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September 30, 2021 – Provincial government update on COVID-19

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

Easing of health measures in cultural and sports settings

Christian Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services, Horacio Arruda, National Director of Public Health, and Nathalie Roy, Minister of Culture and Communications, announced the easing of health measures.

“This announcement is great news for the cultural community and for our economy,” Mr. Dubé said. “This easing of restrictions allows those who have been adequately vaccinated to regain a semblance of normality and to have access to privileges. However, the situation remains very fragile. This is why Public Health is allowing easing of restrictions in places where there are fewer outbreaks at the moment. The last thing we want is to have to go backward.”

For shows, sports events with assigned seats, and cinemas:

  • There is no longer a limit on the number of participants and spectators;
  • There are no longer any assigned sections;
  • Vaccination passports must be shown at the entrance;
  • Face coverings are required to be worn at all times, except when eating or drinking.

Movie sets will also be able to operate at full capacity.

There will no longer be a limit on the number of participants at conventions and conferences where the vaccine passport is already required.

For indoor assemblies, meetings and graduation or recognition ceremonies, the vaccination passport will be required if the limit of 250 people is exceeded, and face coverings will be required  at all times, except when eating and drinking.

For events with fewer than 250 people, face coverings will be compulsory when moving around only and the distance of one metre between individuals must be respected.

For outdoor venues, the vaccination passport will be required if the 500-person limit is exceeded.

It should be noted that for all these events, people must be seated in assigned places.

For large outdoor events, such as festivals, where there is no assigned seating, it will still be necessary to divide the crowd into sections of 500 people.

For amateur orchestras and choirs, the number of authorized participants is increased from 25 to 100.

Tightening of restrictions in schools

Beginning October 4, masks must be worn by primary school students in physical education classes if it is impossible to maintain physical distancing of two metres.

Preschool children aged 4 to 5 will be required to wear face coverings on school transportation.

The regions affected by these new restrictions are Montréal, Montérégie, Laval, Laurentides, Lanaudière, Estrie, Outaouais, Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec and four RCMs in Chaudière-Appalaches.

It should be noted that 42% of active outbreaks in Québec are in schools.