New Curfew and Stricter Measures to Combat COVID Surge

A spike in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks has prompted the Ministry of Health and Wellness to take stringent measures in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus. That means that as of Sunday a new nightly curfew will come into effect. The restriction on movement begins at nine p.m. and ends at four a.m. Likewise, all call center employees and civil aviation personnel have been bumped up to frontline worker status and will be required to present their vaccination cards or negative results of a P.C.R. or rapid test every two weeks beginning July thirty-first. As far as casinos, they have also been reduced to fifty percent capacity. These changes were introduced during a press conference this afternoon hosted by Minister Michel Chebat.

Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness

Michel Chebat

“As a consequence of the rapid rise in COVID numbers that we are seeing, there are going to be new public health measures that are going to be coming into force as of Sunday August 1st, 2021.  Some of the new measures that are going to be implemented include in the definition of frontline workers, employees of a BPO have now been included and so have the civil aviation officials.  They are now included as frontline workers.  The implication of that, as you know, is that those who are not vaccinated by July 31st, 2021 would be required to now present a negative COVID test to their place of employment.  Secondly, the curfew will now be from nine p.m. to four a.m. and that starts on Sunday, August first.  The other change we’re making is that every tour operator and every tour guide must present their vaccination card. The other change we are making is that in terms of casinos or any other gaming establishment, they are to operate at fifty percent of their capacity only.  We’re also going to be implemented and expanding on the portion of the law that deals with the fraudulent immigration cards.  So now any person who has in his or her possession a fraudulent immunization card is subject, is now an offense and is subject to not only a fine but also to confinement.”