Social media videos show people gathering in the streets on Sunday night without social distancing nor wearing masks as they set things on fire, damage property and break windows of local businesses, Canadian network Global News reported.
Hundreds of people breaking first night of 8 p.m. curfew in Old Montreal. « Freedom for the young!» they chant. pic.twitter.com/zdqAjb9MTz
— Giuseppe Valiante (@Gvaliante) April 12, 2021
The protest was initially a calm demonstration which soon turned violent and was met with tear gas from police in an attempt to control the massive crowd.
The scene after the crowd has been dispersed at the 8pm curfew protest in Old Port Montreal.
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) April 12, 2021
Source: https://t.co/l1UR4pcbf8 pic.twitter.com/kFv2E1oTsX
"While vaccination accelerates, we must continue to adhere to the measures if we want to defeat this pandemic," Health Minister Christian Dube wrote on Twitter.
Quebec Premier François Legault announced on Thursday that COVID-19 restrictions would be strengthened in Montreal and Laval with the reinforcement of the 8 p.m. curfew as of Sunday which would be in place until further notice.
A previous curfew from 9:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. had been in place prior to Sunday.
According to the health minister, 58 percent of new cases were reported in people under the age of 40.
