March 15, 2021 | News

March 15, 2021 – Federal and provincial government update on the COVID-19 pandemic

Here is an update on recent decisions and actions by the Canadian and Québec governments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

AstraZeneca vaccine safe and effective

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Québec Premier François Legault stated that the batches of AstraZeneca vaccine received in Canada are not the same as the ones that have been suspended in Europe.

“Our public health experts ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccines that have been approved. All of the vaccines approved in Canada are safe and effective. The batches of AstraZeneca vaccine delivered to Canada are not the same as the ones in Europe that have raised safety concerns,” said Mr. Trudeau.

National standards for residential centres

Meeting for the first time in person since 2019, Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Legault said that they talked for 30 minutes about various issues, including the federal government’s proposed national standards for residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs). While provincial and territorial leaders are opposed to these draft standards, both government leaders concur that they must work together for the benefit of citizens and that this disagreement is normal and even healthy.

Curfew to be reviewed

With the time change last weekend, Premier Legault stated that he is reviewing, alongside Public Health, the possibility of extending the curfew in Québec by one or one-and-a-half hours.