Quebec announces 92 more coronavirus-related deaths as cases near 21,000

Apr 22 2020, 5:38 pm

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 1,134 total after announcing 92 new deaths since Tuesday.

As part of his daily briefings, Premier François Legault updated the provincial numbers, stating that Quebec now has 20,965 known cases and 1,278 hospitalized patients, 189 of whom are in intensive care.

A total of 155,083 cases have turned up negative throughout Quebec.

“Of course, I wish to offer my condolences,” said Legault in French to open the press conference. “Let’s never forget that behind these numbers are real people and families who have lost someone. It’s very sad for Quebec as a whole.”

“The great challenge we continue to face is to find the means of attracting and bringing in additional staff to our residences for elderly,” continued Legault. The premier said the province needs 200 more staff members at CHSLDs. While he thanked the specialists and students who have stepped forward to help, he said the staff numbers are still low.

“We thought yesterday we’d be able to find the last 1,000. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do so.”

The premier says Quebec spoke to the federal government and asked for an additional 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces members, even those who don’t have medical training. “It’s not an ideal situation,” said Legault, but he feels that having “additional hands” would still help out.

“We are continuing to train students who are not yet ready,” said Legault.

Right now in Quebec, according to the premier, there are “almost two worlds.” One side is the “very difficult” situation in CHSLDs, and the other one is “particularly stable,” outside of Montreal and Laval, in the rest of the province.

According to Legault, 74% of the COVID-19-related deaths in Quebec are either in Montreal or Laval. “That is to say, the situation is stable per capita.” He said, all things considered, things are going “well” in regards to the non-spread of the disease.

Legault concluded his daily briefing by saying that as of next week, the government will table a plan to reopen schools and businesses, “region by region,” wherever situations are “stable.”

He said that parents who don’t feel comfortable sending their students back to school won’t be obliged to.

Quebec is one of the global leaders when it comes to screening tests, according to the premier, hence the consistent influx of known cases throughout the province.

Canada’s coronavirus death toll now totals 1,873.

DH Montreal StaffDH Montreal Staff

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