Covid-19 update

Masks-on, Gatineau: $500 fine for under 14 year olds, up to $6,000 for adults

A rise of 290 cases in less than 24 hours for Outaouais shows how hard the spring weather has made it for residents to obey mask-on and zero interactions within 2 meters rules. Police where fully deployed to handle the high volume of people in public parks over the weekend. The number of Covid-19 cases in the Outaouais since the start of the pandemic reached 9,204 on April 12. According to the Centre intégré de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), there were 1,023 active Covid-19 cases in the region at that time. With 178 deaths in the region so far – three more than last week - it noted that 8,002 people had recovered from the virus.

Last week, 50 people were hospitalized with three requiring intensive care, adding that 50 of CISSSO’s employees were actively infected. Over the previous week, CISSSO stated to have administered an average of 956 Covid-19 screening tests per day. CISSSO said that Gatineau’s urban core has accounted for the majority of coronavirus cases in the region at this point with 6,940 cumulative cases and 742 active ones. 

The MRC de Papineau has had 1,006 total cases, with 96 active cases; the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau has had 501 with 38 active cases; the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais has recorded 557 cases with 87 active ones; and the MRC de Pontiac has seen 161 total cases, with 46 active ones. The origin of 39 cases had yet to be determined.

On April 8, the Quebec government announced that Covid-19 emergency safety measures – such as the 8 pm to 5 am curfew - will remain in place in three regions including the Outaouais until at least April 18.

Police are issuing fines ranging between $1,000 and $6,000 to people who break the rules. People aged 14 and under are subject to $500 fines. Details about the special emergency regulations are available on the provincial government’s website. People wanting to get tested for Covid-19 are encouraged to consult CISSSO’s online self-assessment tool before calling 1-877-644-4545 to set up an appointment within 24 hours. More COVID-19 related information regarding the Outaouais is available on the CISSSO website.