Black Friday is Now! Don’t miss out on up to 60% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

UPDATE 1-Canada's Quebec launches police blitz in bars as COVID-19 cases climb

Published 2020-09-18, 01:46 p/m

(Adds demand for more money from provinces, comments by health officials, senior legislator contracting COVID-19)

By Allison Lampert and David Ljunggren

MONTREAL/OTTAWA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Canadian province of Quebec on Friday said police would target more than 1,000 bars and restaurants to enforce rules curbing the spread of coronavirus, as authorities raised the alarm over a possible second wave.

Quebec and Ontario, the two most populous of the 10 provinces, blame a recent spike in cases on people ignoring limits on parties and regulations on social distancing.

Public health officials reiterated warnings that they might lose the ability to manage the pandemic.

Canada reported an additional 1,120 coronavirus cases and seven deaths on Sept. 17, the second time this week that positive diagnoses have risen by more than 1,000 in 24 hours.

"We have to use every tool and every gesture at our disposal to avoid a second wave in Quebec," Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault told reporters.

Police would issue tickets to offenders and alert public health authorities if there are multiple infractions at an establishment, she said.

Quebec requires masks to be worn inside public places, prohibits the sale of alcohol after midnight in bars and restaurants, and has banned dancing and karaoke in clubs.

The federal government has already announced more than C$200 billion ($151.5 billion) in spending to help tackle the pandemic. But the provinces and three northern territories on Friday demanded more money for healthcare spending, citing the cost of fighting the virus and lower revenues.

"We are in desperate need of your support," Ontario premier Doug Ford told a news conference, noting that overall spending on healthcare is C$188 billion a year. Ottawa's contribution is C$42 billion and this needs to rise to C$70 billion, he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to unveil plans in parliament next week to combat the crisis. One absentee will be Yves-Francois Blanchet, leader of the separatist Bloc Quebecois, who has contracted COVID-19 and is in isolation.

($1=1.3202 Canadian dollars)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.