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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.