A cover institution designed to prevent the rise of the COVID-19 case wave has come into force in Quebec
The measure is needed to prevent rallies that have fueled the rampant spread of the virus, Prime Minister Francois Legault said, announcing the rules earlier this week. The French-speaking Canadian province has a population of over 8.4 million.
“The situation is critical and shock treatment is needed,” Legault said in a Facebook post on Saturday. “Our hospitals are filled with COVID-19 patients. Hundreds of people are in intensive care, fighting for their lives. Dozens of people die every day. “
The rules will cause most residents to face police questions or fines of up to C $ 6,000 (US $ 4,728) if they leave between 8pm and 5am in the next four weeks.
There are exceptions for essential workers, people who walk dogs and those who have medical reasons to be out, such as scheduling a doctor.
The extinction of time had a sharp resistance from some.
Just before the competition took effect, dozens of people took to the streets of Montreal’s Plateau district, chanting “freedom,” while five flashing police cruisers chased after them. A helicopter was hovering over his head, and police cruisers were on the streets.
Under the extinguishing terms, grocery stores and convenience stores will have to close by 7:30 p.m. to allow workers and customers to get home. Gas station shops can remain open to serve essential workers.
The state of affairs comes as COVID-19 cases in Quebec and deaths continue to rise, with hospitals saying they are filling up and at risk of being overwhelmed.
The trend continued on Saturday, as the province reported 3,127 new cases of coronavirus infections and another 41 deaths associated with COVID-19. It was the first time the province’s daily number of cases exceeded 3,000.