Quebec announced a slew of new measures on Thursday in a bid to control the spread of the virus as COVID-19 cases surge and the Omicron variant makes inroads.
Quebec reported 2,736 new infections bringing the number of active cases to 17,400.
“I don’t have good news,” said Quebec Premier Francois Legault at a press conference Thursday evening, to address the rising numbers.
Legault said preliminary numbers to be published Friday show 3,700 new infections. The highest number of daily cases to date was 2,880 in January 2021.
To bring down the number of cases, Legault said Quebecers have to reduce contacts.
Starting Monday, all stores will operate at 50 per cent capacity. The new measure will also apply to bars, restaurants, amphitheaters, movie theatres and gyms.
Legault said places of worship would have to decrease capacity to 50 per cent as well and not exceed 250 people. The vaccine passport will also be required going forward in churches and other places of worship.
Only funerals and weddings, with a maximum of 25 people in attendance, can be held without vaccine passport requirements.
High-risk activities such as office Christmas parties, karaoke and dancing will be banned as of Dec. 20.
Indoor private gatherings will be limited to 10 people, down from the 20 previously announced for the holidays.
“Even 10 people, we have to be extremely cautious and do it only if absolutely necessary,” Legault said.
Schools will not be closed but high school students will only resume in-person classes on Jan. 10. Any school days on the schedule in the week before will be held remotely.
The measure applies to CEGEPs and universities as well, but not grade schools. Masks are once again being made mandatory at all times for students.
Outdoor sports will be allowed to continue but tournaments and competitions are being cancelled.
A maximum of 25 people will be allowed for indoor activities.
Earlier in the day, Legault called the situation “critical.”
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Legault made the announcement as INESSS, a Quebec government health-care research institute, released dire projections relating to the number of hospitalizations in the province after taking into account new research about the Omicron variant.
The institute said it expects hospitalizations to more than double — from the current 305 patients to as much as 700 — within two to three weeks. Patients requiring critical care could reach 160 within the same time frame, according to INESSS modelling.
“According to the scenario applied to our context, the strong growth in the number of cases should translate into a marked increase in the number of daily hospitalizations in the coming weeks,” it said in a news release.
The institute added it was less confident than usual in its projections because its data on the Omicron variant is based on a single study out of South Africa, where vaccination rates are much lower than in Quebec.
Legault said on top of reducing contacts, vaccination is the other weapon at our disposal in the fight against COVID.
“Vaccinated people are less likely to get sick, even with the variant,” he said. “There’s still a risk, but experts tell us we can reduce it with a third dose.”
Quebec announced it would accelerate the rollout of booster shots to a wider segment of the population, while prioritizing health-care workers and those who are more vulnerable.
As of Monday, Dec. 20, people 65 and over can start booking appointments, and a week later, on Dec. 27, spaces will open up to those 60 and over.
Appointments for other age groups are expected to be made available soon thereafter, with the interval between a second and third dose reduced to three months, from six.
Currently, booster shots are available to people aged 70 and over, those with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, health-care workers, those living in isolated or remote communities and people having received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Legault ended with a plea for everyone to do their part in limiting the spread of the virus.
“Everyone has a great responsibility,” he said. “If everyone does their part, we can get through this together. I’m counting on you all.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
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