Reopening of schools, daycares and businesses in Montreal area delayed to May 25

The Quebec government has postponed the planned reopening of elementary schools, daycaresand businesses in the greater Montreal area to May 25.

PremierFranoisLegault said the government has beenlooking at two factors asit decideswhether to go ahead with reopening parts of the province: how fast the virus is spreading and the availability of hospital beds.

"Today we're seeing that the conditions to keep our initial reopening calendar in Montreal are not met, for the moment," Legault said Thursday.

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante said protecting the population remains the priority, and Legault's decision will give schools, businesses and city officials time to prepare for a safe reopening.

"I totally agree with this decision since public health must come first all the time," she said Thursday afternoon, as she announced another $5 million in supportfor local businesses.

School boards had also balked at the government's initial timeline, concerned they hadn't been given enough time to reopen schools safely.

WATCH | Legault says Montreal is not yet ready to reopen:

Quebec delays planned reopening of Montreal-area businesses, elementary schools

4 years ago

Duration 1:29

May 25 is the new target date for opening additional businesses, schools and daycares in the Montreal region, said Quebec Premier Franois Legault.

After Legault reiterated Tuesday that school boards would reopen when they are told to, the government-appointed trustee of the English Montreal School Board,Marlene Jennings, reiterated Wednesday that board would make its own decision when to reopen, even if it means defying a provincial order.

Elementary schools and daycaresoutside of the Montreal area are still expected to open on May 11.The return to class is voluntary.

• COVID 19 in Quebec | Here are the latest numbers, and what you need to know

Modifications such as limits to class size and a staggered recess schedule are being planned for the classes.

Montreal has more confirmed cases of the virus than any other Canadian city. As of Thursday afternoon, there were17,442 confirmed cases on the island, and 1,562 people with the virus had died.

The reopening of retail businesses in the metropolitan area has now been pushed back by two weeks to May 25.

Dr.MylneDrouin, the director of public health for Montreal, has said the city was not seeing conditions favourable to start reopening stores.

Montreal offers grants to hard-hit businesses

Montreal's executive committee has extended the city'sstate of emergency, first declared on March 27, to May 11.

The city has deployed a series of economic measures since the Legault government began shutting down the province to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus nearly two months ago.

Plante said her administration is continuing to dowhat it can to support local businesses.

Of the $5 million in new financial support announcedThursday, $2 million will be in the form of subsidies tomerchants who are investing in sanitary materials, such as Plexiglass shields and hand sanitizer.

"This $2 million represents direct assistance," Plante said. "It is not a loan."

Additionally, $2 million in grants havebeen earmarked for community-based social economic enterprises, to help cover expenses such as rent andsalaries, announced Coun. Luc Rabourin, the executive committee member in charge of economic development.

The city is offering a total of $500,000 in support to privatenon-subsidized performance halls, including independent cinemas. Another $300,000 will go toward providing free access toadvice and training on topics such as finances andlegal matters.

Business owners in need of support are encouraged to contact the city.