On March 13, a large number of precautionary cancellations and closures began to emerge across the province, including both Montreal and Quebec City's St. Patrick's Day parades (the former for the first time in its 196-year history),[7][8] all public events of the province's ruling Coalition Avenir Québec party,[9] all Montreal Symphony Orchestra concerts scheduled through April 5 (including a planned performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall), and all Grand Théâtre de Québec events through March 29.[10] Mayor of Montreal Valérie Plante announced the closure of public facilities effective March 13, such as arenas, libraries, sports facilities, and swimming pools, as well as the Montreal Botanical Garden and Planétarium de Montréal.[11] On March 13, Decree 177-2020 was adopted by the Legault government.[12] By this decree, a declaration of health emergency, in accordance with the Public Health Act (adopted by the Parti Québécois in 2001), was ordered. Thus, a health emergency period for 10 days was ordered.