Quebec confirms 121 more coronavirus deaths as cases eclipse 35,000

The Quebec government revealed that the province’s COVID-19-related death toll has reached 2,631 after announcing 121 more deaths since Wednesday afternoon.

As part of provincial daily briefings, Quebec Premier François Legault updated the province’s numbers. Quebec now has 35,238 known cases and 1,836 hospitalizations, 224 of whom are in an ICU.

Currently, a reported 228,905 cases have turned up negative throughout the province.

• See also:
  • Drone captures beautiful shots of Montreal’s rainbow-coloured landmarks (PHOTOS)
  • Police arrest two suspects following seventh cell phone tower fire in one week (VIDEO)
  • Here’s a breakdown of Montreal’s known coronavirus cases per district
  • The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are flying over Montreal this afternoon

After announcing plans to delay Montreal’s reopening, Legault highlighted statistics detailing citizens who public health has deemed at “the most risk” of dying from the virus.

“If we look at the 2,631 deaths since the beginning, there are no people who died below 30 years of age,” he said in French. “Ninty-one per cent of people who have died in total are 70 and over.”

91% des personnes décédées de la COVID-19 ont 70 ans et plus. @francoislegault @ArrudaHoracio pic.twitter.com/LW9Y0c4BTX

— Ewan Sauves (@ewansauves) May 7, 2020

While Legault says younger people are at a “lesser risk,” but there is no such thing as zero percent risk. “Maybe it’s close to zero in citizens below 30 but you still have to be prudent and respect the guidelines.”

“It’s not an exact sign but public health says a ‘controlled risk’ is for people who are younger than 70 years old,” he continued. The premier added that people with existing health problems, regardless of age (chronic diseases), should not go back to work.

#COVID19 – Au Québec, en date du 7 mai 2020 à 13 h, la situation est la suivante :
35 238 cas confirmés
228 905 analyses négatives (cas infirmés)
1 836 personnes hospitalisées
2 631 décès

Pour en savoir plus sur la situation au Québec : https://t.co/fiqW5E4y8R

— Santé Québec (@sante_qc) May 7, 2020

Legault said the government has increased testing throughout the province and now conducts 37,000 tests per one million inhabitants.

“We used to 6,000 tests per day, by the latest numbers, on May 5, we do a little over 10,000 per day and we’re still going to be increasing it.”

Before allowing Quebec’s President of Treasury Board, Christian Dubé, to announce new benefits for health care workers in the province, Legault stressed the importance of respecting physical distancing guidelines. “If you can’t distance yourself, wear a mask,” he said. “It’s true for daycare educators, grandmothers with grandchildren, it’s important for everyone.”

Canada’s coronavirus death toll now totals 4,404.