Quebec premier says he's ruling out new public health restrictions for the holidays
Quebec is ruling out imposing new health restrictions, despite the steady rise of new COVID-19 cases.
Health Minister Christian Dubé, however, says he is concerned about the spike in new cases, just weeks before the holidays.
Legault has already made it clear that he would like to authorize gatherings of up to 25 people in homes during the holidays, rather than the current limit of 10 people.
"We're not planning to add measures," said Legault late Wednesday afternoon during a press conference at a vaccination center in Lévis, Que. "I know Quebecers well enough to know that there are many people fed up with the current measures."
He and the health minister say they are watching the numbers closely.
"We don't like the trend, but it's under control," Legault noted.
The 1,196 cases of COVID-19 reported in Quebec on Wednesday have authorities worried, but Legault points out the number of hospitalizations is currently 239.
"The key is to monitor the number of hospitalizations. As long as we stay at low levels, it remains under control," he said.
The province is now focusing on mass vaccination of five to 11-year-olds, who are currently contributing to the rise in cases.
The number of children vaccinated has now reached 37 per cent and should have a "downward effect" on reported cases, Legault added.
Quebec's public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, will report next week on whether or not he recommends allowing gatherings of up to 25 people.
'I DON'T LIKE IT,' SAYS DUBÉ ON CURRENT TREND
Wednesday morning, Dubé suggested that the current situation is not encouraging.
"Twelve hundred cases, I don't like it. We're back to our highest level in the last month. We are not finished with the vaccination of children, we are not finished with the vaccination of our older people," he said.
He deplored the fact that there are still 650,000 Quebecers who could be vaccinated, but are not.
"We're not talking about five to 11-year-olds or zero to five-year-olds. There are 650,000 Quebecers who refuse to be vaccinated and we are at the beginning of a new variant and we are at the beginning of winter," said the health minister.
Dubé adds he is also concerned about rising hospitalization numbers.
"I've seen, in three consecutive days, an increase of 10 hospitalizations and intensive care [cases per day]," he said. "That's real. That's what's happening to us right now and we have a variant case."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 1, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca