Millions in Canada under Covid-19 curfew on New Year’s Eve — RT

More than 8.5 million Canadians have been ordered to remain at home for New Year’s celebrations, with the provincial government of Quebec imposing a curfew and a ban on private gatherings amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

Quebec Premier François Legault announced the policies on Thursday, saying they would come into effect on Friday – New Year’s Eve – and warning that a spike in coronavirus cases could overwhelm the region’s healthcare system.

“If we do nothing, there is a real risk that our hospitals will overflow over the next few weeks and that we will no longer be able to treat everyone,” he said in a tweet, later adding that officials had to “act quickly” and strike a “big blow” to the virus.

The curfew will extend from 10pm to 5am – the prime hours for new-year revelry – and anybody seen outside their home during those times will be asked by the authorities to explain where they are going. Violators could be fined between $1,000 and $6,000, according to local media reports.