Quebec confirms 131 more coronavirus deaths as cases pass 40,500

May 14 2020, 5:55 pm

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 3,351, after announcing 131 more deaths since Wednesday afternoon.

As part of his daily briefings from Montreal, Premier François Legault updated the provincial numbers, confirming 40,724 known cases and 1,834 hospitalizations, 190 of whom are in the ICU.

Currently, a reported 267,311 tests have turned up negative throughout Quebec.

Legault, joined by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, highlighted what he called two bits of “good news,” saying that, “We are gradually going towards our 14,000 objective” of daily tests citing the 13,291 Quebec had conducted on Wednesday.

The premier said long-term care staff members is up for the fourth day in a row. “Employees are coming back to the health network and the Canadian Armed forces will be extending their presence until June 12.”

Legault announced that Montreal-area elementary schools will not be reopening on May 25 as originally tabled.

“When we look at the situation as a whole, it remains very fragile in Montreal,” he Legault. According to the premier, there are conditions that must be met before agreeing to deconfinement and Montreal isn’t yet there.

He cited lowering the number of deaths and hospitalizations are the first two priorities, followed by having a good number of available beds. “We cannot see a significant lowering in Montreal. Of course, we have to let the situation get better first.”

Legault said if more people on the island started to wear face masks, especially while using public transit, it would help to convince public health to go through with initial Montreal reopening plans.

Canada’s coronavirus death toll now totals 5,337.

DH Montreal StaffDH Montreal Staff

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