Coronavirus March 21: Quebec bans most public gatherings as death toll rises to five | Montreal Gazette

News Coronavirus March 21: Quebec bans most public gatherings as death toll rises to five By Andy Riga Updated March 23, 2020 8:10 AM Carmen Larivière, 95, crosses a nearly empty parking lot

at the Cavendish Mall in Côte-St-Luc on Saturday, March 21, 2020 after buying some supplies. She lives alone in Côte-St-Luc. John Kenney Montreal Gazette

This was our live COVID-19 coverage on Saturday, March 21.

Top items

seniors Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Wash your hands! Woman with COVID-19 arrested after breaking self-quarantine Stay home, Trudeau says Why isn’t Canada in a lockdown? Quebec gives $7 million to

company working on vaccine Northwest Territories shuts itself off Montreal balcony singalong tomorrow at 8 p.m. Partial Canada-U.S. border closure in effect

More below

With some exceptions, Quebec is banning indoor and outdoor gatherings.

In a press release late Saturday afternoon, the provincial government said the cabinet has adopted a decree that “applies to all types of gatherings.”

The previous decree banned indoor gatherings of 250 or more people.

As of today, all gatherings are banned, except those:

possible, a minimum distance of two metres between them. In a public place where services or goods are obtained (businesses, government services, etc.), and which is not the subject of a

suspension from the Quebec government, provided customers maintain, as far as possible, a minimum distance of two metres between them. In a means of transport, provided that users maintain,

as far as possible, a minimum distance of two metres between them. Bringing together the occupants of a private residence and any other person offering them a service or whose support is

required. People offering a service or providing support must maintain, as far as possible, a minimum distance of two metres from the occupants.

The government said “outdoor gatherings are permitted when a minimum distance of two metres is maintained between people, except if they are people who live in the same private residence.”

The Société des alcools du Québec has announced that liquor stores will be closed on Sundays for the foreseeable future so employees can rest. Outlets are to reopen at noon on Mondays, with

mornings used to sanitize interiors and restock shelves.

With employees worried about contracting coronavirus, the SAQ had previously cut hours, limited the number of customers in stores and banned the use of cash.

There have been long lineups at stores for the past two days and some SAQ stores were closed Saturday due to staffing shortages.

Société québécoise du cannabis stores, which are operated by the SAQ, said they will also be closed exceptionally tomorrow and will reopen at noon on Monday.

À compter de demain, les succursales seront fermées le dimanche seulement et rouvriront leurs portes le lundi à compter de midi. La matinée du lundi sera consacrée à assainir les magasins et

à regarnir les tablettes pour que nos équipes soient prêtes à vous accueillir. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/M802TcuN37

https://twitter.com/La_SQDC/status/1241469666628907008

Here are some photos taken by photographer John Kenney for the Montreal Gazette today.

Carmen Larivière, 95, crosses a nearly empty parking lot at the Cavendish Mall in Côte-St-Luc on Saturday after buying some supplies. She lives alone in Côte-St-Luc. There are six confirmed

cases of COVID-19 connected to people or places in Côte Saint-Luc and the city’s mayor wants Quebec to consider quarantining the entire suburb. John Kenney Montreal Gazette People line up at

a Pharmaprix pharmacy in Côte-St-Luc on Saturday. John Kenney Montreal Gazette People leave the Cavendish Mall in Côte-St-Luc area on Saturday. John Kenney Montreal Gazette People line up

outside a Société des alcools du Québec outlet in Westmount on Saturday. Liquor stores are limiting the number of customers in individual stores at the same time. John Kenney Montreal

Gazette Transat brought 10,000 Canadians home Between yesterday and today, @airtransat announced that it has brought more than 10,000 Canadians back to Canada. Thank you very much. We

continue to work tirelessly for our Canadians still abroad. All united against #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/tfuGa1ioby

spread accelerating in Quebec: Legault

The number of COVID-19 cases in Quebec has climbed to 181 from 139, Premier François Legault said at a Quebec City press conference Saturday afternoon. That’s an increase of 42 since Friday.

In addition, to the 181 confirmed cases, there are another 57 presumed cases in Quebec. Just over 1,500 tests results are pending. One person has recovered. More than 9,200 tests were

negative.

Nineteen Quebecers are now hospitalized, 10 of them in intensive care.

There have been five deaths – four since the last update. Four of the five people died lived in the same seniors’ residence in the Lanaudière region, northeast of Montreal.

“As expected, the spread of the virus is accelerating in Quebec,” the premier said. “It’s a reminder of the seriousness of the situation and the need to limit our physical contact. Together,

we will get through this.”

Leagult also said:

will help “limit the contagion between people, neighbourhoods, cities and regions.” He was being optimistic yesterday when he said Quebec schools may reopen on May 1. It’s possible that the

closures will continue past that date, he said. At the moment, Quebec has decided not to asked police officers to enforce social distancing, with some exceptions. “We’ve decided that good

will is the best approach” and it’s largely working, he said.

Closing the border between Quebec and Ontario would be difficult because the Outaouais region and Ottawa share health services, Quebec public health director Horacio Arruda said. But he said

nothing is being ruled out.

The point may come when Quebec may make self-isolation mandatory, Arruda said.

Read our story about today’s Quebec update here , by René Bruemmer.

#COVID19 – Au Québec, en date du 21 mars 13h, la situation est la suivante:️181 cas confirmés️5 décès️1 personne guérie️1512 personnes sous investigation️9 242 analyses négativesPour

connaître le nombre de cas confirmés par régions : https://t.co/OaNGSH8BSO #santéqc

There are 181 COVID-19 cases in Quebec . Five people have died.

Here’s the breakdown by region.

This was the English part of Premier François Legault’s opening statement at his daily briefing today:

“As expected, we can see that the number of cases is accelerating.

“I’m sad also to announce that we have four more deaths in Quebec. It’s a reminder we face a very serious situation.

“Therefore, I ask you to strictly apply the social distancing instruction to limit the contagion between people, neighborhoods, cities and regions. Unless it’s necessary to go out, please

stay home. Or go for a walk, but go alone. What we’re doing now will save lives in the coming weeks.

“Take care, we’ll get through this together.”

And here’s Quebec’s daily infographic.

Musical interlude Banjo balm. pic.twitter.com/eQ6jUkHSHm

As part of growing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Loblaws supermarkets will be installing plexiglass shields in front of checkout counters.

Read our story here .

Loblaws has also agreed to boost the salaries of front-line workers at all its brands, including Provigo and Pharmaprix in Quebec, by $2 per hour, retroactive to March 8.

#UFCW Canada is pleased to announce that ongoing discussions with @loblawco have resulted in a $2/hour wage increase for over 90,000 front-line employees at Loblaw associated banners across

the country.#ThankAGroceryWorkerDetails here: https://t.co/1Lf0WuLHKE pic.twitter.com/FOxYRWl6XG

Quebec has recruited veteran CTV Montreal anchor Mutsumi Takahashi and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber to appeal to anglophone Quebecers over 70 to respect the public health

advisories, colleague Philip Authier reports.

They have recorded messages that will be sent to seniors via robocalls.

Yesterday, Quebec announced that well-known Quebec entertainer Dominique Michel was teaming up with respected retired journalist Bernard Derome to make robocalls to francophone Quebecers.

In his latest Montreal Gazette column, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science & Society, says soap can destroy the virus responsible for COVID-19.

“Coronaviruses are composed of a core of nucleic acids, either RNA or DNA, surrounded by a protective coating made of proteins and fats. The fat-soluble end of the soap molecule embeds

itself in the lipid layer and the virus is then literally pulled apart since the rinsing water is tugging the other end.”

Read the column here .

« Pourquoi ne fais-tu rien pour lutter contre la COVID-19? Superman : C’est ce que je fais! » #restezàlamaison #sauvonslété #savethesummer

21, 2020 Woman with COVID-19 arrested after breaking self-quarantine

A woman with COVID-19 was arrested by Quebec City police for having allegedly violated an isolation order by being outside her home.

The “intervention was carried out with the goal of reissuing” an order that the woman remain isolated and respect instructions to avoid all contagion, health officials said.

Read our story here , by Paul Cherry.

More grim news from Italy Another tragic day in #Italy. Record fatalities of 793, taking total to 4,825. #Covid_19 cases up 6,557 to 53,578. Recovered at 6,072. Mayor of #Bergamo says true

fatalities much higher, since most old ppl dying at home, not in hospitals.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided an update at a press conference outside his Ottawa home this morning.

Trudeau said:

business reasons. “As much as possible, people should be staying home, self-isolating with family.” Canada is working with airlines to make flights more accessible for Canadians trying to

get home from overseas. An Air Canada flight from Morocco will leave today. Flights from Peru and Spain are in the works. Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 won’t be able to board those

flights. “We won’t be able or help everyone. But we are going to do our best to help those we can.” He said efforts to fetch Canadians are hampered by lockdowns in some countries as well as

limited flight capacities. He said all Canadians overseas should register with Global Affairs. The Northwest Territories has announced it will limit non-essential travel into the territory.

“We support this important step,” Trudeau said. “Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, let’s not forget that people are worried about how fear can

fuel racism, so let’s be kind to each other and stand up against discrimination wherever you see it…. Let’s be kind to each other. Let’s stand up to discrimination.” Canada is continuing to

ramp up testing. “Every day we have to test tens of thousands more people. We know massive screening is the way to protect Canadians.” Why isn’t Canada in a lockdown?

At a separate press conference in Ottawa, Health Minister Patty Hajdu was asked why Canada is not locking itself down as Italy has.

Italy is different, she said. And “it does not makes sense from my perspective as a health minister to put an entire country on lockdown.” Canada has to keep “functioning as a society” and a

lockdown could do more harm than good.

Asked whether inter-provincial travel should be banned to keep COVID-19 from spreading, Hajdu said people and goods such as food have to keep moving between provinces.

She had a stark message about the length of the crisis: “This isn’t about two weeks of social distancing. This is about months of social distancing.”

Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne urged snowbirds to return to Canada as soon as possible as flights become increasingly scarce. He said the border will always be open for

them to return.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau said upon their return to Canada, all travelers must isolate for 14 days. Travelers with symptoms will not be allowed to board flights.

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said foreign workers who work for Canadian farms and food producers will be allowed into Canada but must observe the 14-day isolation rule. “Our very

food security depends on them,” she said.

The province of Quebec is giving a $7-million grant to Medicago, a Quebec City biopharmaceutical company that last week said it had produced a virus-like particle of the coronavirus that may

be able to produce a vaccine against COVID-19.

The government announced the grant today.

“By supporting Medicago in the development of a vaccine, the Quebec government is actively participating in global efforts to counter COVID-19,” Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon said. “We

must not forget the essential contribution of our manufacturers of medical supplies and equipment who must meet an increasing demand for their products.”

Read our story about Canadian vaccine efforts here , by René Bruemmer.

Keep teens away from groups, malls: city of Ottawa Your teens may say they NEED to see their friends, but #socialdistancing says they NEED to use virtual hangouts. Keep your teens away from

group gatherings and the malls to help stop the spread of #COVID19. For more info: https://t.co/EvCpxrcy14

closes itself off

The Northwest Territories are “prohibiting all travel (by air, land, and port) into the Northwest Territories, with limited exceptions.” Those returning to the territory are to self-isolate

in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, or Inuvik for 14 days.

Disobeying the order “is punishable by law and may include a fine upon summary conviction of up to $10,000 and six months imprisonment,” the territory said in a press release .

Loto-Québec donates $1 million to food banks

Loto-Québec is donating $1 million to food banks across Quebec. The provincial lottery agency also gave 30,000 masks as well as disinfectants such as antiseptic gel and wipes to the

province’s health department. They made the announcement Saturday via press release .

Copland

Pour célébrer l'arrivée du printemps, la violiniste Ann Chow et ses enfants vous offrent ce ravissant extrait de la pièce Appalachian Spring de Copland. Bon samedi à la

maison!#onseprotege--To celebrate Spring, violinist Ann Chow and her children are offrering you this lovely excerpt of Copland's Appalachian Spring. Have a nice Saturday at

home!#staysafe

Welcome to The Quarantine — a frightening Hollywood sci-fi film about a deadly, invisible enemy right outside your door. But this film stars all of us, writes columnist Josh Freed .

Moroccan flight full

Nell Stewart, Canada’s ambassador to Morocco, says Air Canada’s last flight out of Morocco is fully booked but Canadians can board U.S. flights.

Read our story here .

I have just spoken with the US colleague leading their repatriation effort out of Marrakech today: there are still many seats open. https://t.co/1lkmn04YOJ

March 21, 2020 Montreal balcony singalong tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Martha Wainwright is inviting Montrealers to take part in a solidarity balcony sing-along with her Sunday night. The tune: Leonard Cohen’s So Long Marianne.

Read our story here , by Paul Cherry.

Via The Canadian Press, here are the latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. on March 21, 2020:

There are 1,085 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada.

Alberta: 195 confirmed (including 1 death) Quebec: 139 confirmed (including 1 death, 1 resolved) Saskatchewan: 8 confirmed, 18 presumptive Manitoba: 17 confirmed Nova Scotia: 5 confirmed, 10

presumptive New Brunswick: 7 confirmed, 4 presumptive Canadians quarantined at CFB Trenton: 10 confirmed Newfoundland and Labrador: 3 confirmed, 1 presumptive Prince Edward Island: 2

confirmed The Territories: No confirmed cases

Total: 1,085 (33 presumptive, 1,052 confirmed including 13 deaths, 11 resolved)

Since midnight, casual, non-essential travel is prohibited between Canada and the U.S. as the two countries try to slow the spread of COVID-19.

That means no vacations or cross-border shopping.

Canada’s shared border with the United States is now closed to casual, non-essential travel in a bilateral effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in North America.

On the allowed list: truckers, health-care workers and others who must cross the border to work.

Those now returning from the U.S. are being told to self-isolate for 14 days.

To be clear, all essential and business travel will continue unimpeded. And if you’re currently visiting the US, please come home and self-isolate for 14 days. Your travel home will not be

affected by this measure. For more information, click here: https://t.co/GNI8DoIyJz

We are constantly updating our list of what is open, and mostly what is closed , in Montreal.

Sign up for our new email newsletter dedicated to local coronavirus coverage here: montrealgazette.com/coronavirusnews

Quebecers who think they have symptoms of COVID-19 should call Quebec’s hotline at 1-877-644-4545.

Quebec

[email protected]

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 7:48 PM.

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