Coronavirus: Everything you need to know in Montreal today

Every day in Canada, a lot of news regarding COVID-19 comes out nationally and locally.

And for now, we will be putting together Montreal and Canada’s top headlines daily to help digest the news in one place.

Throughout the day, you can see all the headlines in real-time here.

Top coronavirus stories for April 28, as of 5 pm ET:

Quebec announces 83 more coronavirus deaths as cases eclipse 25,000

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 1,682, after announcing 83 new deaths since Monday afternoon.

As part of his daily briefings, Premier François Legault updated the provincial numbers, stating that Quebec now has 25,757 known cases and 1,625 hospitalized patients, 217 of whom are in intensive care.

A total of 178,715 cases have turned up negative throughout Quebec.

Businesses in Quebec scheduled to open gradually throughout May

A day after announcing its plan to reopen schools across Quebec, François Legault has highlighted a plan to relaunch the province’s economy.

Joined by Quebec’s Finance Minister, Pierre Fitzgibbon, Legault has announced that “some businesses” will be opening throughout May.

Legault says specific sectors will open “gradually over the following weeks.”

Canada forecasting coronavirus cases to reach up to 66,835 by next week

Canada’s top health officials are forecasting total COVID-19 cases to rise up to 66,835 by May 5.

On Tuesday afternoon, the federal government released projections of the coronavirus through modelling that shows where we might be heading over the next week.

The presentation noted that Canada is doing somewhat better than other comparable countries where epidemics began earlier, with growth slowing to a doubling in cases every 16 days.

Bombardier to recall 11,000 employees over the “next few weeks”

After the Quebec government announced its plans to gradually reopen its economy, Bombardier says it has begun the process of recalling “most” of its Canadian based employees who were placed on furlough.

“Suspended manufacturing and service activities will gradually resume as of May 11,” a company news release said.

Nearly 11,000 employees are expected to be back to work within “the next few weeks” across the company’s aviation and transportation sectors. Return-to-work schedules will vary by site and staff will be subject to new procedures to ensure employee health and safety, the company said.

Quebec to set limit on number of students permitted in classrooms

On Monday, François Legault announced that primary schools throughout Quebec, excluding in the Greater Montreal area and Laval, are scheduled to reopen on May 11.

Montreal and Laval primary school students are scheduled to return on May 19.

Follow his announcement, Legault said a maximum of 15 students per classroom will be permitted, all of whom will be two metres apart.

Taiwan donates 500,000 surgical masks to Canada

Taiwan’s government has donated 500,000 surgical masks to Canada for distribution across the country in communities that are facing shortages.

The masks, made in the island state, will be distributed to frontline healthcare workers, including 400,000 to the Canadian federal government, 50,000 to Ontario, 25,000 to British Columbia, and another 25,000 to Alberta. Distribution is being handled by the Canadian Red Cross.

VIA Rail employee tests positive for coronavirus

VIA Rail Canada is informing its staff and passengers that a Montreal employee tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, April 27.

The employee was working at the Montreal Central Station’s service centre. He had not been at work since Sunday, April 26, the day he started to develop symptoms, according to a news release shared with Daily Hive.

VIA Rail says it took immediate appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of its staff and customers.