Covid: In Quebec, liquor and cannabis stores accessible only to vaccinated people

Quebec, the Canadian province most affected by the Omicron wave, has decided to introduce restrictions against non-vaccinated people to protect them from themselves and make them understand that they must stay at home.

As of January 18, stores selling alcohol and cannabis will only be accessible to people with a vaccination passport, explained the French-speaking province's Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, at a press conference on Thursday.

This is a first step that we are taking. We must protect them from themselves and protect our health system, explained the minister. If the non-vaccinated are unhappy there is a very simple solution: go get your first dose, it's free and easy! he added.

In the coming days, other non-essential businesses will be added to the list of locations where the vaccine passport will be required, the Minister said.

In Quebec, nearly 82% of the population over the age of 5 has received two doses of the vaccine and 20% has received a third, according to the latest update from the province's health ministry. But in recent days, hospitalizations have skyrocketed in a province where the health care system is weakened by a lack of staff.

Quebec has tightened health restrictions since the end of December: a night curfew has been imposed from 10pm to 5am, schools and universities are closed, as well as cinemas, bars, restaurants, sports clubs. And private gatherings are forbidden under penalty of heavy fines.