COVID updates, Dec. 16: Quebec cuts capacity limits in stores, bars, restaurants to 50% as of Monday

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Province reduces interval between doses to three months, speeds up booster shots for people age 60-69, with all adults eligible as of January. Holiday gatherings capped at 10 people.

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Updated throughout the day on Thursday, Dec. 16. Questions/comments: ariga@postmedia.com

Article content Top updates Article content 8 p.m. Thanks for reading

I’ll be back tomorrow with another live blog.

In the meantime, you can follow all our coverage via the coronavirus page .

My previous COVID-19 live blogs are available here .

7:50 p.m. Video: ‘We need the help of all Quebecers to cut our contacts by half,’ Legault says Article content 7:45 p.m. Quebec cuts capacity limits in stores, bars, restaurants to 50% as of Monday; Province reduces interval between doses, speeds up booster shots

Premier François Legault on Thursday said Quebec must toughen measures to try to stem the spread of COVID, citing rising case counts, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and projections indicating that hospitalizations will increase sharply

About 20 per cent of COVID cases in Quebec are now linked to the more transmissible variant, according to public health data published Thursday. Another provincial agency on Thursday said that, depending on the spread of Omicron, Quebec hospitalizations could more than double by Jan. 8.

“We still have a battle in front of us, everyone’s effort is important,” Legault told Quebecers at a rare evening press conference Thursday. “After 21 months, it will take courage, determination.”

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He said he does not want to see hospitals overwhelmed.

Legault announced a series of measures that take effect Monday.

Fewer people in stores, bars, restaurants and places of worship

As of Monday, the province will reduce to 50 per cent capacity limits in all businesses, including stores, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.

That measure also applies to places of worship, where vaccine passports will be required as of Monday. In addition, places of worship will only be allowed to welcome up to 250 people at a time.

Quebec is also banning office parties, dancing, singing and karaoke because they are “high risk,” Legault said.

Return of high school delayed

Legault also announced that in-person teaching in high schools will resume on Jan. 10 for students who would normally have returned to classrooms on Jan. 3.

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There will be no change to the return to classes in elementary schools.

Outdoor activities and sports will continue to be allowed but tournaments will be prohibited as of Monday.

Smaller holiday gatherings in homes

Legault has repeatedly said he wanted to allow up to 20 people to gather for holiday get-togethers after Dec. 23. And that’s what public health initially said would be allowed.

But Legault said the province now has to backtrack and will only permit up to 10 friends and family members to gather in private homes during the holidays.

“Even with 10 people, you still have to be very careful,” he added. “There are risks in homes. Ventilation is important – regularly opening windows to allow air to circulate. And be very, very, very careful with vulnerable people. Keep your distance and ideally don’t take risks. It’s a question of judgment.”

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Added Health Minister Christian Dubé: “Yes, a Christmas party with 10 people is still allowed. But not five parties with 10 people… What we want is to limit contacts.”

To illustrate how contagious Omicron is, Dubé pointed to a Laval restaurant that was recently shut down after 31 of 32 guests at a Christmas party contracted COVID.

Speeding up boosters

Legault said administering boosters quickly will be important because they are key to stopping the Omicron variant.

But he said Quebec can’t open vaccinations to all adults yet because it wants to vaccinate more vulnerable people first. They include older Quebecers, health workers and other groups at higher risk from infection.

Dubé announced that the interval between the second and third vaccine dose has been cut in half. It is now three months, down from six months, after a recommendation from public health officials.

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Quebec’s vaccination campaign had slowed because it didn’t have enough vaccinators. The province issued an appeal for help and 1,500 people have come forward, Dubé said.

That means more appointments will be opened up in the coming days.

In addition, people age 65 and older will be allowed to book third-dose appointments as of Monday, Dec. 20, two weeks earlier than originally planned.

As of Monday, Dec. 27, people 60 and older will be eligible.

In January, all age groups will be able to get their booster shots, Dubé said.

Quebec can currently administer 300,000 vaccine doses per week and expects to double that capacity by January.

Another curfew?

A reporter asked Legault if he is considering a curfew to help reduce possible contacts.

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In response, the premier said the situation is much different than it was before vaccines were available.

“Obviously, things are reviewed every day. For the moment, we think the measures we’re announcing are enough and will allow us to get through this. But it’s not impossible that next week we’ll have to adjust.”

Quebec had a curfew for more than four months – from Jan. 9 to May 28.

Rapid home tests on the way

A reporter asked Dubé about the long waits for COVID tests in recent days.

Dubé said one problem may be that people are going to screening clinics to get tested when they don’t have symptoms – ahead of going to a party, for example.

He said the test centres are for people with symptoms.

Dubé said the situation should improve now that Quebec is significantly increasing the use of rapid tests, some of which are to be distributed to the general public via pharmacies starting Monday.

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No fans at Bell Centre Thursday night

Before Legault made his announcement, the Montreal Canadiens hockey club said it had agreed to a request from public health officials that the team play in an empty arena Thursday night at the Bell Centre when they face off against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Habs said it has been assured that beginning in January, it will be able to “return to a partial capacity scenario.”

Article content 5:20 p.m. ‘The situation is critical,’ Legault says ahead of major announcement at 6 p.m.

Premier François Legault is set to make a pandemic announcement today at 6 p.m., joined by Health Minister Christian Dubé and Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec’s public health director.

“The situation is critical,” Legault said via Twitter this morning. “I will be holding a press conference tonight at 6 p.m. to announce significant measures due to the increase in COVID cases and the new Omicron variant.”

The press conference comes as the province’s case counts and hospitalizations mount amid the spread of the more transmissible Omicron variant. There are fears Quebec’s health network could be quickly overwhelmed.

Yesterday, Ontario responded to the Omicron threat, expanding booster vaccines to all adults and reducing capacity limits in large venues, including sporting arenas. (See item below, time-stamped 9:50 a.m.)

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With infections expected to soar across Canada, some experts are calling for more restrictions and significant limits on gatherings during the holidays.

I’ll have live coverage and a video feed of the press conference.

Article content 5 p.m. Canadiens agree to play with no fans at Bell Centre tonight

With COVID cases soaring in Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens have agreed to play in an empty arena tonight at the Bell Centre when they face off against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m.

The team said it has been assured that beginning in January, it will be able to “return to a partial capacity scenario.”

On Oct. 16, the Canadiens played their first game before a full house since March 10, 2020. The National Hockey League suspended the season on March 12, 2020 due to the pandemic.

Here’s today’s statement from the Habs:

“Faced with the spiralling rise of COVID-19 cases in the region, late this afternoon the Montreal Canadiens organization received a request from Quebec public health officials to host tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers in a closed setting with no fans in attendance at the Bell Centre.

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“We have accepted this request in order to help ensure the safety and security of our fans and fellow citizens throughout our community. An update on the status of Saturday’s scheduled game against the Boston Bruins will be provided tomorrow.

“We have obtained assurances that beginning with our games in January, we will return to a partial capacity scenario and be able to host fans once more. More details will follow in the days to come and as the portrait of this ever-evolving pandemic becomes clearer.

“In the interim, we would continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, get their booster shots when possible, and be responsible with their social and family gatherings throughout the holidays. We hope that with rigour and a collective effort from all of us, we will be able to come together in a near future in 2022.”

Article content Article content 4:40 p.m. Rapid tests, boosters shots, new restrictions – A look at the latest pandemic developments in Canada

From The Canadian Press:

A look at the latest COVID-19 news in Canada:

— Canada has recorded its 30,000th COVID-19 death since the pandemic began in early 2020, passing the grim milestone just as the country braces for the potential fallout of surging infections driven by the Omicron variant. Ontario reported nine more COVID-19 deaths Thursday morning, pushing Canada’s total just over 30,000 as Ottawa and some provinces tightened public health measures to stave threats posed by a more transmissible virus. It took Canada nine months to reach 10,000 COVID-19 deaths last November, but the toll doubled to 20,000 just two months later in January 2021 — a leap that occurred before enough vaccines had been administered to have an affect. The country surpassed 25,000 COVID-19 deaths in May.

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— Ontarians took to malls and other pop-up sites Thursday in a scramble to secure free rapid antigen test kits after the provincial government launched its holiday testing blitz. The mad dash of people flocking to pop-up locations in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area was reminiscent of the early-pandemic hunt for toilet paper. This time, however, the search was on for the kits, which, until this week, were largely not accessible for free outside of some workplaces and schools.

— Some travellers heading out of Canada say they’re worried about surging COVID-19 cases, but are forging ahead with their plans despite the federal government warning against non-essential international travel. Sanjay Mahar says he is heading to India from Toronto to see his family for the first time in years, having booked the trip a few months ago when case counts were low and vaccination rates high. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Canadians to avoid international travel as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has caused cases to spike in recent days. Mahar says he was upset at the advisory and says it was so last-minute for him that he decided to go see his family anyway, especially his father, whose health is poor. He briefly looked into cancelling his trip, but said it was unclear if he’d be able to get any of his money back.

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— Saskatchewan is opening up COVID-19 booster shots to more of its population as concerns over the transmissibility of the Omicron variant grows. Premier Scott Moe says all eligible residents over the age of 18 can get their third dose starting Monday. The province has also reduced the time between the second and third doses to three months from five months.

— As Ontario prepares to introduce new COVID-19 capacity limits at large indoor venues, one Canadian arts leader hopes the province might entertain a different idea: temporarily stopping food and beverage sales at all live events. Mervon Mehta, executive director of performing arts at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory, is asking provincial leaders to consider ways to keep capacity at its current levels, rather than introducing rules that would directly erode ticket sales.

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— Business groups in Atlantic Canada are calling for a restart of provincial aid programs, as restaurants, retailers and other small operators lose Christmas sales due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions. Sue Uteck, executive director of the Halifax-based Spring Garden Area Business Association, says the new restaurant restrictions requiring two metres of distance between tables led immediately to cancellations. Meanwhile, Uteck — whose group represents about 230 businesses — says general public anxiety generated by the Omicron variant is keeping Halifax shoppers and diners at home. Louis-Philippe Gauthier, a regional spokesman for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says the provincial grants of about $5,000 offered to businesses in the region earlier in the pandemic won’t be enough this time to sustain losses during the holiday season.

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— The Calgary Flames say two more players and another member of the team’s support staff were added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol Thursday, bringing the organization’s total number to 30 people. Flames centre Dillon Dube and defenceman Oliver Kylington joined 16 of their teammates in protocol, while 12 other employees are also currently in isolation. By far the worst coronavirus outbreak in the NHL this season, Calgary has already seen four games postponed through Saturday, but it’s likely more will be scratched with almost the entire roster sidelined.

4:10 p.m. Restaurateurs gripped by growing sense of dread as pandemic picture darkens

Old Montreal restaurateur Graziella Battista has been fighting a familiar sense of dread since cancellations started pouring in Tuesday afternoon after Quebec recommended employers keep office workers home.

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Restaurant owners are bracing for further restrictions.

Read our full story, by Frédéric Tomesco.

3:40 p.m. Montreal and Toronto auto shows cancelled for 2022

The 2022 editions of the Montreal and Toronto auto shows have been cancelled, a result of uncertainty about possible restrictions or closures due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Read our full story.

3:20 p.m. Quebec suspends another 11 health workers who refused to get tested, bringing total to 469 Article content 3 p.m. Almost 20% of Quebec cases linked to Omicron, new analysis finds

About 20 per cent of COVID cases in Quebec are linked to the Omicron variant, according to data published today by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

On Tuesday, the public health institute screened all positive COVID test results for the Omicron variant.

It found that 101 out of 523 cases screened were generated by Omicron.

That’s 19.3 per cent.

By comparison, the INSPQ found no Omicron cases when it screened 894 positive cases on Nov. 30.

2:45 p.m. How worried should we be about the Omicron variant?

Early data suggests that the new variant is spreading faster than previous versions of the virus.

Read our full story.

2:30 p.m. Guide for Quebec parents: How to perform rapid tests at home Article content 1:55 p.m. Hospitalizations could more than double by Jan. 8 due to Omicron – Quebec projections

Depending on the spread of the Omicron variant, Quebec hospitalizations could surpass 700 by Jan. 8, with the number of people in intensive care units topping 160, new projections suggest.

Quebec currently has 305 people in hospital with COVID, 63 of whom are in ICUs, according to today’s daily update.

The projections were published in a hospitalizations update from the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux.

On Twitter, Health Minister Christian Dubé cited the projections.

“According to this scenario, the increase in cases would translate to an increase in hospitalizations,” Dubé said. “Hospital capacity could be reached as of Jan. 8.”

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Article content 1:30 p.m. Ottawa would be ‘receptive’ if Quebec asked for military help to speed up booster shots, federal minister says Article content 1:25 p.m. Here’s what to do if you’re worried about the ethics of booster shots

It’s strange to be considering a third vaccination when so much of the world remains unvaccinated, and while the virus continues to mutate.

But feeling bad about being able to access a booster — turning it down, even — will do nothing to help those who haven’t even had their first, says Monique Lanoix, a bioethicist and philosophy professor at Saint Paul University in Ottawa.

Read our full story.

12:50 p.m. Quebec education minister tests positive, will remain in isolation until Dec. 25 12:20 p.m. Is the worst of the pandemic behind us? Fewer Quebecers think so now, new poll suggests 12:15 p.m. Ontario needs a ‘circuit breaker’ to blunt Omicron, experts say — booster shots aren’t enough

Ontario’s panel of COVID-19 expert advisers says the province needs a “circuit breaker” with public health measures that cut contacts by 50 per cent to blunt the worst of Omicron’s impact.

Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province’s science table, says an accelerated booster campaign doesn’t go far enough to contend with the contagious variant.

He says this will likely be the hardest wave of the pandemic.

Read our full story.

12:10 p.m. Anti-vax Alberta man loses battle with ex-wife over whether to get their children inoculated

A Lethbridge dad who fed his children “vaccine misinformation” has lost his battle to prevent them from getting shots.

Read our full story.

12:10 p.m. Queen cancels pre-Christmas lunch with her family as Britain hits COVID record

Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a pre-Christmas lunch with her family as a precaution while cases of COVID-19 soar in Britain, a Buckingham Palace source said. “The decision is a precautionary one as it is felt to put too many people’s Christmas arrangements at risk if it went ahead.

Read our full story.

11:50 a.m. Ottawa provides $28M to Quebec for virtual health services

The federal government this morning announced an agreement with Quebec to finance “virtual health care services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Under the deal, Quebec will receive $28 million that will be used in two projects:

In a statement, Jean-Yves Duclos, the federal health minister said: “Access to virtual health care services is more important now than ever before. We are working with provinces and territories to support the deployment of these services for Canadians, to ensure they all can access the care they need, whenever they need it.”

11:40 p.m. Chart: Quebec is reporting more new cases than a year ago – but not as many hospitalizations 11:35 a.m. Updated charts: Quebec cases, deaths 11:35 a.m. Update on Quebec’s vaccination campaign 11:20 a.m. Montreal reports 949 new infections – most since Jan. 9 11:05 a.m. Quebec set to impose new measures as daily cases surpass 2,700

Quebec has recorded 2,736 new cases of COVID-19, the provincial government announced this morning.

That’s 350 more than yesterday and the highest one-day case count since Jan. 3.

In addition, five new deaths were reported.

Some other key statistics from Quebec’s latest COVID-19 update:

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Quebec has reported 474,478 cases and 11,627 deaths linked to COVID-19.

10:10 a.m. Quebec’s per-capita case counts are double those of Ontario

Here’s the rate of case growth per 100,000 people over the past seven days, via the federal government’s latest epidemiological update .

10 a.m. Opinion: As holidays approach, a chilling sense of COVID déjà vu

“Here we are again: watching public health deteriorate by the day; weighing the risks to ourselves, our loved ones and the health system; facing a choice between what’s permitted and what’s prudent.

“Instead of a merry Christmas, it’s déjà vu.”

Read the latest column by Allison Hanes.

9:50 a.m. Ontarians 18+ can get boosters Monday, capacity limits for large venues

From The Canadian Press:

All eligible adults in Ontario can book COVID-19 booster shots starting Monday, part of an accelerated rollout of third doses the premier is touting as the centrepiece of the province’s response to the highly infectious Omicron variant.

Premier Doug Ford called on business owners to offer spaces for clinics and asked medical professionals to participate in the ramped-up booster efforts. He also asked that individuals book shots as soon as they’re able in the face of the new variant.

“We will go after this variant with everything we have,” Ford said at a news conference Wednesday. “It starts with booster shots. Nothing matters more than getting these third shots into arms.”

The government will also cut capacity to 50 per cent at certain large venues, including sporting arenas and cinemas, and is distributing free rapid tests to residents in certain high-traffic public settings.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s top doctor, has said that Omicron is infecting between four and eight times more people than the Delta variant. He has also said it appears to infect more vaccinated people and that third doses offer greater protection.

Ford said Wednesday that the variant may already be dominant in Ontario.

“But let me be clear: just because this new enemy is on the offence, does not mean we can sit back and play defence,” he said.

Boosters extended to 18+

The province said large companies will help run workplace and community clinics and some settings like pharmacies can start offering walk-in boosters to anyone 18 and older as of Friday.

Eligibility for boosters was shortened from six months to three months — or 84 days — from a person’s second vaccine dose. That time frame will apply to all newly eligible people.

Anyone who was already eligible for boosters at the longer dose interval can now move appointments up to three months since their second dose.

Ford said the province is aiming to reach a capacity of up to 300,000 vaccinations per day. Health units have said they are diverting public health staff from other work to help with the efforts.

The president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians asked members to dial back on non-urgent work to help with vaccinations, and the CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association said pharmacists had been asked by the Health Ministry to extend their hours over the holidays.

Capacity limits cut

The province also announced that starting Saturday, it would cap crowds at 50 per cent for indoor venues with capacity greater than 1,000 people, including sports facilities, theatres and concert spaces.

Wednesday’s announcement stopped short of bringing in further restrictions in other settings including restaurants and private gatherings, which a group representing local public health units had called for earlier in the week.

Dr. Peter Juni, one of the top experts advising the province on the science of COVID-19, said if Ontario continues on its current trajectory, there will likely be more than 10,000 new cases a day by Dec. 31.

To protect against the spread, he said the province must bring in new public health measures, including restricting capacity at restaurants and sports arenas, and individuals must keep their gatherings “small and intimate,” with just five or six people present.

Ford said Wednesday that “locking down” wouldn’t stop the variant, but that addressing settings where large crowds gather without everyone wearing masks was the priority for restrictions — though he added that “everything is on the table” as the situation evolves.

A handful of public health units had already introduced smaller capacity limits on businesses and gatherings. In Simcoe-Muskoka, the region’s top doctor said Wednesday he would reintroduce 50 per cent capacity limits on bars and restaurants, event spaces, indoor sports facilities, religious services and limits on gatherings by Dec. 20, if the province didn’t do so first.

Dr. Charles Gardner said he was aware of similar restrictions being discussed at the provincial level, but waiting longer than a week wouldn’t be fast enough to keep up with the rate of transmission.

“I’m prepared to proceed with it in this week if we have to,” he said.

Rapid test distribution

Also on Wednesday, the province launched its holiday testing effort to distribute two million rapid tests at pop-up sites in high-traffic settings like libraries, malls, transit hubs and liquor stores. Most of the settings listed on a government website as of Wednesday were in the Greater Toronto Area.

Meanwhile, some experts and local health officials including Gardner warned that the coming wave of Omicron cases would likely overwhelm the capacity to conduct tests for all suspected COVID-19 cases and contacts — a challenge that was already playing out in Kingston, Ont., this week, where Omicron is known to be circulating.

9:50 a.m. Open windows, ventilation systems can help protect against COVID, Health Canada says 9:45 a.m. Ottawa’s Omicron travel advisory gets mixed reaction from industry

The federal government’s warning against all non-essential international travel to avoid the further spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was greeted with a mix of frustration and understanding among people working in the travel industry.

Read our full story, by Paul Cherry.

9:45 a.m. Montreal public health director recommends ‘suppressive approach’ as cases soar

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases ahead of the holidays, Montreal public health director Dr. Mylène Drouin is urging people to limit their contacts.

Public health hopes to delay the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant from taking over Delta for as long as possible to avoid excessive pressure on the health-care system in the city, especially as it continues to grapple with a wave of Delta cases, Drouin said at a news conference Wednesday.

Read our full story, by Katelyn Thomas.

9:45 a.m. NHL enhancing COVID-19 protocols as number of cases rise

The rapidly spreading Omicron coronavirus variant is hitting the NHL hard and as a result, the league is introducing enhanced COVID-19 protocols.

Read our full story, by Stu Cowan. ’

9:45 a.m. New leadership course offers bridge for pandemic career change

John Abbott College and West Island Community Shares (WICS) are partnering to offer a certificate course on non-profit leadership.

“The pandemic has forced a lot of people to question some of their life choices and may be looking for a career change,” said Sophie McCann, executive director of WICS. “This program will help them bridge from what they are currently doing to a new challenge.”

Read our full story, by John Meagher.

9:15 a.m. FAQ: Who can get their third dose in Quebec? And when?

Quebec is expanding eligibility for a third COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Here’s what you need to know about the province’s booster plan.

9:15 a.m. A guide to Quebec’s COVID-19 vaccine passport

Quebec’s vaccine passport is mandatory for people 13 and older who want to access services and activities deemed non-essential by the provincial government, including bars, restaurants, gyms, festivals and sporting events.

Quebecers can use a smartphone app to prove their vaccination status or simply carry their QR code on paper.

The app is available from Apple’s App Store and Google Play .

We have published two guides to the passports – one looks at how to download and set up the app , and another answers key questions about the system, including how, when and why.

You can find more information on the Quebec government’s website – one page has details on how the system works, and another has a list of the places where a vaccine passport will be required .

9:15 a.m. A guide to COVID-19 vaccinations in Quebec

Local health authorities have set up mass vaccination sites across Montreal.

You can book appointments via the Clic Santé website or by phone at 1-877-644-4545.

Quebecers can also visit walk-in AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer vaccine clinics .

Here are the nuts and bolts of getting vaccinated , by Katherine Wilton. Her guide includes the age groups targeted, how to book appointments, and addresses of vaccination centres.

9:15 a.m. Here are the current pandemic restrictions in Montreal and Quebec

We are regularly updating our list of what services are open, closed or modified in Montreal and Quebec, including information on the curfew and other lockdown measures.

You can read it here.

9:15 a.m. Here’s where Montrealers can get tested today

Montrealers can be screened at test centres across the island.

For other parts of Quebec, check out this page on the Quebec government’s site .

8:30 a.m. Sign up for our free nightly coronavirus newsletter

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ariga@postmedia.com

Read my previous live blogs here.

1. As Omicron spreads, officials advise against holiday parties, international travel
2. Work from home, Quebec says as it scrambles to distribute rapid tests to all

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