MONTREAL -- >



There are now 630 people who have died of COVID-19 in Quebec, health authorities announced Thursday, as confirmed cases in the province reached 15,857.

That’s up 143 from the 487 deaths reported Wednesday, the biggest single-day increase in deaths since the province began providing daily figures.

Total COVID-19 cases in Quebec rose 997 from the 14,860 announced a day earlier.

Premier Francois Legault said most of the newly recorded deaths had not occurred over the last day but were added following a change in data collection methods.

There are 1,018 people being treated for COVID-19 in Quebec hospitals as of Thursday, up 34 from the 984 reported Wednesday; of those in a hospital, 209 are in intensive care, down nine from the 218 reported 24 hours earlier.

There are 2,939 people waiting for COVID-19 test results in Quebec as of Thursday, up 334 from the 2,605 reported Wednesday.

The number of people in Quebec who have recovered from COVID-19 as of Thursday was 2,841, up 350 from the 2,491 recoveries reported a day earlier.

There are now 7,281 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Montreal area, by far the most of any region in Quebec; you can see a regional breakdown of COVID-19 in the province here.

Some 2,000 doctors responded to Legault's call for assistance in the province's overburdened long-term care homes, he said, but the federal government said the province has also formally requested military support.

"Obviously, it's going to be a big challenge to have everyone work together, people who are not used to working together," Legault said of the new dynamic, but he invited everyone to "put a little bit of water in our wine."

"It will not necessarily be easy, especially in conditions that are really exceptional. But, I am convinced that with good faith ... we will be able to have these people work together."

Prime Minister Trudeau said earlier that the two governments are trying to sort out a response, which could involve the Canadian Red Cross, the military or volunteers.

While the Canadian Armed Forces do have doctors, the military is normally sent to help during natural disasters and other such crises rather than medical crises, Trudeau said, but he noted the pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge.

- The Canadian Press contributed to this report