Several Provinces Begin Easing COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions

A woman walks away from a variety store in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. on May 4, 2020. Retail stores outside the greater Montreal area have been allowed to reopen after weeks of forced closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

Several provinces began to slowly loosen lockdown restrictions on Monday as Ottawa pledged $850 million for the international fight against COVID-19.

Quebec, which accounts for more than half of Canada’s coronavirus cases, including deaths from the illness, was reopening retail stores outside Montreal while those in the greater Montreal area are to reopen next Monday.