Loto-Québec is halting the physical sale of lottery tickets and shutting down its sales terminals to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Only online sales will be maintained, Loto-Québec spokesperson Patrice Lavoie said in a tweet Friday afternoon. Terminals at retailers and company-owned kiosks will be shut down “as soon as possible,” he said.

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Photo by Tyrel Featherstone / The Gazette

All purchased tickets remain valid. Ticket holders may participate in the targeted draws as planned, Lavoie said.

Loto-Québec is in contact with other Canadian lottery companies to align their practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier François Legault said earlier Friday he was going to ask the state-owned lottery company to review its rules in a bid to reduce the number of elders leaving their homes.

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