COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend
Saint-Jérôme hospital suspends visitation due to outbreak, regions grappling with Air Canada cancellations
- Quebec has 55,863 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,574 people have died, an increase of 79 cases and eight deaths. The government says seven of those newly reported deaths took place before June 27.
- There are 371 people in hospital, including 26 in intensive care. Here's a guide to the numbers.
- The Saint-Jérôme regional hospital has suspended most visits indefinitely due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
- A new case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Nunavik. It's the community's first case since May.
- CBC Montreal is collecting stories from Quebecers who have recovered from COVID-19. If you would like to share your experience, please get in touch here.
- Having trouble keeping track of what has reopened? Consult our list.
PPE Portrait Project humanizes nurses in full gear
The nurses of the MUHC's Royal Victoria Hospital intensive-care unit are now wearing pictures of themselves so that patients and colleagues can recognize them through their face masks, shields and hospital gowns.
They took inspiration from American artist Mary Beth Heffernan, who during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia spearheaded the PPE Portrait Project there.
The driving force behind the McGill University Health Centre initiative was Adamo Donovan, a PhD student and the co-founder of the ICU Bridge Program, which helps university students volunteer in intensive care.
Despite not being allowed inside the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions, Donovan worked alongside ICU nurse Caroline Coutu to ensure the nurses could wear portraits of themselves.
Outbreak at Saint-Jérôme hospital
Public health officials have have banned most visitors from entering the Saint-Jérôme regional hospital for an indefinite period due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
The decision to keep all but a handful of visitors out was made for the "health and safety of the most vulnerable people," according to a statement issued Friday by the regional health authority, CISSS des Laurentides.
One visitor at a time will be allowed for end-of-life care patients and palliative care patients, the statement says. As for the birthing unit, spouses are allowed and one parent can accompany their child to the pediatrics unit.
Surprise circus performances coming to Montreal this week
While the 11th edition of Montréal Complètement Cirque is technically cancelled due to COVID-19, the spirit of the circus persists with a series of secret, surprise performances in Montreal neighbourhoods.
The "Bonheur Mobile" will roll up to alleys, parks, streets and squares in Saint-Michel, Anjou, St. Henri and the Quartier des Spectacles and other neighbourhoods over the next week.
Ten Quebec circus performers will come rolling out and put on an hour-and-a-half-long show for any unsuspecting Montrealers who happen to be passing by or looking out the window.
In order to prevent large crowds from gathering, organizers can't reveal where or when these shows will take place.
Quebec City nuns raise $135K for frontline workers
Every day, the nuns at the Augustinian monastery in Old Quebec head to their garden to walk for an hour and show their support for health-care workers.
The nuns, whose average age is 80, have been raising money through online donations to support frontline health workers. The money will be used to welcome health-care workers to the monastery's personalized "wellness program."
They are at a greater risk of developing complications from COVID-19 because of their age, and some of the nuns need walkers or canes, but all the sisters continue to walk every day.
"We wanted to manifest our sympathy and our solidarity with them,"said Sister Lise Tanguay, who has lived at the monastery since 1965.
