COVID-19 live updates: Curfew will be rolled back to 8 p.m. in Montreal and Laval, starting Sunday

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Updated throughout the day on Thursday, April 8. Questions/comments: ariga@postmedia.com

Top updates

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5:30 p.m.

Curfew will be rolled back to 8 p.m. in Montreal and Laval, starting Sunday

(This item is being updated)

Premier François Legault says the rise in cases has him concerned, particularly in the Quebec City, Chaudière-Appalaches and Outaouais regions.

With cases soaring there, Quebec is extending special emergency measures until April 18 in those areas, including an 8 p.m. curfew and the closing of schools and non-essential services, the premier told a press conference this afternoon

In Montreal and Laval, Legault said he’s worried about an “explosion” of cases because they are dense urban areas. He said public health officials tell him it’s probably going to happen.

“The level of contagion is very high and we expect it to accelerate even more,” Legault said.

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That’s why the province is rolling Montreal’s curfew back to 8 p.m.

The curfew started at 8 p.m. when it was first introduced on Jan. 9.

It moved to 9:30 p.m. about three weeks ago – on March 17.

The curfew ends at 5 a.m.

The sun will set in Montreal at 7:31 p.m. today. By April 30, sunsets will be after 8 p.m.

Legault described the earlier curfew for Montreal and Laval as a “precaution,” adding that “at the moment,” schools in the region will remain open.

Health officials have another region – the Eastern Townships – “under close surveillance,” Legault said. Currently an orange zone, it could be moved to red if the situation deteriorates, he said.

Legault said he understands that Quebecers are frustrated with the yo-yoing restrictions.

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“The situation is changing, and that may be a small consolation, but we are pretty much like everywhere in the world,” he said.

“Our challenge is to find a balance between mental and physical health,” he said. “There’s no magic recipe to succeed against the pandemic.”

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4:50 a.m.

Quebec clarifies which chronically ill patients can be vaccinated starting next week

After some confusion, Quebec’s health department has clarified which medical conditions will be covered when vaccinations open on Monday, April 12.

You can find details here.

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3:40 p.m.

Long waits for COVID-19 test results in Outaouais

In the Outaouais region, one of Quebec’s pandemic hotspots, it can take up to seven days to get results from COVID-19 tests, Le Droit is reporting. It takes about a day across the river in Ottawa.

3:25 p.m.

STM ridership fell 54% last year amid pandemic

Ridership on Montreal’s métro and buses fell by 54 per cent in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Société de transport de Montréal said today.

The transit agency said 171.7 million trips were taken in 2020, compared to 374.9 million the previous year.

In April 2020, ridership hit its lowest point of the year, at only 14 per cent of the level recorded for the same period the previous year, the transit agency said in a press release.

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The pandemic also affected paratransit ridership. Only two million trips were taken, compared to 4.4 million in 2019.

3:15 p.m.

Opinion: Premier Legault, teachers are ‘real experts,’ too

“How long are we, as a society, going to tolerate a provincial government that continuously disrespects and disregards teachers and school administrators?

“Throughout this pandemic, school staff have been on the front line, going above and beyond to keep our children educated, safe and happy. Yet, over and over again, we have witnessed indifference from those calling the shots at the top, who seem disconnected from the realities in the classroom.

“It has become disheartening to hear (Premier François Legault) and his minister of education regularly hand down contradictory decisions that offer little protection to those who spend their days in overcrowded classrooms.”

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Read the full opinion piece, by Susan Mintzberg, a PhD candidate in social work at McGill University.

2:40 p.m.

Quebec expects to administer about 43,000 vaccine doses per day over the next week

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2:30 p.m.

Positivity rate in Quebec City is 7.9%, compared to provincial average of 5%

From The Canadian Press:

In Quebec City, regional health authorities say 14 cases are linked to a car dealership ordered shut on Thursday. Management of the Kia dealership in the Val-Belair district said it had been ordered to close for seven days after an outbreak among employees.

Last week, local officials shuttered the Méga Fitness Gym, which counted 204 infections as of Thursday. To that, authorities have identified 38 other related outbreaks resulting in an additional 236 confirmed cases.

“People must be prudent, because the virus is circulating enormously with the variants,” said Annie Ouellet, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City health authority.

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She said Quebec City had conducted 5,044 tests in the past 24 hours — a record. The positivity rate is 7.9 per cent, up from around five per cent in the last week.

Across Quebec, the positivity rate is 5 per cent, according to the last update from the health department.

1:45 p.m.

Longueuil’s RTL transit agency to offer free shuttles to vaccination sites

The Réseau de transport de Longueuil today announced that it will offer two free shuttle buses to vaccination clinics.

One will travel to the Centre Marcel-Dulude in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, starting on April 13. The other will go to the Hôtel Mortagne in Boucherville, as of April 22.

The buses are for people who have booked vaccination appointments.

For more information, visit the Longueuil transit agency’s website.

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1:20 p.m.

Travelling to Quebec’s yellow or green zones could cost scofflaws $6,000

Starting today, Quebecers are prohibited from travelling from red and orange zones to those under yellow or green alert.

“These measures aim to limit the spread of COVID-19 in regions or territories where the situation is currently under control,” the provincial public security department said in a statement. “Police forces covering yellow and green regions will carry out random checks as part of their normal operations.”

Offenders could face fines ranging from $ 1,000 to $6,000.

Two regions are green: Nunavik and Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James.

Three regions are yellow: Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine

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There are exceptions. For example, the ban does not apply to people:

12:50 p.m.

Update on vaccine distribution in Canada

12:40 p.m.

Quebec’s vaccine rollout for chronically ill sows confusion

Quebec’s plan to start vaccinating Montrealers under the age of 60 with a limited range of chronic illnesses has created confusion among patients and raised concerns among cancer advocacy groups.

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Read our full story, by Aaron Derfel.

Noon

Federal officials provide update on vaccine distribution

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11:40 a.m.

Cases soar in Quebec City and neighbouring Chaudière-Appalaches region

The situation continues to deteriorate in Quebec City and neighbouring Chaudière-Appalaches.

The Quebec City region, known as Capitale-Nationale, reported 436 new infections today. Two weeks ago, it was averaging 75 daily cases.

Chaudière-Appalaches, a region south of Quebec City that includes Lévis, reported 179 cases today. Last week, it averaged 73 new infections daily.

The daily case count also remains high in the Outaouais, a region that includes Gatineau. It reported 165 cases today. Last week’s daily average was 108.

The Quebec City region today has the highest rate of new cases per 100,000 people:

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The rise in cases is expected to be the focus of a 5 p.m. press conference today by Premier François Legault and Health Minister Christian Dubé. I’ll provide live coverage and a live feed here.

Last week, the Legault government imposed “special emergency measures” on Quebec City, Lévis and Gatineau until Monday, April 12.

Among the restrictions:

• The curfew runs from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Elementary and high schools are closed, with students learning remotely.
• Private indoor or outdoor gatherings are prohibited.
• Indoor sporting, cultural and recreational activities are prohibited.
• Only essential businesses can remain open. Curbside delivery and pickup are allowed.
• Places of worship are limited to 25 people.

11:15 a.m.

Updated charts: Quebec cases, deaths

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11:15 a.m.

Update on Quebec’s vaccination campaign

11:15 a.m.

Update on variants in Quebec

11:05 a.m.

Quebec reports 1,609 new cases – most since January; hospitalizations and ICU admissions on the rise

Quebec has recorded 1,609 new cases of COVID-19, the provincial government announced this morning.

That’s the highest number of cases since Jan. 23.

Hospitalizations continue to rise and are now at their highest point in a month.

In addition, nine new deaths were reported, including one over the previous 24 hours.

Among the other deaths, seven occurred between April 1 and 6, and one occurred before April 1.

Some other key statistics from Quebec’s latest COVID-19 update, published this morning:

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, Quebec has reported 321,411 cases and 10,718 deaths linked to COVID-19. A total of 299,241 people who have contracted the disease have since recovered.

10:20 a.m.

Canadian doctors condemn ‘continually changing rules and measures’

The Canadian Medical Association is urging governments and Canadians to “embrace new and stronger measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants.”

In a statement published today, the national advocacy group representing Canada’s doctors said “the third wave has gained momentum while continually changing rules have contributed to confusion and relaxed adherence.”

CMA president Dr. Ann Collins said: “Canadians are facing continually changing rules and measures, which is making it confusing and frustrating. It’s time to apply what we know and address these new variants with the same aggressiveness they are displaying.”

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The CMA is calling for these actions:

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9:55 a.m.

Here’s the full list of Quebec’s walk-in AstraZeneca vaccination clinics

Starting today, Quebecers 55 and older can get the AstraZeneca vaccine via walk-in clinics. There are seven clinics in Montreal, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Here’s the full list of vaccination clinics:

9:50 a.m.

Le yo-yo

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9:45 a.m.

AstraZeneca jab is proving to be popular across Quebec

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9:40 a.m.

PQ calls on CAQ government to publish press releases before briefings

The opposition Parti Québécois is calling on Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government to start publishing its press releases an hour before press conferences – not an hour after them.

That way, reporters know what’s coming and can ask focused questions, the PQ says.

The PQ also suggests that the CAQ government’s penchant for leaking bits of information to certain media outlets in advance of press conferences is sowing confusion.

Here’s the PQ’s press release.

9:30 a.m.

Quebecers over 55 are lining up today for the AstraZeneca vaccine

Quebecers lined up outside vaccine centres early Thursday morning as the province opened up vaccination to people 55 and older who want the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Dozens of people lined up outside the Bill-Durnan Arena in Côte-des-Neiges Thursday morning, one of seven sites across Montreal taking walk-ins.

Read our full story, by Katelyn Thomas.

9:30 a.m.

Opinion: Credit where it’s due on Quebec’s vaccine rollout

“There is much to criticize this government for in terms of its pandemic response, especially the constant yo-yoing of loosening and tightening restrictions. But it deserves credit for its agile, effective and creative vaccination campaign.

“Quebec has managed to vaccinate almost 20 per cent of its population. In Montreal, it’s closer to a quarter. In fact, more than 75 per cent of Montrealers over the age of 60 have now received their first dose.”

Read the latest column by Allison Hanes.

9:30 a.m.

Quebec makes outdoor mask-wearing mandatory for group activities

Quebecers taking part in group activities outdoors will be required to wear masks in both red and orange zones as of Thursday, a measure the province’s health institute is calling preventive.

Unlike other places in Canada that have sounded the alarm on outdoor COVID-19 transmission, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) said on Wednesday that an increase has not yet been documented in Quebec.

Read our full story, by Katelyn Thomas.

9:30 a.m.

Canada on track to surpass U.S. in number of COVID cases relative to population

In a reversal of earlier pandemic trends, Canada is on the verge of matching — perhaps surpassing — the United States in the number of COVID-19 cases relative to its population.

Read our full story.

9:30 a.m.

What we know about P.1 — the COVID variant devastating Brazil and spreading in Canada

Like other variants, P.1 is more easily transmissible and can hit younger, healthier people much harder than the original coronavirus.

Read our full story.

9:30 a.m.

Average age of Quebec COVID-19 patients has dropped by 10 to 15 years, doctors say

Over the past two to three weeks, Dr. François Marquis, head of intensive care at Montreal’s Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, says he started noticing the average age of COVID-19 patients dropping.

People arriving at the hospital are on average about 10 to 15 years younger than earlier patients in need of medical care after contracting COVID-19.

Read our full story.

9:15 a.m.

Everything you need to know about getting COVID-19 vaccinations in Quebec

Local health authorities have set up mass vaccination sites across Montreal.

You can book appointments via the Clic Santé website or by phone at 1-877-644-4545.

Here are the nuts and bolts of getting vaccinated, by Katherine Wilton. Her guide includes the age groups targeted, how to book appointments, and addresses of vaccination centres.

Wondering if the vaccines are safe? Once vaccinated, can you disregard public health measures? Is vaccination mandatory? Read our FAQ, by Jason Magder.

9:15 a.m.

Here’s where Montrealers can get tested today

Montrealers can be screened at test centres across the island.

You can check screening clinic wait times here.

8:45 a.m.

The situation across Canada

Here’s the rate of case growth per 100,000 people over the past seven days, via the federal government’s latest epidemiology update.

8:30 a.m.

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ariga@postmedia.com

Read my previous live blogs here.