Québec COVID-19 cases continue to climb, government trying to secure more supplies

UPDATED ON 2020/03/31 AT 9:35 p.m.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continued to increase in Québec on Tuesday.  As of that evening, there were 4,162 cases, according to the Québec health ministry.

Most of the cases continue to be in Montréal and the Eastern Townships.  However, there are 199 confirmed cases in the Laurentides region, which includes the MRC d’Argenteuil, Mirabel, MRC Les Pays d’en Haut, MRC Rivière-du-Nord, and MRC Deux Montagnes.

The Outaouais Region, which includes MRC Papineau and the city of Gatineau had 50 confirmed cases on Monday evening.

In Montérégie, which includes the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges, there were 341 confirmed cases.

There have so far been 31 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 in Québec.

There are presently two COVID-19 testing clinics in the MRC d’Argenteuil.  They are only for those who have symptoms.  One of them is in Lachute at 145 avenue de la Providence, which is at the rear of the hospital complex.  Testing is by appointment only.  To book an appointment, call 450-562-3761, extension 72360 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., Monday to Friday.  The second testing facility is in Mille-Isles and is also by appointment only.  To make an appointment there, call 1-877-644-4545.

The CISSS des Laurentides, the regional health authority, is adding pre-triage tents at the Lachute hospital to allow for extra space inside the main hospital building.  The tents will allow for suspected COVID-19 patients, and other non-urgent patients to be seen more quickly.

Premier François Legault said on Tuesday that Québec only had a three-to-seven day supply of certain items of protective equipment for health care workers to use.  The Premier said the government is working closely with businesses to secure additional supplies.  Jean Coutu pharmacies has supplied 1.3 million masks and Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed to provide additional materials to Québec.

On Monday, Legault announced that all businesses in Québec, except for essential services such as grocery stores and pharmacies, will now close on Sunday, beginning on April 5.