COVID-19: Canada Responds
Quebec Premier Asks the Feds to Ban Non-Essential Intl. Flights – Jan. 19, 2021
In Montreal, Quebec Premier François Legault provides an update on his government’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. He is joined by Christian Dubé, Quebec’s minister of health and social services, Dr. Lucie Opatrny, associate deputy minister, as well as Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province’s director of public health. The premier calls on the federal government to ban non-essential international flights in order to avoid the spread of the new strains of the virus into the province. This update comes as the government adjusts its vaccine distribution plan, due to delays in the shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccines. Quebec now intends to administer 225,000 doses before February 8, instead of the initial target of 250,000 doses. Premier Legault also speaks on the homeless person who was found dead steps from a Montreal shelter; his death may be a consequence of the province-wide curfew. Earlier the same day, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante asked the provincial government to exempt homeless people from the curfew rules. (no interpretation)
