The number of COVID-19 cases in the MRC of Avignon continues to increase as 20 new cases are announced in that MRC today. There is also one new case in the Magdalen Islands. Tracing is currently underway for all the new cases.
Public Health states that the difference between provincial and regional statistics can be explained by the rapidly changing situation and that adjustments will be made over the next few days.
CHSLD in Maria (Residence Saint-Joseph)
According to Public Health, so far, 20 (stable) residents and 13 (stable) staff members at the Maria CHSLD (government owed long-term care facility) have tested positive for COVID-19.
That CHSLD houses 91 residents and nearly 130 employees work there.
Lady Maria (RPA – Private Seniors’ Residence) outbreak
According to the Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS), 22 residents (+12), and less than five employees of Lady Maria, located in Maria, have tested positive for COVID-19. Epidemiological investigations are underway and the families have been notified.
The Lady Maria residence is home to 130 individuals and nearly 45 staff members work there.
Complete portrait
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands is now 359 (+21). Presently, 232 (+9) individuals have recovered. There are 116 active cases in the region. The number of casualties remain stable at 11.
Regional: MRC of Residence of the Cases
| MRC / living environment | Confirmed cases | Since Sept. 1 | Active Cases |
| Avignon (+20) – Community – Closed living environment | 194 117 77 | 106 64 42 | 93 53 40 |
| Bonaventure | 64 | n.d. | n.d. |
| Rocher-Percé | 41 | 8 | 5 |
| Côte-de-Gaspé | 30 | 12 | 7 |
| Haute-Gaspésie | 10 | n.d. | n.d. |
| Magdalen Islands (+1) | 19 | 9 | 6 |
| Gaspé Peninsula Magdalen Islands | 359 | 145 | 116 |
Source: Gaspé Peninsula Public Health Board.
n.d.: not disclosed when less than 5 for privacy reasons
Alert Level 3
The entire Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands is now at the COVID-19 Alert Level 3 (orange). This means that as of October 1 at 12:01 a.m., additional measures will be put in place in order to slow the transmission of the virus. The additional measures will target certain sectors of activity and environments where the risk of transmission is considered to be higher.
The alert levels are established according to the recommendations of the public health authorities, who carry out a regular analysis of the situation taking into account the epidemiological situation, the control of transmission and the capacity of the healthcare system. The CISSS states in a press release that “In the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, this decision (alert level increase) can be explained in particular by the considerable increase in cases in the region for more than a week and outbreaks in various local service networks.”
For the population and businesses of the region, reaching Alert Level 3 corresponds to the implementation of the following measures:
- Avoid unnecessary social contact: gatherings with friends and family, weddings, funerals, etc.;
- Travel between regions is not recommended;
- One person per family recommended for shopping;
- The maximum number of people allowed at organized activities (outdoor or indoor) will be 25. This includes rental halls, places of worship, celebrations, BBQ, picnics, etc. Establishments with a liquor license must stop selling alcohol at 11 p.m., no alcohol consumption after midnight and dancing activities are prohibited;
- For public spaces with a seated or a relatively stationary audience (performance halls, theatres, cinemas, etc.), the maximum number of people will be 250;
- Regarding bars and pubs, a maximum of 6 people per table is allowed. The sale of alcohol and food will end at 11:00 p.m. and the establishment will close at midnight;
- Regarding restaurants, a maximum of 6 people per table is allowed. Liquor sales end at 11:00 p.m. and alcohol consumption ends at midnight.
Regional Public Health Director, Dr. Yv Bonnie Viger warns that “If people do not wish to return to the strict containment that we see in the red zones, such as Quebec City and Montreal, it is time that we all adopt responsible behaviours in order to prevent the spread of the virus. We must take the situation seriously to protect our loved ones and our most vulnerable.”
The totals for the province are as follows:
| Cases | Deaths | Hospitalizations | ICU |
| 73,450 (+799) | 5,833 (*+7) | 247 (+35) | 41 (+4) |