What’s open and closed in Montreal

In a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Quebec has cancelled any gatherings of more than 250 people. Here is a partial list of what is open and closed in Montreal.

FOOD AND SHOPPING

Grocery stores and pharmacies

■

are open, though some have placed limits of two of any given item to prevent hoarding. Many retail stores are open but some have shortened hours. Check company websites.

Société des alcools du Québec

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outlets are open, but wine tastings in stores have been cancelled.

All Apple stores outside of China

■

are closed until March 27.

Restaurants have been asked to

■

limit their businesses to 50 per cent of capacity. Some, like Joe Beef, Liverpool House and Le Vin Papillon restaurants, and the Time Out Market, have chosen to close temporarily.

St-hubert and Tim Hortons

■

restaurants have closed their dining rooms but will remain open for take out. St-hubert will no longer accept cash payments and will work from a limited menu.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Various hospitals have suspended ■ or restricted visits. Emergency rooms remain open.

Dentists and chiropractors have ■ cancelled non-urgent appointments until March 30.

TRANSPORTATION

Public transit, including the

■

métro system, buses and commuter trains are operating as usual, with increased cleaning.

Via Rail has suspended service

■

between Montreal and Halifax until at least March 27. Other routes to and from Montreal continue to run, but with half the usual schedule.

DELIVERIES

Canada Post continues to operate. ■ But signatures will no longer be required for regular packages that can be safely left outside the doors of residences.

EDUCATION

All daycares, schools, CEGEPS ■ and universities in Quebec are closed through March 27.

LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND CITY SERVICES

All Montreal libraries, arenas,

■

pools and facilities that can accommodate more than 250 people are closed.

Longueuil has suspended all

■

community, cultural and sports activities at municipal buildings until April 30, as well as its municipal court. Its council meetings are closed to the public until further notice.

Laval has closed its arenas,

■

libraries and community centres until April 12.

The Bibliothèque et Archives

■

nationales du Québec are closed.

YMCAS are closed until March

■

29.

MUSEUMS

The Montreal Science Centre is

■

closed. The Old Port remains open to visitors.

The Botanical Garden and Planetarium

■ are closed.

The Montreal Museum of Fine

■

Arts is closed until March 30.

The Mccord Museum is closed

■

until at least March 29.

POLITICS AND JUSTICE

Quebec’s National Assembly is

■

suspending sitting after Tuesday’s session.

All non-urgent Quebec court

■

proceedings have been suspended.

The Régie du logement has suspended

■ eviction hearings.

Most government agencies that

■

had planned public hearings have suspended them, including the access to information commission.

Most political rallies have been

■

suspended.

SPORTS

Major sports leagues have suspended

■ play, including the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer. The Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Impact and Laval Rocket will not play.

The World Figure Skating Championships,

■ which were to start Monday, have been cancelled.

The Olympic Stadium is closed,

■

along with its sports centres and the tower. Events there until the end of April, including Blue Jays pre-season games, Monster Spectacular and the electric car show, have been either postponed or cancelled. Employees working there still have access to their offices.

Patinage Québec has cancelled

■

all its provincial activities until March 30.

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

Bars, theatres, gyms, ski hills,

■

sugar shacks, arcades, Zumba and yoga classes, pools, arcades, indoor soccer arenas and aquariums have been ordered to close until March 30.

Evenko has cancelled all shows

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planned for the next month.

The Montreal Casino is closed

■

and all the city’s video lottery terminals have been shut down.

The Orchestre symphonique de

■

Montréal has cancelled 11 shows.

Place des Arts has suspended all

■

its activities until April 12.

The Blue Metropolis literary festival

■ has been cancelled.

Montreal’s and Hudson’s St.

■

Patrick’s parades have been postponed.

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Most internet providers including

■ Videotron, Bell, Teksavvy, Distributel and Ebox have removed data usage limits on home internet access to facilitate people working from home.

Most television providers are

■

giving subscribers free access to Canada’s all-news channels — CBC News Network, RDI, CTV News Channel and LCN.

Most subscription newspapers

■

have lifted their paywalls on coronavirus-related stories, including the Montreal Gazette.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

St. Joseph’s Oratory has cancelled

■ all public masses and concerts until further notice.

The Catholic Church of Montreal

■ has suspended masses, and mosques were strongly urged to suspend prayer services.

OTHER

The city byelection in

■

St-léonard-est, scheduled for March 15, has been postponed.

Hydro-québec is extending its

■

winter moratorium on service cuts past March 31 and is pausing maintenance that may cause service cuts unless absolutely necessary.