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As much as he wants to, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Duvernay-Tardif is unable at this time to lend medical support to those on the pandemic’s front lines, in aiding those afflicted by the coronavirus. To be sure, now is a crucial time.

As of Thursday, authorities in Quebec reported 10,912 COVID-19 cases (up 881, or 9%, from Wednesday) and 216 deaths (up 41 from Wednesday). Both totals top all other Canadian provinces and territories.

Montrealers comprise nearly half of Quebec’s coronavirus cases (5,262), and account for 43% of the deaths (93).

Duvernay-Tardif, who graduated with his MD from McGill University’s world-prestigious med school in Montreal in spring 2018, would like to be hands-on and contribute on the front lines, but he cannot.

“I’m kind of in a grey zone right now. I graduated, I got my MD, but I haven’t applied to a residency program yet,” he said. “So I don’t have a licence number or anything. Usually, people jump right from being a student into a residency program.

“I’ve been in touch with both public health authorities, and the Quebec government and the McGill faculty as well, to see what is the best role I can do to contribute. And basically what we decided it was best for me to kind of use my (fame) in Quebec to try to reinforce the public-health measure of social distancing, and all the hygiene measures — and relay that information, especially to younger individuals.”

In a normal year, football would absorb nearly all of Duvernay-Tardif’s time and focus from April to mid-June (with spring practices and mini-camps), then again starting with training camp in late July until his team, the Chiefs, is eliminated from the playoffs or, failing that, until the end of the regular season.