The COVID-19 alert level across Québec was raised in several communities on Sunday afternoon. Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, announced that parts of the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions are being moved to the yellow level from the green level and that the Montreal region, the Chaudière-Appalaches region south of Lévis, and part of Capitale-Nationale region around Québec City, are moving to the orange level from the yellow level.
In the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions, the following regional municipalities are now at the yellow level:
MRC de la Rivière-du-Nord
MRC de Deux-Montagnes
MRC de Mirabel
MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville
MRC Les Moulins
MRC de L’Assomption.
The MRC d’Argenteuil remains at the green level.
In the Capitale-Nationale region, the following municipalities are now at the orange level:
The greater Québec City area including:
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
L’Ancienne-Lorette
Wendake
MRC de La Jacques-Cartier
MRC de La Côte-de-Beaupré
MRC de L’Île-d’Orléans
New limits on people in places
The rules for social gatherings and gatherings in public establishments have also changed. The following rules come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 21.
Green and yellow levels
The limit on the number of people in an establishment serving alcoholic beverages is will now be 50 people instead of 250. However, this does not apply to places where people are seated, such as auditoriums, cinémas, theatres, and audiovisual recording studios, which can continue to accommodate up to 250 people.
Orange level
Private gatherings must be limited to a maximum number of six people or two families (households) and at the most, people from two different residences. However, people not from a residence can come and help with the children or at home.
In restaurants, bars, and casinos, the maximum number of people that can be gathered at one table is six.
The end of the sale of alcohol in restaurants, bars, brasseries, taverns, casinos and any other place or establishment with liquor licence is now 11 p.m.
Customers in bars, brasseries, taverns and casinos must now leave no later than midnight. In other places offering alcoholic beverages, no alcohol consumption is permitted after midnight.
Activities in places of worship and in rooms where alcoholic beverages for consumption on site or in rooms where any event or reception is held are limited to a maximum of 25 people, and the same rules as in bars must be observed if there is a liquor licence. This measure particularly affects certain activities in rented rooms, festive events, weddings, professional or school celebrations, etc.
Places where people are seated, such as auditoriums, cinémas, theaters and audiovisual recording studios, can continue to accommodate a maximum of 250 people.
In residential and long-term care centers (CHSLD), only visits necessary for humanitarian purposes and those of caregivers providing significant help to a resident are authorized.
In private seniors’ residences (RPA), visits are permitted up to a maximum of six people present at a time, including the resident, in the rental unit.
In shops, it is recommended that only one person per household be allowed. Also, people considered to be at high risk for complications are encouraged to use delivery services or seek help from loved ones.
Travel to another region is not recommended.
For now, public health recommends maintaining the two additional stable groups allowing students to participate in extracurricular activities or special programs including sports-studies.
When to get tested
The likelihood of finding a positive COVID-19 case is highest among people with symptoms and those who have had close contact close with someone with COVID-19. The government of Québec asks Quebecers to go for testing only when the situation requires it, which will allow the queue to be taken over more quickly upon receipt of the test. To find out if you should go for a screening test, use the online self-assessment tool at Québec.ca / decisioncovid19.
