Police officers will be "very visible" throughout Quebec this weekend

Quebec’s Minister of Public Security says the province will see additional police presence throughout the weekend.

Geneviève Guilbault made the announcement from the capital on Friday morning, claiming police forces will be “very visible” in efforts to detect and prevent establishments who aren’t abiding by public health’s COVID-19 protocols.

Guilbault was joined by Sûreté du Québec’s interim director Johanne Beausoleil, Montreal police chief Sylvain Caron, and Quebec City police chief Robert Pigeon.

She says there’s been “surges in cases in Quebec” over the past few days and a weekend-long operation, named OSCAR, will try to slow the spread of the virus and prevent a second wave.

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Operation OSCAR will target over 1,000 establishments (mostly bars and restaurants) throughout the province to ensure guidelines are followed by both owners and clients.

Guilbault says police forces have “created their own intervention plans,” as respective police squads know their territories and establishments who might not be following the rules.

“I want to be very clear,” says Guilbault in French, “our police officers will apply the laws. If they realize there is a violation in some establishments, they will be able to register these establishments to the rége who can then hand out the necessary infractions to both clients and owners.”

Guilbault says the objective is to fight the spread of the virus and make sure regions that are in “green” or “yellow zones” not to upgrade to the next level of colours. “We have to do all we can as a society to fight COVID,” she said.

The minister urged all citizens who are “tempted to break the rules, to please conform.”

No additional details in terms of fine amounts were announced.