Situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Québec

In Québec, to date, 9 340 confirmed cases of COVID‑19, including 150 deaths, have been reported.

In this page:

• Number of confirmed cases by region
• Percentage of confirmed cases by age group
• Number of people under investigation, negative and confirmed cases
• Number of hospitalizations
• Number of deaths by region
• Distribution of deaths by age group

• People under investigation¹: 2 472
• Negative cases²: 95 186
• Confirmed cases²: 9 340

1: Daily data. Source: Infocentre de santé publique, April 6, 2020, 6 p.m.

2: Cumulative data. Source: Infocentre de santé publique (LSPQ and supraregional laboratories), April 6, 2020, 6 p.m.

• Number of regular hospitalizations¹: 419
• Number in intensive care²: 164
• Total number of hospitalizations: 583

1: Daily data. Source: Gestred. Self-reported data, April 6, 2020, 7 p.m

2: Daily data. Source: COOLSI (Centre d’optimisation Occupation des lits de soins intensifs), April 6, 2020, 4 p.m.

Note: A patient who has been in regular care and in intensive care on the same day is counted as being in intensive care. A patient who left today is kept in the daily portrait.

In Canada, COVID-19 is a serious health threat, and the situation is evolving daily. The risk will vary between and within communities, but given the increasing number of cases in Canada, the risk to Canadians is considered high. You can find information about the outbreak in the Current situation  section on the Government of Canada’s site.

On April 7, 2020, the Gouvernement du Québec made public scenarios of the evolution of COVID-19 (PDF 824 Kb), which presents projections of the number of possible cases, active hospitalizations, and hospitalizations in intensive care.

Experts from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec established the information presented in the document, which seeks to highlight the potential impact of COVID-19’s spread and the importance of abiding by the recommended confinement and physical distancing instructions.

The Gouvernement du Québec has taken a number of measures to contain the spread, including:

• the adoption, on March 13, 2020, of an Order in Council declaring a health emergency throughout Québec territory (PDF 19.36 Kb) (in French only), on March 20, 2020, of an Order in Council declaring renewal of the public health emergency throughout Québec territory (PDF 52 Kb), on March 29, 2020, of an Order in Council declaring renewal of the public health emergency throughout Québec territory (PDF 24 Kb) and, on April 7, 2020, of an Order in Council declaring renewal of the public health emergency throughout Québec territory (PDF 21 Kb). This exceptional measure will, by way of an example, enable the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and establishments to prompotly purchase equipment or conclude the necessary contracts to protect the health of the population;
  • Order No. 2020-003 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 13.67 Kb) 14, 2020 (byelection) (PDF 13.67 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-004 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 82 Kb) 15, 2020 (PDF 82 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-005 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 72 Kb) 17, 2020 (PDF 72 Kb);
  • Order (PDF 30 Kb) No. 2020-006 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 30 Kb) 19, 2020 (PDF 30 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-007 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 24 Kb) 21, 2020 (PDF 24 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-008 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 39 Kb) 22, 2020 (PDF 39 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-009 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March (PDF 73 Kb) 23, 2020 (PDF 73 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-010 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March 27, 2020 (PDF 160 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-011 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March 28, 2020 (PDF 26 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-012 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on March 30, 2020 (PDF 119 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-013 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on April 1, 2020 (PDF 136 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-014 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on April 2, 2020 (PDF 125 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-015 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on April 4, 2020 (PDF 43 Kb);
  • Order No. 2020-016 of the Minister of Health and Social Services issued on April 7, 2020 (PDF 21 Kb).
• the obligation for anyone returning from a stay outside Québec to self-isolate for 14 days, that is, both sick travellers or those displaying symptoms and travellers who do not display symptoms and are in perfect health. These people must not go outside at all, even to go for a walk;
• the minimization of non-priority services and activities by the adoption of and Order in Concil 223-2020 (PDF 37 Kb);
• the prohibition of indoor and outdoor gatherings. However, provision has been made for certain exemptions, for example the workplace and certain stores (see the “Gatherings and events” section);
• educational institutions (elementary and secondary schools, training centres, private schools) will be closed until May 1, inclusively. The Open School  platform has been put online to provide educational resources; 
• emergency school daycare services are open for the children (aged 4 to 13) of health care, social services and essential services personnel;
• emergency daycare services (CPE and subsidized daycare centres) are reserved, until May 1, inclusive, strictly for children (aged 5 and younger) of health care, social services and essential services personnel;
• non-essential visits are prohibited to hospitals, residential and long-term care centres, intermediate resources, family-type resources for the elderly and vulnerable adults and private seniors’ homes throughout Québec’s territory;
• the suspension of student loan debt repayment for 6 months, including borrowers whose accounts are in collection;
• the temporary suspension of visits between children in foster families, rehabilitation centres or intermediate resources and their biological families;
• prevention and control in health care settings in suspected or confirmed cases of infection;
• a program to offer financial assistance to meet the needs of workers who, because they are in isolation to counter the propagation of the COVID-19 virus, cannot earn all of their work income and are not eligible for another financial assistance program;
• the announcement of the Concerted temporary action program for businesses (PACTE) offering financial support to businesses experiencing difficulties obtaining supplies of raw materials or products (goods or services) or whose ability to deliver products is halted or reduced;
• the announcement of flexibility measures respecting the terms and conditions of loans already granted by Investissement Québec or through the local investment funds;
• coverage, by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), of health services related to COVID-19 provided by correspondence or by means of telecommunications;
• the opening of designated clinics to deal with individuals displaying symptoms;
• the postponement of municipal by-elections on March 15, 2020 and the 20 others planned by late April;
• the postponement for businesses until June 30 of the filing deadline for their QST returns and payments respecting the March 31, April 30 and May 31 remittances, without interest or penalties;
• accelerated processing of requests for tax credits for businesses and tax refunds;
• the control of travel to certain remote regions and territories.

Health care professionals in Québec, in particular doctors, nurses, laboratory staff and paramedics, have access to tools to quickly identify cases suspicious for COVID-19, ensure they are managed appropriately and that the necessary prevention and control measures are taken.

The Gouvernement du Québec has ordered the extended closure of educational institutions (elementary and secondary schools, training centres, private schools) until May 1, inclusively. All non-subsidized daycare services will cease their activities by April 3. Emergency daycare services (CPE and subsidized) will be reserved for the children (from birth to age 5) of health care, social services and essential services personnel until May 1, inclusively.

Emergency school daycare services are open to the children (aged 4 to 13) of health care, social services and essential services personnel.

More information is available on the website of the ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur .

Educational resources

Thousands of optional resources to help with learning, creating, and having fun have been provided on the Open School website for students and their parents, available at ecoleouverte.ca/en . Students can choose their own adventure based on their grade level and knowledge, with support if necessary. New activities will be added regularly to help students enjoy every day of learning.

Employers are asked to be flexible regarding their employees’ work schedules to limit, for example, crowds in public transit during rush hour.

To reduce overcrowding in hospitals, the Québec government asks employers not to require their employees to present a doctor’s note if they have to self-isolate.

If possible, employers are also asked to encourage their employees to telework.