COVID-19 update, confirmed cases climb to 38 in the region

The Quebec Government has confirmed 3,430 cases of Coronavirus in the province, with 38 in the Outaouais (10 more than the previous day), as of March 30. This makes three more than on March 29, the province has confirmed 25 deaths so far.

Despite a jump of 590 cases compared to the previous day, Premier Francois Legault assured Quebecers that the government has the situation is under control, during his press conference on March 30. 235 people have been hospitalized by the virus, noting a rise of 43; and have been 78 sent to intensive care, adding six more.

Legault added that businesses will close on Sundays, except for gas stations, pharmacies, convenience stores and take-out restaurants, until further notice. While the message was initially to avoid travelling to different regions, Legault is now restricting Quebecers from all non-essential movements even between cities and even different neighbourhoods.

People returning from abroad are still being ordered to stay home for 14-days, with no exceptions, to avoid transmitting the virus locally. Travel to cottages are prohibited until further notice. Cottage rentals are currently forbidden and people travelling to remote areas may be subject to roadside inspections by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). Seniors homes are barred from public access and its residents aren’t allowed to go on outings unsupervised.

With cases still at a relatively low number in the Outaouais, Mayor of Gatineau Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin urged the population to keep social distancing and maintain quality hygiene to keep it that way. “We’re in the unknown,” he said. “This is a crisis that we’ve never lived. For it to be the least severe possible, people need to follow public health guidelines. Stay home.”

“It’s not too late, we have a chance to act,” he added.