Montreal reopenings delayed amid more deaths

TORONTO — Scores more people in Canada have succumbed to COVID-19, authorities reported Thursday. Of the new deaths, 121 were reported in Quebec, prompting Premier François Legault to delay reopening retail stores, schools and daycares in Montreal to May 25.

Another 911 new cases were identified. Ontario reported 48 more deaths, with 399 new cases recorded over the previous 24 hours, continuing a trend of slowing growth.

Nova Scotia recorded three more deaths, all at a long-term care home in Halifax, bringing the Canadian total to more than 4,400 as provinces begin easing stayhome restrictions.

Across Canada, about 65,000 people are known to have contracted the novel coronavirus. The Canadian Armed Forces have deployed more than 1,000 troops in long-term care facilities and elsewhere, but Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan would not say how many members have fallen ill.

Most of the deployed personnel are in Quebec nursing homes, which have been hit brutally by the pandemic, but some members are at five homes in Ontario. Others are helping out in a variety of tasks in remote and rural areas.

Hospital capacity is of particular concern away from big centres, prompting Dr. Theresa Tam, the country’s chief health officer, to advise people to avoid heading to their cottages or second homes. Besides spreading COVID-19 into those areas, Tam said a key issue is the potential for too many people in need of medical treatment in places that simply can’t handle a surge.

In Ontario, for instance, Premier Doug Ford stopped short of telling people to stay away from their secondary properties over the upcoming Victoria Day weekend, but urged common sense and respect for health advice.

“It’s not the party weekend it’s been in the past,” Ford said.