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 June 3, as of 5 pm ET:

Quebec confirms 81 more coronavirus deaths as cases near 52,000

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 4,794, after announcing 81 more deaths since Tuesday afternoon.

There are a reported 291 new known cases of the coronavirus, according to the Santé Quebec website. That brings the confirmed total to 51,884 known cases with 1,141 hospitalizations, 158 of whom are in the ICU.

Currently, a reported 410,793 tests have turned up negative throughout Quebec and over 14,600 cases have been resolved.

Over 55,000 people have submitted applications to work at Quebec’s CHSLDs

Premier François Legault says the government has received over 55,000 orderly training submissions after Quebec launched a recruitment initiative to fortify its staff at long-term care homes (CHSLDs).

The goal is to fill Quebec’s 10,000 understaffed positions at CHSLDs.

The government proposed a three-month training course which will be offered from mid-June to September. Legault says the training period will pay $760 per week. If students pass the training, their salary will get bumped to $26 an hour, or $940 a week — a yearly salary of $49,000.

Héma-Québec says it’s short 100 blood donations per day

Héma-Québec is asking blood donors to book appointments in large numbers this spring to replenish its depleted summer reserve.

The non-profit organization says it needs 100 more blood donations every day, tacked on to the 1,000 daily donations normally required.

Héma-Québec says the demand for blood products is increasing as activities gradually resume throughout the province.

11 new coronavirus cases reported at Quebec IGA and Metros

Two of Quebec’s leading grocery retailers, IGA and Metro, have released lists detailing when and where employees and customers have tested positive for COVID-19. Since the last update, 11 entries have been added to both stores.

Both store chains said that out of respect and for confidentiality reasons, it will never release any personal information about infected employees or clients.

Pope Francis delivers first public service from Vatican City since lockdown

Pope Francis delivered a service from the Vatican this past weekend for the first time in nearly three months.

He appeared in the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Sunday to recite Regina Coeli with those in attendance.