Quebec confirms 75 more coronavirus deaths as cases near 47,000

The Quebec government revealed Saturday that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 3,940, after announcing 75 more deaths since Friday afternoon.

According to Quebec’s Public Health Expertise and Reference Center, the updated provincial numbers confirm 46,838 known coronavirus cases and 1,452 hospitalizations, 167 of whom are in the ICU.

Currently, a reported 321,677 cases have turned up negative throughout Quebec.

A total of 14,044 people are considered recovered from their infections.

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In Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault’s briefing on Friday, she reminded Quebecers to continue wearing masks as much as possible. “There are still people for whom it hasn’t become a habit. Particularly in closed places, businesses, stores, and public transit, masks are about protecting others.”

Guilbault says the government is continuing to observe the “encouraging trend” of stabilization in new cases. She says Quebec is testing more and the government’s 14,000 daily test goal is soon to be reached. She said on Thursday, the province conducted 12,654 tests.

The Deputy Premier said the “increase of new cases remains relatively stable” and she called on Quebecers who have symptoms or a “reasonable doubt” to go out and get tested. “Not just here in Montreal, but regardless of where you are,” she continued. “It’s in testing more and more, where the affected people are and to contain the situation, don’t hesitate to go get tested.”

Graphique sur la répartition du nombre quotidien de décès liés à la #COVID19 selon le milieu de vie et la date de décèshttps://t.co/H5hxOkB9w6 pic.twitter.com/dD6Kl1VaCa

— Santé Québec (@sante_qc) May 22, 2020

Guilbault says as the province moves forward to reopen, Quebecers’ “key element” is to remain respectful of public health’s guidelines. She highlighted how Friday marks the easing of outdoor restrictions and stressed that “we could go back to tighter restrictions” if people don’t respect the rules.

“If we all continue to respect these rules, we can go forward with more and more access to the freedom we all want again,” she concluded.

Canada’s coronavirus death toll now totals 6,277.