Quebec to test safety with big concerts in September

Université Laval researchers to oversee two shows totalling 25,000 spectators

The Quebec government is planning two concerts involving a total of 25,000 spectators in September as an experiment to examine the impact of COVID-19 on large gatherings and to help relaunch the entertainment and tourism industries.

Researchers at Université Laval will oversee the two shows, which will be held in the Quebec City area, Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx said Monday. Public health authorities hope at least 75 per cent of Quebecers are fully vaccinated by then.

“The goal is to help the event industry, which has been severely hit by the pandemic, to fully resume its activities in a safe environment,” Proulx said.

Quebec is touting itself as the first province to attempt such an experiment; similar ones have been held in cities like Barcelona and Paris.

The experiment will involve two shows — a 20,000-person outdoor concert and a 5,000-person concert indoors, Proulx said, adding that the government estimates the events will cost the government a total of between $2 million and $3 million.

More information will be announced in the coming weeks as academics iron out the protocol, including vaccination requirements and whether masks or physical distancing will apply, Proulx added.

Sophie D'amours, rector of Université Laval, said if another wave of novel coronavirus hits the province, then authorities may cancel the shows.

On Monday, Health Minister Christian Dubé said Quebec's vaccination campaign was making progress with people ages 18 to 29 — who have the lowest first-dose vaccination rate in the province. Dubé said 70 per cent of that age cohort had received at least one dose or had been scheduled to get one, as the province recorded its 10 millionth dose administered over the weekend.

Health officials on Monday reported one death attributed to the novel coronavirus since their last report on Friday and 239 new COVID -19 cases, 61 of which were identified Sunday.

Officials said that since their last report, hospitalizations dropped by six, to 78, and 23 people were in intensive care, a drop of two.

Quebec's public health institute says 83 per cent of Quebecers 12 and up are vaccinated with at least one dose while about 55 per cent are considered fully vaccinated.