Montreal health officials say city's coronavirus numbers are 'stabilizing'

As part of a midweek update, Montreal’s public health officials said the city is starting to plateau in new COVID-19 cases after October’s partical lockdown measures went into effect.

At a press conference from Montreal, Mylène Drouin, the city’s director of public health, says cases are “stabilizing” throughout the island but that citizens must “remain vigilant.”

Drouin said after September’s sharp increase in cases, Montreal is now “progressing in the right direction,” averaging 245 new daily coronavirus cases.

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She said that while Montreal remains on red alert, the city’s hotspots include Park Ex, Snowdon, St-Laurent, Point St-Charles, and Côte-des-Neiges.

Drouin thanked Montrealers’ efforts and sacrifices throughout the second lockdown and reminded citizens conquering the virus is “a marathon and not a sprint but I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says she is encouraged by October’s numbers and urges citizens to continue following guidelines from public health.

“We must not relax our efforts because they work,” she said. “All of us together, we make a difference.”

Nous bonifions également l’offre en matière de centres de jour. Les personnes qui en ont besoin doivent avoir accès à des lieux chauffés et accueillants à toute heure du jour ou de la nuit. Nous ne laisserons personne derrière cet hiver à Montréal. C’est ma priorité.(3/3) #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) October 21, 2020

With winter quickly approaching, Plante said the City of Montreal will be increasing resources to help the island’s homeless population. Measures include adding 400 emergency beds throughout Montreal’s shelters.

As of October 20 according to Santé Montreal, the city has 39,712 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic and 3,516 virus-related deaths.