Coronavirus: Montreal situation worries Canada

Text by: RFI Follow

Quebec has begun its deconfinement in recent days. Roadblocks restricting travel from one region to another are starting to be lifted, some retail businesses reopen and primary school resumes on Monday. But all of these measures do not affect Montreal, which is the epicenter of the epidemic in Canada.

Publicity

The number of people infected and dead in the greater Montreal region is calling out more and more to health specialists, but also elected officials like the Prime Minister of Canada, reports our correspondent in Quebec , Pascale Guéricolas . “  I am a Quebecer, I am a member of Parliament for Montreal, I am very worried. I know that yes, we have to talk about taking the economy back gradually and gradually, but it must be done in a way that keeps people safe, first and foremost,  "said Justin Trudeau during his press briefing. Saturday.

“  We have to realize that we are not yet in the recovery phase. We are not even in the restart phase yet. We are still in the emergency phase  , ”he insisted.

Quebec is the most affected province in Canada. It accounts for more than half of the approximately 67,000 cases of coronavirus and 4,700 deaths recorded in the country, the Montreal region being hard hit, particularly in residences for the elderly.

Reopening of schools still postponed in the region

Already on Thursday, for the second time, the Quebec government has postponed the reopening of businesses and schools in the greater Montreal region by one week until May 25. Public health forecasts suggest that the number of deaths could increase to 150 per day if the containment is partially lifted. The very high cases in mainland France leave little room for maneuver to the health system.

A situation that worries the Canadian Minister of Native Services, Marc Miller, also a member for Montreal. "  I'm afraid there are more people dying. I'm afraid of a second outbreak, a bigger outbreak,  ”he says.

The situation is improving, however, in the rest of Quebec, which is rediscovering the semblance of normal life.

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• Quebec
• Canada
• Coronavirus
• Confinement
• Justin Trudeau
• Health and Medicine

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