Quebec reports 76 new COVID-19 deaths as new confirmed cases continue to drop

Quebec is reporting 76 new deaths on Saturday linked to COVID-19, bringing the provincial tally to 4,439.

But the number of new COVID-19 cases is continuing to drop, with 419 new cases in the past 24 hours — the lowest daily number since late March. The total number of confirmed cases is 50,651.

The province announced that hospitalizations also declined by 68 to 1,197 patients, with 167 in intensive care.

Nearly half of those confirmed cases — 25,223 — are in Montreal, where officials today announced they were extending a state of emergency in place since March 27, granting the city administration exceptional powers and the ability to redeploy resources and manpower as needed.

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Health officials say 16,070 people across the province have recovered.

Late Friday, Quebec’s far northern region of Nunavik announced it was lifting restrictions and would allow air travel between its 14 communities to resume as of June 8.

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The region, which accounts for the northern third of the province, has been COVID-19 free for more than three weeks.

It has been locked down since April 3, with travel restricted between the 14 communities to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the remote region.

Travel from southern Quebec and elsewhere will remain restricted, with only humanitarian, medical and essential travel permitted.