The provincial government unveiled its opening plan last week, with the first steps coming on May 28 as the curfew will be lifted and outdoor dining will be permitted across the Outaouais.

Premier François Legault made the announcement on May 18 amid . . .

a spree of reopening plans being unveiled across the country last week. Among the aforementioned measures being ushered in beginning this Friday, outdoor gatherings will be permitted on private property, large indoor or outdoor venues will be allowed to hold up to 2,500 people and the travel bans between regions will be lifted.

The outline of the plan allows for further lifting of measures on June 11, when outdoor bar spaces will open and outdoor sports and recreation will be permitted in groups of up to 25 people. From there on June 25, provided that 75 per cent of everyone aged 12 and older have received a first dose, day and sleepover camps will begin opening and public outdoor activities and events will be allowed with specific guidelines. It is also at this point in time when private gathering requirements of mask-wearing and distancing will be eased between people who are vaccinated with two doses. Further lifting of measures are being targeted for at the end of August, but it is contingent on the province’s ability to establish 75 per cent full vaccination of all people aged 12 and older.

The Pontiac service area (RLS) had 12 active cases as of May 24, an increase of one from last week. The cumulative total, since the pandemic began, stood at 341, which is six more than last week.

The Outaouais has 238 active cases (12,054 total, 11,605 recovered) as of May 24, a decrease of 10 from May 17. There were 26 hospitalizations at the designated COVID-19 centre in Hull, a decrease of 10 from last week, and zero people being held in intensive care. The cumulative regional death toll rose by three for the second week in a row, and it stood at 211 as of May 24.

Within the RLS Pontiac, the CISSSO, the regional health authority, listed the following cumulative numbers on May 24: Municipality of Pontiac: 125 (+2 increase from last week) Mansfield et Pontefract: 87 (no increase) Fort Coulonge: 38 (+3 increase) Shawville: 33 (no increase) Campbell’s Bay: 11 (no increase) Waltham: 7 (no increase) Otter Lake: 6 (no increase) Bristol, Bryson, L’Île du Grand Calumet, L’Isle aux Allumettes, Litchfield, Portage du Fort, Sheenboro and Thorne: five or less (minimum one case) (It is important to note that none of these figures represent the active case situation)

During the MRC Council of Mayors monthly meeting on May 19, Pontiac Warden Jane Toller relayed a message from the CISSSO to residents regarding the recent slow-down in vaccination appointments being booked.

According to Toller, the age groups 18-30 and 40-55 were both lacking in terms of the number of people signing up to receive a vaccine. She mentioned L’Isle aux Allumettes, Waltham and Portage du Fort as the specific municipalities that the health authority identified as needing more people signing up from.

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