Quebec Premier François Legault, and Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province’s national director of public health, are providing the most recent assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province. As of today there are 3,013 deaths in Quebec. There are 38,469 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 1,838 people are in the hospital, including 193 whom are in intensive care.
Most of Quebec, with the exception of the greater Montreal region, is now entering a new phase of deconfinement with the reopening of businesses, commercial, manufacturers and construction sites as well as the return to class in elementary schools.
Premier Legault said that the crisis is currently under control in the regions of Quebec, but that the situation in the metropolitan area is to say the least "worrying.” François Legault is "worried" about the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greater Montreal and reiterates that "if the situation is not under control" over the next few weeks, "we will delay the opening of businesses, schools and daycare services "beyond May 25.
"We are going to follow the science," said Mr. Legault, bluntly saying that schools and daycare services in Greater Montreal may not reopen before the fall school year begins.
François Legault said again that Quebec wants to do more tests to detect positive cases of COVID-19. The number of tests increased from 6,000 to 10,000 per day in the past week. Quebec wants to reach the target of 14,000 tests per day quickly.
Mr. Legault recognizes that the number of deaths is very high in Quebec. He partly explains this situation due to the critical situation in CHSLDs. "We were ill prepared," he said.