Saturday, December 26, 2020

Holiday lockdowns in Quebec and Ontario

Quebec reports 2,349 more COVID-19 cases in another record-breaking 24 hours | CTV News - Daniel J. Rowe:

December 24, 2020  "As the province prepares for another lockdown, Quebec reported Thursday that 2,349 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the province, a new daily record that brings the total number of positive cases to 185,872 since the start of the pandemic. It is the fifth time the daily record has been broken in six days....

"On Christmas Day, all businesses deemed 'non-essential' by the government will be forced to close across the province in an effort to reduce transmission and alleviate pressure on the health-care system. Schools closed on Dec. 17 and won't reopen until at least Monday, Jan. 11. For most of the province, in-person dining, bars, gyms and entertainment venues have been closed since October."

Read more: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-reports-2-349-more-covid-19-cases-in-another-record-breaking-24-hours-1.5244183


Ontario-wide lockdown for COVID-19 now in effect |  CTV News - Joshua Freeman, CP24:

December 25, 2020 - "There won’t be any in-person bargain-hunting taking place in Ontario this Boxing Day. When resident[s] across the province wake up Saturday morning, they will find themselves under a provincially-ordered lockdown brought in to try curb the runaway spread of COVID-19.... While Toronto, Peel Region, York Region, and other areas are already under lockdown, the province-wide order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 26.

"The lockdown means the closure of all but a handful of businesses. Those deemed essential such as grocery stores and pharmacies will be allowed to stay open with capacity restrictions, but gyms, movie theatres and just about every other type of indoor business will have to close. Stores and restaurants will still be allowed to offer curbside pickup and delivery. Capacity restrictions will be tightened to 25 per cent per room at discount and big box retailers that sell food and are allowed to be open.

"Health officials have warned that serious surgeries and treatments – such as those for cancer, heart problems and other conditions – could be delayed if hospital ICU’s are overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. Despite pleas from elected officials and public health professionals, data have shown that people have not been staying home as much as they did during the restrictions in the spring....

"Despite promises that an 'iron ring' would be extended around long-term care homes following the first wave in the spring, the virus has returned to long-term care homes with devastating effect in recent months. As of Thursday, there were outbreaks at 162 long-term care homes in Ontario, meaning more than 25 per cent of all homes in the province are currently experiencing an outbreak.

"The number of cases in schools was also climbing rapidly prior to winter break, forcing the province to implement a lengthened break from in-person learning. Elementary students in the province will learn virtually from Jan 4-8, while secondary students will learn virtually until returning to in-person instruction on Jan. 25.

"Outbreaks among essential workers such as firefighters have also caused concern about a possible strain on essential services."

Read more: https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-wide-lockdown-for-covid-19-now-in-effect-1.5245257

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