Quebec will extend its mask mandate in public spaces again — this time until mid-May — as the province continues to deal with the sixth wave of COVID-19.
Luc Boileau, the province’s interim public health director, announced the decision Thursday to prolong the requirement by another two weeks.
He said that COVID-19 transmission and pandemic-related hospitalizations appear to be slowing in Quebec, but overall the number of patients isn’t dropping yet.
Despite that, Boileau said transmission of the virus is still high among seniors, especially in greater Montreal area.
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The Quebec government has largely lifted most health measures in recent months, with officials saying it was time to find a way to live with the novel coronavirus. In March, it nixed its vaccine passport system and eased capacity restrictions for businesses.
The mask mandate, however, was supposed to be in place until April. The government had previously announced that face coverings would no longer be required in the majority of public places by that time.
The date to remove masks was then pushed until the end of April due to the evolving sixth wave of the pandemic.
More to come.
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