Despite Quebec Premier François Legault announcing a gradual deconfinement last week, Montreal police continue to report hundreds of phone calls from citizens claiming COVID-19 protocols weren’t being followed.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) received 448 calls from neighbours and locals worried about Montrealers breaking public health guidelines during the week of February 1 to 7.
The SPVM says police officers issued 586 infractions, 219 of which were related to curfew violations.
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Throughout the province, regions that have been re-classified as “orange zones” will see their curfews pushed back to 9:30 pm, whereas the areas where cases remain high will maintain under the 8 pm rule.
Legault’s announcement came as hospitalizations throughout Quebec began to decrease, and as the province reported the lowest increase in COVID-19 cases in the past 100 days.
Données #COVID19 | Du 1er au 7 février, le #SPVM a reçu 448 appels en lien avec l’application du décret de la Santé publique. Les policiers ont remis 586 constats ou RIG et, de ce nombre, 219 ont été émis pour le non-respect du couvre-feu. pic.twitter.com/6QMdXJAGbs
— Police Montréal (@SPVM) February 8, 2021
Though Quebecers have taken a sigh of relief in the face of the new rules, the provincial government hasn’t announced a specific date for the end of the curfew.
In the Montreal area, anyone outside of their home from 8 pm to 5 am without a valid reason can be subject to infractions. It’s also still fineable in the province to gather indoors or outdoors with people outside your household at any time, even in regions that have been downgraded to orange zones. Businesses must function at a specific capacity relative to its size.
Exceptions to curfew non-compliance are being made for people who have a note from their employers that prove they are supplying an essential service and for Quebecers buying medication outside of curfew hours (though a receipt is needed as proof).
Pet owners are permitted to walk their pets past 8 pm within a 1-kilometre radius from their home.
Grocery stores and depanneurs are required to close at 7:30 pm nightly to give people enough time to get home.
Montreal police did not comment on fine amounts of the 586 offences.