Quebec to close bars, cinemas and gyms
Quebec says bars, movie theatres, gyms, pools, ski hill, dance studios and other non-essential locations must close while the province ramps up measures to fight the novel coronavirus.
Restaurants will have to limit their capacity to about 50 per cent. Takeouts can remain open.
Sugar shacks (cabane à sucre) must also close.
The 14 new cases in Quebec since Saturday afternoon show that further restrictions are necessary, Premier François Legault said.
“In other countries (the number) was exponential. It could be exponential here,” he said. “What we are doing will save lives.”
Quebecers should only go out to buy bread, go to the pharmacy, take care of an elderly person or go for a walk.
Quebecers should try to remain one metre apart because you could be infected and not know it, he said.
Public health officials are being dispatched to Trudeau airport to instruct travellers on the importance self-isolation and social distancing. Many people have complained that federal border agents aren’t providing enough information about COVID-19 to those arriving in Canada.
Legault said he knows he’s putting restrictions of people’s lives, but says it’s necessary.
People who can work from home, should do so.
@JLova