Shutdowns start as non-essential business to close
EDMONTON • Canada began to shut down on Monday.
Both Quebec and Ontario announced that non-essential businesses would shut down by midnight Tuesday.
“Quebec will be on hold for three weeks,” said Quebec Premier François Legault.
Nunavut also banned nonresidents and non-critical workers from entering the territory beginning Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. Even then, they’ll only be allowed home after a 14-day isolation in the south, and if symptom-free.
In a pair of back-to-back press conferences, Quebec and Ontario — the two most populous provinces in the country — announced there would soon be full shutdowns of non-essential businesses as health officials grapple with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus that has sickened more than 1,400 people in Canada and killed 20.
“This was a very, very tough decision, but it is the right decision,” said Premier Doug Ford, looking ashen at an early afternoon press conference. “This is not the time for half-measures, this decision was not made lightly.”
Ford, who sounded frustrated at those flouting advisories to remain at home instead of going out socializing, said further details — including essential versus non-essential designations — would be announced Tuesday, and that the 36-hour heads-up would give business time to prepare. A news release hinted at what would remain open, such as shops that sell necessities such as groceries and medicines.
Ford’s order will be in effect for 14 days, he said, with the possibility of an extension. More than 500 cases have been identified in Ontario, and six people have died.
A short while later, Toronto Mayor John Tory declared a state of emergency, which allows him to sidestep council in implementing unspecified measures down the road.
In Quebec, 45 people are in hospital, 20 of them in intensive care; there was a jump of 409 cases from Sunday to Monday, with the provincial total reaching 628. Quebec public health director Horacio Arruda said
Quebecers must stay home.
“I am not trying to scare people but it’s a question of life and death,” Arruda said.
The Quebec government said a full list of essential businesses would be published soon, but grocery stores, pharmacies, news media and restaurant takeout/delivery were mentioned as essential. The shutdowns will remain in place until at least April 13, Legault said.
Elsewhere, British Columbia Premier John Horgan announced on Monday a $5-billion financial plan to help float the economy forward, and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced tax relief for business to stay liquid during the crisis.
Kenney said he didn’t feel there was a “compelling need” for the federal government to declare a state of emergency, saying it risked confusion. He also said Alberta did not need to upgrade its public health emergency to a state of emergency.
He also slammed scammers and hoarders, and hinted fierce penalties might be put in place if people continue to flout isolation orders.
Meanwhile, in Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe said at a press conference he wants more alignment and clarity between the provinces, both as restrictions come into place and for lifting them once Canada starts coming down the other side of the pandemic curve.
The Monday announcements came after Nova Scotia put in place border controls for those coming into the province by sea, land and air, saying they would be stopped and told to self-isolate for 14 days; the province had declared a state of emergency on Sunday.
Also over the weekend, the Northwest Territories was the first jurisdiction to slam shut its borders to nonresidents after its first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed.
Yukon, which has two cases, has strongly advised against non-essential travel in and out of the territory.
Provincial and territorial premiers were expected to hold a telephone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday evening to discuss further measures to contain the spread.