QUEBEC SHUTS DOWN SCHOOLS,BARS,GYMS AND MORE AS COVID-19 CASE COUNTS SOAR

By Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada:

Quebec is closing schools, bars, gyms and movie theatres as public health officials race to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. 

Quebec recorded a record 4,571 new cases in 24 hours on Monday with hospitalizations rising by 21.

The epidemiological situation is critical. The community spread is astounding,"

Elementary and high schools will close early Monday, with students set to return to in-person learning on Jan. 10. Adult and professional education centres will also close. 

Bars, gyms, movie theatres, concert venues and spas must close as of 5 p.m. Monday. Restaurants will have to reduce their capacity to 50 per cent and limit their hours from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Professional sports games will have to be played without spectators.

Working from home is now being mandated for all non-essential workers, including civil servants. The provincial government is pausing all ministerial public activities, such as news conferences that are not related to COVID-19.