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 you digest the news in one place.

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

Top coronavirus stories for June 16, as of 5 pm ET:

Quebec announces fewest one-day coronavirus increase since March

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 5,269 after announcing 27 more deaths since Monday afternoon.

There are a reported 92 new known cases of the coronavirus, according to the Santé Quebec website. That brings the confirmed total to 54,146 known cases with 718 hospitalizations, 77 of whom are in the ICU.

Currently, a reported 480,360 tests have turned up negative throughout Quebec and over 25,000 cases have been resolved.

Trudeau officially extends Canada Emergency Response Benefit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that the federal government is officially extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

According to the prime minister, the CERB is extended by eight weeks, as of Tuesday morning.

The announcement comes the day after Trudeau said the government was looking to extend the benefit.

Theatres, concerts, cinemas to reopen throughout Quebec next week

As Quebec’s latest phase of deconfinement continues, the government has announced that theatres, cinemas, and concert venues throughout the province have been given the green light to reopen as of June 22.

June 22 is also the date in which restaurants throughout Montreal can start hosting clients again indoors.

On Monday, Quebec’s National Director of Public Health, Dr. Horacio Arruda, announced groups of up to 50 people will be able to gather indoors as of next Monday as well.

Public health also announced reduced physical distancing measures, diminishing the oft-mentioned two-metre guideline to one-and-a-half metres for people gathering indoors.

Canada and US extend border closure for another 30 days: Trudeau

Justin Trudeau announced that the Canada-US border will remain closed for another 30 days.

On Tuesday, Trudeau said that both countries agreed to extend the safety measures currently in place until July 21, to keep both countries safe.

“This is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe,” Trudeau said.

All schools in Quebec to reopen as planned this fall

Quebec Education Minister Jean-François Roberge has outlined the province’s plan for all students returning to school in the fall of 2020.

Roberge’s announcement comes on the heels of the government loosening physical distancing restrictions and increasing the amount of people allowed together indoors.

Schools across the province were abruptly closed halfway through March over concerns about COVID-19. While primary schools reopened as of May 11 (excluding those in the Montreal metropolitan area), students and teachers have been wondering how Quebec schools will look in fall with the possibility of the virus’ second wave looming.

United will place passengers who refuse to wear face masks on a no-fly list

United Airlines, in association with multiple other American airline carriers, is cracking down on passengers who refuse to wear facial coverings as part of a new initiative launched by Airlines for America, the industry trade organization that represents top US airlines.

Other airlines associated with this program include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines, all of which will be issuing new enforcement protocols surrounding passengers wearing face masks aboard their flights.

Trudeau gives NHL stamp of approval to potentially host games in Canada

The NHL is welcome in Canada according to Justin Trudeau, likely paving the way for one of the league’s two hub cities to be located north of the border. Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto are three of the cities the NHL is considering.

“We have indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in one of three Canadian cities that are asking for it,” Trudeau said during a media conference in Ottawa on Tuesday. “Obviously the decision needs to be made the NHL and the cities and provinces in the jurisdiction. Canada is open to it as long as it is ok by the local health authorities.”