Quebec orders theatres, bars and gyms to close
‘What you are doing now will save lives,’ Premier Legault says
Life in Quebec slowed even further Sunday with the Legault government ordering the closing of bars, theatres, gyms, ski hills, sugar shacks, arcades, and pools to impede the spread of COVID -19 in the province.
Restaurants are also being asked to limit the capacity of their business to 50 per cent to maintain a distance between customers. That means keeping only one of two tables open, for example. Fast food restaurants are being allowed to remain open.
And with the number of confirmed cases rising again — the total rose by 18 to hit 39 — health officials are urging citizens to keep at least a metre of distance — two metres if someone has symptoms — between themselves and other people.
But the government wants people to keep working so businesses, shopping malls and office towers remain open, as will public transit. If people can work remotely, all the better.
“I realize very well we are asking a lot of citizens, that we are imposing many restrictions on your normal lives,” a grave-sounding Premier François Legault said at his daily news briefing at the legislature on the evolution of the virus.
“But tell yourselves what you are doing now will save lives. I know Quebecers are built strong and I know we can win this battle together.”
With his government on high alert and the province operating under the strict rules of a public health emergency for the first time in its history — Legault ran down the list of reasons for leaving home: going to work, to buy groceries, to go for a walk, to go to the pharmacy, seek medical help or to help people aged 70 or over.
The stepped-up measures follow orders issued Saturday where Legault asked people aged 70 and over to stay at home. Quebec also stopped visits to hospitals, seniors’ residences and long-term care centres.
“The worst-case scenario is to have these centres infected,” Legault said returning to the issue.
Responding to criticism that the new measure means family members and volunteers who are helpful in the care of residents won’t be able to visit, Legault said some exceptions are possible, such as if an individual in a residence is near death.
Legault said there is also nothing stopping people from taking a nice walk in the sunshine as long as the distance rules are respected and there is no physical contact.
The same goes for everybody now that movie theatres and gathering places are closed.
“It’s calming and good for the morale,” Legault said.
Legault said the 18 new cases announced since Saturday morning are proof Quebec’s restrictions are necessary.
In other countries, the growth in new cases was exponential. In Italy, for example, the number of confirmed cases of COVID -19 rose from 21,157 on Saturday to 24,747 on Sunday.
He noted while there are 70 cases per million inhabitants in France, Quebec has four per million.
“We have to put all the odds on our side,” Legault said. “Why? Because otherwise we will be overwhelmed.”
The goal is to slow the number of infections enough that the healthcare system can handle serious cases.
“If there are too many, we risk losing control,” he said.
Legault said Quebec cannot close all restaurants, such as fast food outlets, because people need to eat and it will put too much pressure on grocery stores. Quebec’s Société des Alcools outlets remain open for now, as are most shopping malls, but with reduced hours.
“But someone who says, ‘I am going to go to the restaurant just for the fun of meeting 10 people,’ that’s not a good idea,” Legault said.
With the backlash over the new rules on visits to senior care centres, Legault was asked to address the fact some citizens are resisting restrictions even after getting off planes arriving from foreign lands with COVID-19 believing the threat is overblown.
Legault said he does not want to spark panic, but has asked Quebecers to comply with the latest restrictions.
“We have to count on the good faith of Quebecers,” Legault said. “I can’t send the police to each restaurant to make sure they are only at 50-per-cent capacity.”
There was a more urgent tone Sunday from Quebec’s public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, as the number of cases keeps growing.
He said the things the government is saying are not just suggestions.
“I’m not on a power trip,” Arruda said sitting beside Legault and Health Minister Danielle Mccann for the briefing.
“I’m not one to be over-the-top, but do what we’re saying. We’re not suggesting this because we feel like playing dictator. We’d prefer to be cautious. It’s not time to panic. It’s time to act.”
Both Legault and Arruda were cautious about commenting on projections of the ultimate impact of COVID-19, but said one of the more pessimistic studies they have examined is the one advanced by Ste-justine Hospital medical microbiologist and epidemiologist Caroline Quach.
She projects between 40 and 60 per cent of the population could be infected, which would mean four million Quebecers, sparking 400,000 hospitalizations, including 200,000 in intensive care and eventually 24,000 deaths.
“Obviously, we don’t want this,” Legault said. “There are scenarios that are more optimistic, others are more pessimistic, such as this one, but that’s why we are working, to anticipate all the scenarios.”
“I am not a super excited person,” Arruda added. “But I say, do what we tell you, I am asking you, I beg you.”
The government continues to take actions to get ready for the worst. Mccann said many retired nurses and other health-care workers have expressed an interest in stepping back into the workplace as a result of her appeal Saturday.
She said all they have to do is sign up as volunteers using the following government email address: jecontribuecovid19@msss.gouv. qc.ca. The government is promising their return to the workplace will not lead to penalties in their pension plans. As of Sunday evening, more than 1,700 people had responded.
Legault also resumed his efforts to get the federal government to close the borders to foreign visitors. In the meantime, Quebec announced travellers will soon not only get the message that they must voluntarily isolate themselves for 14 days on their return in the form of signage at the airports.
Now public heath officials will be there, too.
“I think it takes time for people to register,” Mccann said. “We have to repeat. We have to explain, so a sign is probably not enough.”
Also Sunday, the government announced it will be opening 400 centres to provide child-care services for workers in essential services such as health or civil protection. To be open Monday, the total capacity of the network will be 60,000 children.
And Quebec’s big unions representing 500,000 public sector workers agreed to suspend negotiations, for now, aimed at achieving a new collective agreement.
Do what we’re saying. We’re not suggesting this because we feel like playing dictator. We’d prefer to be cautious. It’s not time to panic. It’s time to act.