Quebec tightens COVID-19 health restrictions in Red Zones across the province

Quebec Premier François Legault started the post-Easter workweek by restricting COVID-19 measures in Red Zones across the province.

New health guidelines mean all Red Zones, including Montreal, will be required to shut down all fitness centres and gyms as of this coming Thursday, April 8.

Places of worship will also limit their capacity to 25 people.

Legault also said he would “not hesitate” to bring the curfew back down to 8 pm.

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Legault says public health tells the government that the “places that worry us the most are schools, sports, places of worships, and homes.”

With that said, Legault says all schools in Red Zones across Quebec must return to the “hybrid model” for secondary 3, 4, and 5, meaning they have to go back to alternating between in-person and virtual classes.

All extracurricular activities in schools across Red Zones are to be cancelled as of Monday, April 12.

Legault says the moves are “preventive measures,” hoping to stem the rising case count of the COVID-19 variant.

“No one can say with certainty where we’ll be in a week or two,” said Legault, “but we wish to add measures in a preventive way in Red Zones.”

La situation des derniers jours montre qu’on doit augmenter notre prudence pour nous adapter à des variants plus contagieux.

Ce soir, on annonce un resserrement des mesures sanitaires par prévention.

On fait le point en direct:
https://t.co/C1uVi93OgK

— François Legault (@francoislegault) April 6, 2021

Legault concluded by asking Quebecers to “be prudent” and said, “the most important thing is to follow the rules.”

“I know I’ve asked for a lot over the past year, but the variant is very dangerous.”