Canada’s two most populous provinces have moved to clamp down further on social gatherings in a bid to slow a second wave of coronavirus infections that since the start of the pandemic now total more than 150,000 nationwide.

Ontario ordered the closure of bars and restaurants from midnight to 5am except for takeout and delivery and said strip clubs would have to shut down from today.

In Quebec, Health Minister Christian Dube urged residents to cut down on social interactions.

According to Reuters, Ontario and Quebec together account for 79 per cent of the 150,140 cases reported in Canada so far and 93pc of the 9,249 deaths.