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June 1, 2021 – Provincial government update on the COVID-19 pandemic

Here is an update on recent decisions and actions by the provincial government in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reopening continues

Québec Premier François Legault announced that Montréal and Laval will transition to orange on June 7.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec and part of Bas-Saint-Laurent (Mitis, Rimouski and Matane) will transition to yellow on this same date.

“It’s impressive to see the degree to which the epidemiological situation in Québec is going so well. Consequently some regions will return to yellow sooner than planned,” said the premier. The transition to yellow permits indoor gatherings of the occupants of two households, the reopening of bars and the resumption of outdoor sports events.

People in these zones must continue to wear face-coverings and maintain a distance of two metres during home gatherings, until they have received both doses of the vaccine.

On June 7, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec will transition to green.

Vaccination strategy

Minister of Health and Social Services Christian Dubé announced that on Thursday the government will publish the new schedule for administering the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccination strategy for people between the ages of 18 and 40 is diversifying. In the next few weeks, mobile vaccination teams will be working evenings and in parks where young people gather to socialize. “We’re missing 200,000 people. That’s very important, because we need at least 75% of people in each category,” said Christian Dubé.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) announced that Canadians who have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine can receive the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for their second dose. Interchanging the vaccines may increase side effects.

Preparing for the return to CEGEPs and universities

Minister of Higher Education Danielle McCann announced that the return to school will be able to occur in person and without physical distancing if 75% of students between the ages of 16 and 29 have received both doses of the vaccine.

“There’s now a real possibility of a physical return to the classroom at CEGEPs and universities in Québec. Physical distancing between students would not longer apply for the 2021 fall semester,” said Danielle McCann.

University and CEGEP administrations must prepare a back-up plan in the event that the health situation requires a return to physical distancing between students.

Prom

For the second year in a row, Public Health is prohibiting the holding of proms. However, ceremonies to highlight the end of students’ studies will be permitted, as long as they are held at school and respect class bubbles.