Quebec premier says the COVID-19 situation in Quebec schools is under control

Quebec set to publish school outbreaks Quebec health officials have agreed to begin publishing all the COVID-19 cases in schools, which up to now, haven't been available.

SAINT-RAYMOND, QUE. — Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he believes the situation in Quebec schools is still under control.

The premier was in Saint-Raymond on Thursday, near Quebec City, which is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, especially in seven of its elementary and secondary schools.

Nearly 200 students are now in isolation as ordered by various administrations.

Legault seemed to try to strike a reassuring tone on Thursday, saying that this situation was proof that the concept of bubble-classes worked.

He added that if he had to make the decision today to restart sport-etudes programs for student-athletes as well as extracurricular activities, he would.

Should new cases of COVID-19 continue to climb in the general population, Legault said he wouldn't rule out implementing lockdowns by region, or even parts of a region.

"If we have to do that in the next weeks or months, it would be per region, or per part of regions, also. We're getting very close to the management, the testing of the population in each region," said the premier. "If it continues to increase and if we need to close for example bars or restaurants or reduce the 250 people, it will be done per part of regions, but we're not at this level right now."

The province is approaching a possibly critical threshold, said Legault, adding though, that it is not in a second wave just yet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2020. With files from CTV News Montreal