Omicron forces François Legault to implement new restrictions

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In a turn of events that has Quebecers experiencing déjà vu, the province has changed its guidelines around gatherings just days after announcing that larger gatherings would be allowed for the holidays.

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At a late-breaking press conference on Thursday, Prime Minister François Legault announced a series of public health restrictions that he hopes will halt the spread of the Omicron variant amid a recent increase in the number of daily COVID-19 cases. , which according to projections will result in a significant increase in hospitalizations in the coming days and weeks. Those projections suggest that hospitalizations, which currently stand at 305 across the province, could more than double by Jan.8.

“When we hear that hospitalizations are going to increase significantly over the next few days and weeks, well, we have to act,” Legault said.

One-on-one meetings will continue to be limited to 10 people overall and on vacation, and starting Monday, shops, restaurants, bars, gyms, spas, places and places of worship will be required to operate at 50 percent capacity. The latter, which will only be able to accommodate 250 people in total, will need to start applying for the vaccine passport.

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Activities considered at risk such as office parties, karaoke and dancing will be prohibited from Monday.

Elementary schools will return to face-to-face classes as scheduled after the break, but high schools, CEGEPs, and universities will have to do online learning until January 10 (if you were scheduled to return beforehand). Masks must be worn in schools at all times.

Outdoor sports may continue, but tournaments will be canceled.

Weddings and funerals can be held for a maximum of 25 people with immunization passports.

“I understand that all Quebecers are tired,” Legault said. “We are all tired, but unfortunately I need you. We still have a battle to lead, I need you and the effort of each one will be very important. It will take courage and determination, after 21 months it is difficult, but they are going to hit us ”.

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Quebec will also open booster shots to the adult population in the new year, moving the interval between the second and third doses from six months to three. The campaign will work in a similar way as it did with the first two doses in terms of priority. Quebec hopes to first protect the elderly, the vulnerable and healthcare workers.

Booster shots will also be available to people over the age of 60 earlier than planned. Quebecers 65 and older will be eligible for their vaccinations on Monday, and those 60 and older will be eligible a week later.

Health Minister Christian Dubé said the province has received a “very good reaction” to its call for people who can administer vaccines, and that he hopes that means that Quebec will be able to vaccinate people quickly. The goal is to administer 600,000 vaccines per week starting in January.

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Vaccinations in some regions may accelerate faster than others depending on how quickly they can vaccinate, he added.

Currently, the province is analyzing the possibility of incorporating the booster vaccine in the vaccine passport, but the director of public health, Dr. Horacio Arruda, said that it cannot be added until everyone has had the opportunity to receive the vaccine. .

Thursday’s announcements came as a new analysis by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec found that nearly 20 percent of Quebec’s COVID-19 cases were related to the Omicron variant. At the conference, Legault said that so far on Thursday 3,700 positive cases of COVID-19 had been detected in the province.

Education Minister Jean-François Roberge also announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and, prior to the press conference, Public Health ordered the Montreal Canadiens to play fanless at the Bell Center.

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“What is important to say is that in this battle that we are leading, vaccination is not enough,” Legault said. “The second weapon we have is as simple as saying that we have to be able to reduce our contacts, be around other people less often.”

When asked why the province failed to act earlier given the situation in Ontario and other countries, where Omicron has spread at an alarming rate, Arruda said “we knew it would get there one day, but not necessarily at that level.”

Dubé, for his part, said that boosters were not offered to the general population before because those who are currently eligible have not filled the available appointments and due to the previous six-month interval between the second and third doses for the older populations. youth (although many people under the age of 70 are currently eligible).

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“We have received only this morning the go-ahead to go down from six months and we always listen to those Public Health recommendations,” said Dubé. “The moment we have (the go-ahead), we will launch vaccination to increase capacity and we will reach the level we had this summer.”

In a post-conference statement, Liberal leader Dominique Anglade said her party will eventually have questions about why “the CWC government seems shocked and disorganized.”

“Today, however, I would like to share my solidarity with all Quebecers, who will once again have to make significant sacrifices as the Christmas season approaches,” he said.

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