurants and concert venues shortly to those who are adequately vaccinated.
"We have good news today. Experts tell us the new cases have peaked, and the wave of hospitalizations is expected to peak in the coming days," Legault said.
"We have to remain careful. Hospitalizations are still high and could continue to increase."
The government also said that as of Jan. 24, customers will be required to show their vaccine passports to shop at big-box stores of 1,500 square metres or more, with the exception of grocery stores and pharmacies, which are considered essential services.
The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew began almost exactly two weeks ago, garnering criticism as Legault provided little evidence that curfews are effective at slowing transmission of the virus.
The announcement of the latest measures come on the same day that Quebec's public health research institute, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), released its latest pandemic projections.
The INSPQ predicts a reduction in hospitalizations by the end of the month, with new hospital admissions peaking sometime next week.
Legault last addressed the province on Tuesday, when he named Boileau, the former head of the province's public health-care research institute, L'Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS), to the post of interim public health director.
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