For the first time in two months, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, reports on the most recent assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province from Montreal. He is accompanied by Mayor Valérie Plante,The minister responsible for metropolitan France, Chantal Rouleau, the national director of public health, Horacio Arruda, and the regional director of public health, Mylène Drouin.
As of today there are 3,351 deaths in Quebec that is 131 more than yesterday. There are 40,724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 that is 793 more cases than yesterday. 1,834 people are in the hospital, including 190 whom are in intensive care.
Today Legault confirmed that elementary schools in Greater Montreal will remain closed until September. Daycare centers will not reopen until June 1st. Concerning the retail businesses, the date to open is still May 25th Legault says but only and only If the conditions in Montreal get better.
Legault did ask Quebecers that to accelerate the reopening of the economy that all Quebecers should wear masks or face covers when they leave their house and go in public places where the safe distance of two metres between each person cannot be maintained. We have not yet made it compulsory to wear a mask in public transport, but we do not exclude it. It is important that Montrealers wear the mask in public transit, " said Legault.
Quebec intends to help Montreal financially to make masks available to the population, especially those living in more vulnerable neighbourhoods.
Elsewhere in the province, students have started classes in elementary schools since Monday. This very special comeback went without too many problems, even if some establishments had not received all the protective equipment by the time the bell rang for the first time since March.
Canadian soldiers will remain in the CHSLDs in crisis until June 12, Premier Legault confirmed. According to the most recent statistics provided by the regional public health department, Montreal lists just over half (50.6%) of all confirmed cases in Quebec. It is in the borough of Montréal-Nord that they have found the most cases, followed by Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Three other boroughs have seen their number of cases increase over the past two weeks are Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Rivières-des-Prairies – Ponte-aux-Trembles and Villeray – Saint-Michel – Parc-Extension. More than 80% of deaths in the metropolitan area were reported in CHSLDs, intermediate resources, private residences for seniors, rehabilitation centers or hospitals. More than 3,700 healthcare workers living in Montreal were infected, which represents 20% of all cases in Montreal and 10% of all cases in Quebec.