According to the Institut national de santé public du Québec (INSPQ), there were 3,345 confirmed, active cases of COVID-19 across the Laurentides region as of Tuesday, January 18. Out of that amount, 273 confirmed cases were among residents of the MRC d’Argenteuil. On Monday, 301 people across the Laurentides region were in hospital due to COVID-19. 

On January 17, the CISSS des Laurentides regional health authority reported a COVID-19 outbreak at the hospital in Lachute. COVID-19 outbreaks were also in effect at the following long-term care and retirement facilities across the MRC d’Argenteuil as of January 17: 

Résidence St-Philippe in Brownsburg-Chatham 

Résidence Médaillon d’Or in Lachute 

CHSLD Argenteuil in Lachute 

As of January 18, there were 51,489 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 across Québec, which was an increase of 5,143 cases from January 17, according to INSPQ. Across Québec on January 18, there were 3,417 people in hospital as a result of COVID-19 and 289 of those patients were in intensive care. 

Restrictions 

A series of significant COVID-19 related restrictions are currently in effect across Québec as part of the response to the omicron variant. 

Private gatherings  

Private gatherings in homes must be limited to occupants of the same residence. 

Exceptions may include a visitor to provide service or support, and a single person (with their children, if applicable) can join a family bubble. 

Places of worship 

Places of worship are closed, with an exception for funerals which must be limited to 25 people. 

Outdoor events 

Outdoor events are still authorized but with a maximum of 250 people. 

Restaurants 

Dining rooms are being closed. Delivery and take-out orders are still possible. 

Shops  

All stores will be closed on Sundays, except for certain businesses such as convenience stores, gas stations and pharmacies. 

Sports 

Indoor sports are suspended, unless they are practiced by a single person, by two people, or by the occupants of the same residence. 

The indoor facilities of downhill ski centres and snowmobile relays are open only to allow people to warm up and have access to the bathrooms. It is forbidden to consume food inside ski facility buildings. Food services may still offer take-out orders. 

Booster information 

Presently, all Québec residents aged 18 and older are eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination as long as it has been three months or more since their last dose. https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/progress-of-the-covid-19-vaccination/additional-dose-covid-19-vaccine. To book a vaccination appointment in Québec, go to https://portal3.clicsante.ca/ or call 1-877-644-4545.