STEPHEN RICCIO
PONTIAC Dec. 23, 2020
The MRC Pontiac became a red zone on Dec. 17 after Premier François Legault made the decision to shift all orange zones to red until Jan. 11, while also announcing that all non-essential businesses would have to close across the province from Dec. 25 to Jan. 11.
The announcements came during . . .
a Dec. 15 press conference, as cases continue to rise in urban areas.
For MRC Pontiac residents, the change to red means that restaurant dining, gyms, bars, museums and theatres will be closed until Jan. 11.
Among the changes that kick in on Christmas day are the closures of all businesses except grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores, pet stores, and provincially run-liquor stores and cannabis stores.
Legault said that in an effort to compromise with Quebecers, up to eight people can gather in public outdoor spaces for physical activities. Meanwhile, people who live alone are permitted to join one family’s bubble during the break.
While it was previously announced that high school students would remain away from school until Jan. 11, elementary school students were given the same directive after initially being told to return to school on Jan. 4. Daycares will stay open, although the premier asked that those who can stay home do. School daycares will remain open, but strictly for children of essential workers.
As of Dec. 21, active cases in the Pontiac service area (RLS) continue to number five or less (minimum one) while the total number of cases since the pandemic began is 51.
In a correction from last week, the Municipality of Pontiac (MoP) was listed as having 34 total cases, not 35. Meanwhile within the MRC Pontiac, six different municipalities continue to number five or less: Campbell’s Bay, Fort Coulonge, L’Île du Grand Calumet, Mansfield et Pontefract, Otter Lake and Shawville.
The Outaouais had 404 active cases (4,319 total, 3,816 recovered) as of Dec. 21, which is an increase of 61 from last week. There were also 28 hospitalizations. The regional death toll stands at 99, with 19 of those coming since the beginning of December.
The first CHSLD to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the largest in the Outaouais, CHSLD Lionel-Émond in Gatineau. It was announced during a CISSSO press conference on Dec. 18 that the 275 residents and 325 employees at the facility, as well as those who are in close contact with them, will all be receiving the vaccine. The long-term care centre has dealt with 17 deaths and 63 total cases among residents.
In a Dec. 21 press release, the CISSSO announced that the first person in the Outaouais to get the vaccine was Monique Cousineau. The release said that a total of 975 people are going to be receiving the vaccine in the coming weeks.
According to Dr. Carol McConnery, a CISSSO infectious disease specialist, a plan is already in place to determine vaccination destinations for when more vaccines arrive in January.
The region continues to deal with active outbreaks at 12 health care facilities: Maniwaki Hospital, CHSLD de Gracefield, CHSLD La Pietà, CLSC et CHSLD de la Petite-Nation, Campus 3, Manoir Sainte-Marie, Pavillon de la Paix, Résidence Château de l’Île, Résidence La Gappe, RPA Chartwell Domaine Notre-Dame, RPA Chartwell Jardins Notre-Dame and Village Riviera.
With files from Emily Hsueh
