Quebec premier says no plans to ease COVID-19 rules for now
Global News
'The situation remains very difficult at the moment,' Quebec Premier François Legault said during a COVID-19 update for the province on Thursday.
Quebec is starting to “see the light at the end of the tunnel” but the government will not lift more restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 for now, the premier said Thursday.
François Legault says the province is dealing with 3,400 hospitalizations and that it appears to be the peak.
“The situation remains very difficult at the moment,” he said.
Pandemic-related hospitalizations remain too high and there is a labour shortage of nearly 12,000 employees in the health-care network right now, he added.
Legault said the good news is that if the number of patients stays at the current level, a contingency plan will not have to be applied in hospitals. That plan includes keeping workers infected or exposed to COVID-19 on the job and finding ways to discharges patients sooner.
Given the situation, Legault said public health officials have advised against easing more sanitary measures. Quebec tightened rules last month as infections quickly started to climb, including banning private gatherings and shuttering bars and dining rooms.
The province lifted its nightly curfew and schools reopened earlier this week, but the premier urged patience as the other rules remain in effect.
“I understand we are all tired but lives are at stake,” he said.
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