Montreal health officials want gyms, libraries, museums reopened across city: report
Premier says risk posed by COVID is too great to allow larger gatherings
MONTREAL — The Quebec government has no plans to relax COVID-19 restrictions that have closed gyms, restaurants and other businesses in much of the province, Premier François Legault said Thursday.
The comments came after the province’s opposition parties demanded the government release a document from Montreal’s health authority that is calling for gyms, museums and libraries to reopen.
“The risk of gatherings is too great at this moment,” Legault said told a news conference in Quebec City.
With 261 new COVID-19 cases reported in Montreal on Thursday, Legault said “the battle” has not yet been won in the city. However, the premier said the government will be reviewing its restrictions to allow more people to meet one-on-one.
Currently, only people who live alone are allowed to have guests, and they can only host one person at a time.
The public health document, obtained by Radio-Canada, says maintaining the partial lockdown in the city risks causing serious health issues for the population.
On Thursday, Quebec solidaire called on the government to release the report and the Parti Québécois said the province should follow the recommendations contained in it. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante said she’s had discussions with the city’s public health director about moving to a “new normal” — the steps outlined in the document — and she’s open to the recommendations.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Plante said she thinks the loosening of restrictions in Montreal would be “good for morale.” However, she added, “We need to be cautious,” warning that while the number of new cases reported in the city has stabilized, other factors, such as hospitalizations and deaths, need to be considered.
Plante said that the decision would ultimately be up to public health authorities.
“I will always follow public health measures and instructions,” she said.
During question period at the national assembly, Health Minister Christian Dubé accused the opposition of creating confusion around the Montreal document. Dubé said it was not a list of recommendations sent to the government but part of ongoing discussions between public health officials in Montreal and their colleagues at the provincial public health authority.
Most of Quebec has been moved to the highest pandemic-alert level, under which gyms, bars, restaurant dining rooms and entertainment venues are closed and private gatherings are banned.