Sunday shoppers flocked to Quebec stores for the first time in three weeks as a measure aimed at curbing rising COVID-19-related hospitalization rates in the province came to an end amid declining patient numbers.
Most stores in Quebec have reopened their doors after a three-week ban on Sunday shopping imposed by the government in an effort to curb hospitalization rates that skyrocketed once the pandemic’s Omicron-driven wave took hold.
The province closed non-essential businesses for three Sundays from January 2, with exceptions only for pharmacies, convenience stores and gas stations.
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The move – one of a series of measures implemented to bring hospitalizations under control – appears to be bearing fruit, as the number of patients in provincial facilities has been declining for four days in a row.
Christophe Fiore, the co-owner of the Fruiterie Roger grocery store in Montreal, shared mixed feelings about reopening on Sundays.
He said while the provincial restriction helped address a staff shortage, it also caused a counter-effect by forcing more customers to do their shopping on Saturdays and Mondays.
“It’s not a good solution when it comes to COVID,” Fiore said. “It was not nice, Saturdays and Mondays got very busy and the rest of the week was quiet.”
Fiore said reopening on Sundays helps restore balance.
“We already see it, yesterday and today was quieter,” he said.
READ MORE: Deaths and hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 decline in Quebec
Louise Duflos, who works at one of Montreal’s largest grocery stores without wasting, confirmed Fiore’s remarks, adding that the restriction came at the same time as most staff struggled with COVID-19.
“When we were asked to close doors on Sundays, there were more COVID cases, so fewer people could work,” Duflos said. “So it worked out well, fewer hours, but also fewer staff.”
Having Sundays back on her schedule will bring some welcome financial stability, she added.
“It has been complicated to deal with all the changes in recent weeks.”
Quebec will also expand its vaccination passport program from Monday, making it mandatory to show proof of immunization to enter a number of retail establishments.
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These include large box and grocery stores with areas of 1,500 square feet or more. From 18 January, proof of vaccination also became compulsory to enter the province’s liquor and marijuana stores.
Vaccines and other protective measures were the focus of fresh comments from Canada’s top doctor on Sunday.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam has issued a statement saying vaccines and virus treatments keep Canadians better protected from the ongoing pandemic, even as she predicted more difficult weeks.
“Among adolescent and adult age groups, vaccine coverage with two or more doses ranges from 83 percent to 96 percent, with room for improvement, especially on booster dose coverage for adults, which ranges from 21 to 75 percent,” Tam said.
Health Canada data from early January show that cases that were fully vaccinated were 80 percent less likely to be hospitalized and 80 percent less likely to die from their illness.
Quebec on Sunday recorded 33 new virus-related deaths, more than 50 percent off the 68 recorded the previous day.
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