STEPHEN RICCIO
PONTIAC Feb. 3, 2021
As active COVID-19 cases continue to steadily drop in the Outaouais, Premier François Legault announced in a Jan. 30 Facebook post that he is considering easing restrictions on retail stores and other businesses.
The comments come ahead of Legault’s press conference announcement at 5 p.m. on Feb. 2. The current restrictions include . . .
the closure of all non-essential businesses since Dec. 25 and a 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew since Jan. 9. Whatever restrictions Legault announces will come into effect after the curfew is set to end, on Feb. 8.
Legault said that he would like to be able to help out retail stores, but he added that could change prior to Feb. 2.
The specifics of the announcement were not available prior to print.
COVID numbers slightly increased over the past week, with the Pontiac service area (RLS) having five or less (minimum one) active cases and totalling 64 cases since the pandemic began, up from 62 on Jan. 27.
Within the RLS, the Municipality of Pontiac has had 40 total cases while eight different MRC Pontiac municipalities have had five or less: Waltham, L’Isle aux Allumettes, Shawville, Fort Coulonge, Mansfield et Pontefract, Otter Lake, I’Île du Grand Calumet and Campbell’s Bay.
The Outauoais had 130 active cases (5,846 total, 5,563 recovered) as of Feb. 1, which is a decrease of 80 from Jan. 27. Active cases have decreased significantly since Jan. 11, when they stood at 430. There were four hospitalizations throughout the region.
The region is currently dealing with active outbreaks at two health care facilities: Manoir Gatineau and Résidence La Gappe.
