Quebec continues slow reopening
Good weather brings limited gatherings in parks, and backyards
Quebec continued to record new COVID-19 cases and deaths over the weekend as the province inched toward further reopening, with Montreal remaining by far the hardest-hit area. But it also continued to see slight decreases in the number of hospitalizations and finally met its testing goal, reporting more than 14,000 tests per day for two consecutive days — the first time it’s reached the benchmark since announcing it three weeks ago.
On Sunday, provincial health authorities reported 573 new COVID -19 cases and an additional 44 deaths, bringing the respective totals in Quebec to 47,411 and 3,984.
In the greater Montreal region, authorities recorded 222 new cases and 30 deaths during the same time.
The lower number of hospitalizations (down 43 over three days to 1,265 on Sunday) and increase in testing are both among factors the government had established as necessary before beginning to gradually reopen.
The weekend was also the first since Quebec authorized limited outdoor gatherings, such as family barbecues and backyard picnics. But some confusion over what is and isn’t allowed remained.
In a news conference last week, Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault had first stated the gatherings would be permitted so long as they were kept to 10 people, coming from a maximum of three households.
But when the official decree was issued soon after, the household criteria was not included. Asked why on Sunday, a spokesperson for the provincial health department said the government ultimately decided against the measure because it would be too hard to enforce.
“For example, it would have been necessary to ask for identity documents from everyone gathered to ensure there was a maximum of three different addresses,” spokesperson Marie-louise Harvey said in an email response.
Though not in the decree, Harvey added, keeping gatherings to three households remains “strongly recommended.” The maximum of 10 people, for its part, must be respected.
“The health of each and every one of us, especially the most vulnerable, is at stake,” Harvey said.
With restrictions being loosened and springtime weather finally arriving, many of Montreal’s parks were brimming with small clusters of people throughout the weekend.
Despite the noticeable uptick in people outside and in parks, a Montreal police spokesperson said most people respected physical distancing measures. The police force, which continues to have officers in the city’s largest parks, didn’t record any noteworthy increase in illegal gatherings.
The weekend was also marked by the death of another front-line worker in Quebec.
The man, a father in his 40s, worked as a beneficiary attendant at the Montreal Chinese Hospital, but also helped in CHSLDS at the beginning of the pandemic. His death was announced Sunday morning.
According to the CIUSSS du Centre-sud-de-l’île-de-montréal, he succumbed to COVID -19 after a five-week battle in intensive care.
The health authority described the man as a smiling and devoted worker who was appreciated by his colleagues. It said his family requested his identity not be disclosed for the moment and has asked for privacy as they grieve.
“We’re all floored by the news,” spokesperson Racha-michèle Asso said Sunday. “We never wanted this to happen, not here or anywhere else. We’re in contact with the family and trying to support them as best we can.”
Quebec Premier François Legault did not hold any daily COVID -19 briefings over the weekend. He will address the province on Monday, in Montreal.