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The province of Quebec announced a public health emergency in mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic, and three weeks on, the fight continues to contain the spread of the virus.

“We may see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we must continue to do everything we can to win the battle against the virus,” Quebec Premier François Legault said in his daily address on Monday.

The premier said the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, climbed to 8,580 on Monday, up 636 from Sunday. In Montreal, the epicentre of the outbreak, the number of confirmed cases rose to 3,977.

A total of 121 people have died as a result of the illness to date.

“It’s difficult — we don’t get used to the numbers,” Legault said, extending his condolences to the families of the 27 new victims. “Behind the numbers, there are people, there are families.”

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The number of people requiring hospitalization has only increased by eight since Sunday, reaching 533. Of those, 164 are in intensive care.

1:58 Coronavirus: Should Quebecers wear masks when out in public? Coronavirus: Should Quebecers wear masks when out in public?

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Health Minister Danielle McCann said the province is working to add 800 critical care beds to treat COVID-19 patients.

While many countries lack ventilators, McCann said that was not an issue in Quebec.

However, the number of respiratory therapists is forcing the province to get creative when it comes to preparing for the worst.

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Leagault said bringing in veterinarians who know how to operate the machines or training them to operate ventilators is an option being explored.

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“A vet cannot care for a patient but can operate a ventilator,” he said.

Meanwhile, the province is determined to keep health-care workers on the front lines safe and is closely monitoring its stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Legault said the health-care system now has enough personal protective gloves to last for 14 days, N95 masks for 13 days, surgical masks for 10 days and gowns for six days only.

“We’re working to switch over to washable gowns,” Legault said, citing the looming shortage.

Legault reiterated the government’s top three guidelines in protecting all Quebecers.

“Don’t go out unless it’s necessary. If if you do go out, keep your distances. When you come back home, wash your hands. That’s how we’ll save lives.”

Quebec announces $100-million for employee training program

On the economic front, the government extended the closure of non-essential businesses and services until May 4 over the weekend. The shutdown was previously scheduled to last until April 13.

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Legault said the time was ripe to focus on restarting the economy by training employees to use new technologies and learn new workflows.

“We’ll pay 100 per cent of wages and expenses for training,” Legault said. “Training in a knowledge-based economy is very important.”

Labour Minister Jean Boulet announced the details of the $100-million program to encourage businesses to invest in their employees on Monday afternoon.

Businesses will be eligible to receive a maximum of $100,000 each.

“Eligible training can target digital skills, organizational communication, languages, telecommuting, marketing, online commerce or any training that aims to enhance the skills of employees,” Boulet said, adding that courses must be approved beforehand.

Businesses have until Sept. 30 to submit an application for the program.

With a big part of the economy on pause, Quebec’s minister of economy and innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, announced the launch of a new website, Le Panier Bleu to encourage Quebecers to shop locally and help support the Quebec economy.

The platform doesn’t support transactions but allows users to find local merchants.

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L’Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), which represents municipalities of all sizes province wide, backed the government initiative on Monday, launching its own ad campaign to support local online shopping.

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“Together we can make a difference, as long as we focus our energy in the right place,” said Denis Martin, president of the UMO’s commission on economic development.

“The best way to help each other is to shop locally all the while keeping in mind that we must respect the rules laid down by authorities in matters of public health.”

In addition to extending the shutdown of non-essential businesses, travelling within the province has become more difficult.

Over a week ago, police checkpoints were set up to limit access to several remote regions in Quebec, including l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Nord-du-Québec and the northern territories of Nunavik and Baie-James.

The restrictions have since been extended, banning all non-essential travel to much of cottage country north of Montreal, and to Charlevoix, northeast of Quebec City.

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— With files from Global’s Brittany Henriques, Alessia Maratta and The Canadian Press