MONTREAL -- As Quebec begins to gradually reopen with more people in parks, shops set to open in Montreal and more restrictions being lifted, public health authorities announced Saturday that 75 more people have died from the virus and there are 697 new confirmed cases.

There are now 3,940 people who have died of COVID-19 in Quebec, health authorities announced Saturday, and the total number of confirmed cases has reached 46,838.

The number of hospitalizations saw another decrease Saturday with 27 fewer patients for a total of 1,452. Of those in the hospital, there were four fewer in the intensive care ward than 24 hours ago with a total of 167.

The number of those who have recovered from the virus is now 14,044, an increase of 225 from Friday.

RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED

The government announced Friday that gatherings of up to 10 people from a maximum of three households are now permitted outdoors, but Quebec director of public health Horacio Arruda reminded Quebecers to maintain caution and respect physical distancing measures to avoid triggering more outbreaks.

"All that we've done to get to this point could (turn around) very fast," Arruda said.

ACROSS CANADA

There have been over 1,429,000 screening tests administered in Canada to date. About 5 per cent of them have detected the disease. Across the country, an average of 28,000 tests are being administered per day.

To date, 83,590 confirmed or probable cases have been identified across the country. COVID-19 has killed 6,352 Canadians.

The distribution of cases, according to the most recent provincial and territorial reports are as follows:

  • 46,838 cases in Quebec, including 3,940 deaths;
  • 25,040 cases in Ontario, including 2,048 deaths;
  • 6,800 cases in Alberta, including 134 deaths;
  • 2,507 cases in British Columbia, including 155 deaths;
  • 1,048 cases in Nova Scotia, including 58 deaths;
  • 627 cases in Saskatchewan, including seven deaths;
  • 292 cases in Manitoba, including seven deaths;
  • 260 cases in Newfoundland and Labrador, including three deaths;
  • 121 cases in New Brunswick, all cured, except one;
  • 27 cases in Prince Edward Island, all cured;
  • 11 cases in the Yukon, all cured;
  • Five cases in the Northwest Territories, all cured;
  • No cases in Nunavut.

In addition to these provincial and territorial reports, there are 13 cases, all recovered, among passengers repatriated from the cruise ship Grand Princess on March 10. 

With reporting from The Canadian Press