Regional update: Covid-related hospitalizations increase

January 2, 2022 — Penny MacWhirter

The regional public health is reporting 107 new cases of COVID-19. Currently, in the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands there are 594 active cases and 4 hospitalizations.

Reminder

Visits are prohibited at the Sainte-Anne-des-monts, Gaspé, Chandler and Maria hospitals.

There are currently, several province-wide measures in place, with the goal to reduce the rapid spread and rising number of cases in the province. Measures include a curfew, closures and limitations to certain businesses.

Curfew

• between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Exceptions:

• those going or coming from work or transporting goods for a business
• a person going to the pharmacy
• returning from a medical appointment
• going or returning from a vaccination appointment
• visiting a sick or injured parent
• students attending in-person evening classes
• parents taking or picking up children from shared custody
• for final travel to a destination requiring an inter-regional or inter-provincial bus, train, plane or boat providing ferry service
• to comply with a court judgment, to respond to a summons to appear before a court, or to exercise custody or access rights as a parent
• accompany another person unable to drive to a medical appointment or an other essential service.
• a parent taking a sick child to the hospital or clinic
• to donate blood
• homeless people

Offenders are liable to fines ranging from $1000 to $6000 if they are unable to adequately justify why they are outside the home. Young people 14 years of age and over are subject to a $500 fine.

Prohibited

• Private indoor gatherings (exception members of the same household, visitor or support for person residing alone)
• Mandatory tele-work for any activity that can take place remotely
• Meetings or assemblies
• Private gatherings in rental halls
• Conferences

Closures

• Restaurant dining rooms
• Places of worship (exception funerals which are limited to 25 people)
• All non-essential shops closed on Sundays (convenience stores, gas stations and pharmacies deemed essential)
• Cinemas
• Spas and saunas (personal care permitted)

Limitations

• Indoor sports suspended (unless individual or in pairs by members of the same household, or a person living alone with one other person)
• Downhill ski centres and snowmobile relays (indoor access to sanitary facilities and to warm up, but no eating permitted)
• Outdoor events max 250 people vaccination passport required
• Stores capacity limit (1 client per 20^m2 of sales area)

Education

• Elementary and high schools return January 17
• School daycare facilities open to essential workers
• Childcare facilities remain open as usual.

Vaccination info

Essential workers in the following categories can book their booster-shot appointments

• All school personnel
• All public security staff
• Staff in community organizations in the health and social service sectors
• Some employees in the agriculture, fisheries and food sectors (food inspectors and slaughterhouse workers)
• Private-sector healthcare workers
• Other workers in the health sector (in social-economy enterprises providing home care services, palliative care, etc.)

Beginning on Tuesday, January 4, bookings for booster shots will be opened up gradually and by age group

• Currently: ages 60 to 64
• January 4: ages 55 to 59
• January 6: ages 50 to 54
• January 10: ages 45 to 49
• January 12: ages 40 to 44
• January 17: ages 35 to 39
• January 17: ages 30 to 34
• January 19: ages 25 to 29
• January 21: age 18 and up

COVID-19 Regional Update: number of cases continue to soar

January 1, 2022 — Penny MacWhirter

As the new year begins, the regional public health is reporting 115 new cases of COVID-19. Currently, in the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands there are 522 active cases and 2 hospitalizations.

There are currently, several province-wide measures in place, with the goal to reduce the rapid spread and rising number of cases in the province. Measures include a curfew, closures and limitations to certain businesses.

Curfew

• between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Exceptions:

• those going or coming from work or transporting goods for a business
• a person going to the pharmacy
• returning from a medical appointment
• going or returning from a vaccination appointment
• visiting a sick or injured parent
• students attending in-person evening classes
• parents taking or picking up children from shared custody
• for final travel to a destination requiring an inter-regional or inter-provincial bus, train, plane or boat providing ferry service
• to comply with a court judgment, to respond to a summons to appear before a court, or to exercise custody or access rights as a parent
• accompany another person unable to drive to a medical appointment or an other essential service.
• a parent taking a sick child to the hospital or clinic
• to donate blood
• homeless people

Offenders are liable to fines ranging from $1000 to $6000 if they are unable to adequately justify why they are outside the home. Young people 14 years of age and over are subject to a $500 fine.

Prohibited

• Private indoor gatherings (exception members of the same household, visitor or support for person residing alone)
• Mandatory tele-work for any activity that can take place remotely
• Meetings or assemblies
• Private gatherings in rental halls
• Conferences

Closures

• Restaurant dining rooms
• Places of worship (exception funerals which are limited to 25 people)
• All non-essential shops closed on Sundays (convenience stores, gas stations and pharmacies deemed essential)
• Cinemas
• Spas and saunas (personal care permitted)

Limitations

• Indoor sports suspended (unless individual or in pairs by members of the same household, or a person living alone with one other person)
• Downhill ski centres and snowmobile relays (indoor access to sanitary facilities and to warm up, but no eating permitted)
• Outdoor events max 250 people vaccination passport required
• Stores capacity limit (1 client per 20^m2 of sales area)

Education

• Elementary and high schools return January 17
• School daycare facilities open to essential workers
• Childcare facilities remain open as usual.

Vaccination info

Essential workers in the following categories can book their booster-shot appointments

• All school personnel
• All public security staff
• Staff in community organizations in the health and social service sectors
• Some employees in the agriculture, fisheries and food sectors (food inspectors and slaughterhouse workers)
• Private-sector healthcare workers
• Other workers in the health sector (in social-economy enterprises providing home care services, palliative care, etc.)

Beginning on Tuesday, January 4, bookings for booster shots will be opened up gradually and by age group

• Currently: ages 60 to 64
• January 4: ages 55 to 59
• January 6: ages 50 to 54
• January 10: ages 45 to 49
• January 12: ages 40 to 44
• January 17: ages 35 to 39
• January 17: ages 30 to 34
• January 19: ages 25 to 29
• January 21: age 18 and up