World News – CA – Quebec plans to crack down on COVID-19 violations to stop the surge in coronavirus

Quebec is stepping up efforts to address people who violate public health measures as the novel coronavirus pandemic persists in the province.

Prime Minister François Legault announced on Wednesday that he has asked the police to impose more fines on those who fail to comply with applicable rules, such as a ban on multi-household gatherings in designated red zones.

« We cannot allow a minority to endanger the majority, » he told reporters in Quebec City, adding that tickets can hold up to 6. Can cost $ 000.

Health Minister Christian Dubé said the province was « past warning time » and a public warning was issued at 2:30 pm. m. Wednesday to remind people of the rules. People are being asked to reduce their contacts as Quebec grapples with a surge in COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations.

The province reported on Wednesday 1. 728 new cases and 37 more deaths. Health officials say that of those deaths, seven occurred in the last 24 hours, while the others were added retrospectively to the death toll.

Hospital stays associated with the virus increased again. The number of patients in hospitals across the province rose nine to 844. Of these, 121 people are in intensive care units, seven more than the day before.

Legault said hospital admissions were too high, putting pressure on healthcare workers who have been on the forefront of the pandemic for months.

During the holiday season, Legault reiterated his call for employers to allow workers to work from home to help stem the tide of COVID-19.

The Prime Minister again warned that he is not against introducing more stringent measures if necessary as the second wave evolves. Even with a vaccine on the horizon, Legault said the next few months will be difficult.

Over the past week, there have been increasing calls for Quebec to be temporarily locked to prevent the situation from deteriorating as some hospitals are forced to cancel operations.

Medical expert Dr. . Mitch Shulman told Global News that “shutting down elective surgeries and closing clinics is punishing the very poor who suffer. He suggests closing the province during the vacation break to bring COVID-19 numbers back down.

« There would be minimal economic impact, » he said. “People could be on vacation and have fun, and we would prevent the virus from spreading. And we wouldn’t have to restrict elective operations any more than we normally would during the holidays. ”

Quebec’s case number, which is still the highest in Canada, is 156. 468, while the restorations 133. Have exceeded 000.

Since March the health crisis 7. 349 Quebecers killed. However, a death previously attributed to the virus was deducted from the toll after authorities found it was not due to the disease.

The province announced on Monday 30. 024 tests from the last day for which this information is available. There were more than 4. 1 million tests so far.

In Quebec, vaccinations against the virus are due to begin in two care homes in the province on Monday, Dubé said.

Maimonides, a long-term care center in Côte Saint-Luc that was badly hit by the second wave of the pandemic, is one of the CHSLDs slated to begin dosed administration.

While vaccine maker Pfizer has asked Canadian governments not to move the vaccine boxes once they have been received, Dubé stated that a number of the province’s 20 vaccine distribution locations are in nursing homes so the vaccine roll can continue-out in those facilities.

The Minister of Health is hoping Pfizer will allow the boxes to be moved once the province has demonstrated they can handle the vaccine properly.

Quebec’s vaccination campaign is specifically aimed at residents of nursing homes and private retirement homes, as well as healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

Dr. . Horacio Arruda, director of public health, said 70 percent of Quebecers who died as a result of the pandemic lived in these centers.

François Legault, Quebec, Coronavirus