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Quebec is ordering the closure of all restaurant dining rooms and shopping malls until at least May to prevent people from gathering and potentially spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

Premier Francois Legault said salons will also have to close, however grocery stores, pharmacies and liquor stores can stay open, even if they’re in shopping centres.

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Stores that open to the outdoors will be allowed to stay open. Restaurants, which had previously been allowed to stay open at 50 per cent capacity, are encouraged to offer takeout, he said.

The news came as the number of confirmed cases in the province rose by 38 on Sunday, to 219 from 181.

Legault reminded reporters in Quebec City that an increase was expected due to a rise in testing, and that it was too soon for recent social distancing efforts to have a positive impact on the numbers.

“The measures we have taken in the last 10 days will be felt, are having an impact, that’s what public health tells us,” he said. “But we think at this stage we have to go a little further, have to intensify our measures.”