By Avleen K Mokha
Key updates from today’s press briefing on the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency:
Quebec is doing about 9,000 tests a day, which is below its target of 14,000. Montreal’s situation continues to be fragile.
Positive: More workers are returning to the healthcare system, for the third day in a row.
Some sports will be allowed in Quebec, including for the city of Montreal, starting May 20. Travelling within Quebec for sports is non-essential, so people are not encouraged to travel outside their territory to play.
Tennis and golf will be allowed, but a distance of 2 meters must be kept at all times. Team sports like hockey and soccer are not OK: only outdoor sports that can be played alone or in groups of two, while respecting social distancing.
Public outdoor pools could open eventually, but not yet. Other sports that will be allowed include cycling, roller skating, skateboarding, track running, canoeing, kayaking and other rowing activities done alone, climbing, kite surfing, outdoor swimming, fishing, SCUBA diving, and horseback riding.
For now, Quebec has not made masks mandatory due to difficulty finding enough for public distribution. However the province is talking with local manufacturers to see what is possible.
The National Assembly of Quebec began meeting today. Only 30 of 125 members attended to respect social distancing rules.
Click below to see what the COVID-19 situation looks like at the global, provincial, and local levels.
