The province of Quebec announced a public health emergency in mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic and three weeks on, the fight continues to contain the spread of the virus.
As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Quebec reached 7,944 over the weekend, the government extended the closure of non-essential businesses and services until May 4.
The shutdown was previously scheduled to last until April 13. With a big part of the economy on pause, Quebec’s minister of economy and innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, announced the launch of a new website, Le Panier Bleu to encourage Quebecers to shop locally and help support the Quebec economy.