The Premier of Quebec announced on Monday new restrictions for the regions of Montreal and Quebec which go to the highest level of alert for 28 days, while cases of coronavirus have climbed sharply in this province.
Quebecers are called upon not to receive guests at their homes.
Bars, restaurants, cinemas, museums and libraries in particular will be closed from October 1 to 28 in three regions, including the metropolis Montreal and the capital Quebec, which have passed the red alert threshold.
"The figures are clear: we must take our responsibilities, we must make difficult decisions"
, warned Prime Minister François Legault at a press conference announcing, "the big heart", the closure of several sectors of the economy during the month of October.
The government is working on
"a formula to help financially"
the owners of these businesses, he promised.
Read also: Coronavirus: Canada is preparing for a second wave
Quebec, which has more than eight million inhabitants, announced Monday 750 new cases in one day.
The province hardest hit by the epidemic, especially in its retirement homes during the first wave, has entered
"the second wave"
, warned last week, the national director of public health.
The number of new patients, around a hundred at the end of August, has continued to climb since then to approach a thousand last weekend, but the number of deaths remained stable (between zero and six per day).
"What we are seeing for the moment is a significant increase in cases and we can think that in several weeks, that will mean significant increases in hospitalizations and deaths"
, explained François Legault, adding that the situation was
"critical"
.
Schools and businesses, hairdressing salons and hotels will remain open.
"Our objective is first of all to protect schools"
, indicated the Prime Minister.
Read also: Coronavirus: these convicts of the road who cross the border between Canada and the United States every day
Quebec "strongly recommends" to avoid travel between regions of the province.
Neighboring province and second most affected by the pandemic, Ontario has recorded more than 700 new cases, a record since the start of the pandemic which has led the authorities to also speak of
"second wave"
.
In total, Canada recorded more than 155,000 cases and 9,318 deaths on Monday.
