MONTREAL — As of Saturday, Quebecers will be living under a curfew while the province struggles to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
As expected, Premier Francois Legault announced a “shock therapy” of several new lockdown measures on Wednesday afternoon.
Among the measures is a curfew that will require Quebecers to be in their homes by 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. or risk a fine of up to $6,000.
For people who say “‘I won’t be able to go for a walk anymore,’ well, come on,” Legault said.
“If you want to work a little bit later, you can work after 8 p.m. at home,” and go for a walk during the day, he said.
“We’re talking here about saving lives and we’re talking about saving our health-care system.”
The curfew will apply to the whole province except the Nord-du-Quebec administrative region.
Legault stressed that other than for going to work, there will be no excuses for violating curfew. He said the province’s grocery stores and depanneurs will close at 7:30 p.m. every day to allow shoppers time to get home.
Pharmacies and gas stations will be permitted to remain open during curfew hours.
The new measures will last for four weeks, until Feb. 8.
Measures that had previously been in place, such as the closing of restaurant dining rooms, will also remain in place for the four weeks.
The premier said he expects Quebec’s homeless population to abide by the curfew, saying he believed there is enough room in the province’s shelters.
NEWS COURTESY CTV NEWS
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