Quebec to ease restrictions on dancing, karaoke, telework and more as of Nov. 15
Much to the relief of bar and nightclub owners, dancing and karaoke will be allowed in private venues as of Nov. 15 as long as people wear masks, Quebec announced Tuesday.
Dancing in bars had been banned since March 2020.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement during a news conference in which other health measures are being announced. The vaccine passport will remain mandatory.
“It will be finally possible to dance and customers will no longer have to remain seated at their table,” said Dubé.
Karaoke singers will, however, have to follow one of the new rules: maintain a distance of at least two metres from the crowd, remain behind a physical barrier, or wear a mask.
Bars and restaurants will also no longer be required to maintain a register of clients for contact tracing purposes.
Wearing a face cover remains mandatory in all other situations in restaurants and bars, except when eating or drinking.
HIGH SCHOOLS, TELEWORK
High school students will no longer be required to wear a face mask when they are seated in the classroom as part of the newly relaxed health measures coming into effect on Nov. 15.
Wearing the mask is still mandatory for common areas and for moving from one place to the other.
"The epidemiological situation is relatively under control," Dubé said.
When asked why the province isn't waiting for vaccinations to be available to younger children before loosening restrictions, public health director Horacio Arruda said it had to do with low infection rates and high vaccination rates.
"We think it's acceptable to take away that mask at secondary school," he said.
Public health is also dropping its recommendation for teleworking and encouraging the return to the office.
"It will be up to each employer to determine the formula that suits them," the health minister said.
Face-to-face return will be possible, but mixed formulas allowing the continuation of teleworking will be recommended, the health ministry added in a news release.
Dubé added that Treasure Board President Sonia LeBel will have an update in the coming days with regards to public servants.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS WINTER
Dubé also made some announcements regarding outdoor activities this coming winter.
In order to allow them to operate at full capacity, a vaccination passport will be required for all activities requiring the use of a ski lift including downhill skiing and tubing.
People must wear a face cover in closed gondolas, though and scarf and neck warmer will be considered acceptable.
A vaccination passport will not be required for outdoor winter sports and activities such as cross-country skiing, hockey, though participants must be able to keep one metre apart, and masks will be required in indoor facilities, like chalets and cabins.
A vaccination passport and mask will be required to access catering areas and bars.
Masks continue to be required inside gyms or anywhere people are taking part in activities, though they can be removed for intense physical activity providing everyone keep a distance of two metres. Vaccine passports continue to be mandatory.
-- This is a developing story that will be updated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.