Montreal, Quebec – The city of Montreal is facing a major crisis as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise. In a press conference held on Monday, Mayor Valerie Plante announced new measures to combat the spread of the virus.
According to Plante, the city has seen a significant increase in cases over the past week, with a daily average of 1,500 new cases. This is a sharp increase from the previous week’s average of 1,000 cases per day.
To address this alarming trend, Plante announced that all non-essential businesses will be required to close by 8 p.m. every day. This includes restaurants, bars, and gyms. The new measures will go into effect on Wednesday and will be in place for at least three weeks.
In addition, Plante urged residents to limit their social interactions and to only leave their homes for essential reasons. She also reminded citizens to continue following public health guidelines, such as wearing masks and practicing physical distancing.
The mayor also addressed the issue of holiday gatherings, stating that it is crucial for people to limit their celebrations to their immediate household. She emphasized that large gatherings pose a significant risk for spreading the virus and could lead to a further increase in cases.
Plante also announced that the city will be increasing its testing capacity to better identify and isolate cases. She urged anyone experiencing symptoms to get tested and reminded citizens that testing is free and easily accessible.
The new measures come as the province of Quebec continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases, with over 1,500 new cases reported on Monday. The province has also seen a rise in hospitalizations, with over 1,000 people currently hospitalized due to the virus.
In conclusion, the city of Montreal is taking proactive steps to combat the spread of COVID-19 and is urging its residents to do their part in flattening the curve. The new measures may be inconvenient, but they are necessary to protect the health and safety of the community. Let us all do our part to stop the spread of this virus and keep our city safe.
