’Electroshock’: Quebec to impose 8 p.m. provincewide curfew until Feb. 8

MONTREAL • Quebec Premier François Legault is imposing a provincewide 8 p. m. to 5 a. m. curfew beginning Saturday and for the next four weeks as a way to halt surging COVID- 19 infections and hospitalizations.

Legault told reporters Wednesday he wanted to give Quebecers an “electroshock” regarding the critical situation in the province’s hospitals, which he said are overburdened with COVID-19 patients who are mostly over the age of 65.

Quebec will become the first in the country to impose such a drastic measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The premier said that despite the fact schools, retail stores and many other businesses have been closed since December, COVID-19 infections continue to rise. He said the transmission is coming from private gatherings.

“We are obliged to provide a type of shock treatment so that people reduce their visits,” he said.

Legault says anyone found on the street after 8 p. m. without good reason would be subject to a fine of between $ 1,000 and $ 6,000. The premier says all non-essential businesses that he ordered closed in December will remain closed until at least Feb. 8, when the curfew is scheduled to be lifted.

Legault, however, said primary schools will reopen as scheduled, on Jan. 11, and high school students will return to in- person learning the week after, on Jan. 18.

Earlier on Wednesday, Quebec reported 2,641 new COVID-19 infections and 47 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.

Dr. Donald Sheppard, chair of the microbiology and immunology department at Mcgill University, says Quebec’s health- care system is under heavy strain, adding that surgeries and cancer screenings are being put off and intensive care units are filling up.

“The biggest worry is, eventually, if we don’t do anything, we’ ll get to the point where it’s going to be the decision where we have two patients, one ventilator and someone has to decide,” Sheppard said