COVID-19: Montréal has upgraded its response level
12 mars 2020
Montréal, le 12 mars 2020 - The administration of Montréal has upgraded its level of mobilization and is taking all necessary measures to face any evolution of the coronavirus situation. In doing so, it is upgrading its emergency response plan into Response 1 level.
“I would like to reassure all Montrealers. The city is ready to respond in case the coronavirus outbreak should spread within the urban agglomeration of Montréal. Our teams are working closely with all urban agglomeration response personnel, in order to ensure the continuity of operations and particularly, the health and wellbeing of the population, which remains our top priority,” specified Mayor Valérie Plante.
Events, gatherings and facilities In accordance with the guidelines issued by the government of Québec, Montréal is cancelling all public events attended by more than 250 people.
As of Friday, March 13, 2020, and until further notice, the city will also close all community centres, cultural sites, libraries, pools, arenas and sports facilities, such as the Planetarium, the Botanical Garden and the Centre Claude-Robillard.
Accès Montréal offices will remain open.
Montréal is also suspending all public tours of city hall, as well as all scheduled public consultation meetings, with the exception of those legally required.
Measures for municipal employees In an effort to avoid spreading the virus, the city will require, starting today, that all employees who are return from a trip abroad remain in isolation for 14 days. The city also prohibits all business travel and strongly advises all employees against personal travel as well. Should they still decide to go ahead with their travel plans, both the disclosure of such plans and the ensuing quarantine will be mandatory for all employees concerned. The city has also taken the opportunity to remind all employees of prevention advice issued by the regional public health department (DRSP) and the ministry of health of Québec.
Through its civil security centre (Centre de sécurité civile), the city is mobilized in order to coordinate with all partners of the public security organization of the urban agglomeration of Montréal (Organisation de sécurité civile de l'agglomération de Montréal). We would like to reiterate that the world-wide evolution of the coronavirus 2019-nCoV situation is being followed by the DRSP, who is the authority responsible for this matter. All actions taken by the city are in accordance with recommendations made by the DRSP.