Quebec’s public health institute says deaths could spike in the greater Montreal area if physical distancing measures designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 are lifted.
New projections posted to the institute’s website show deaths could rise to 150 a day by July in the city and its surrounding regions, now the epicentre of the virus in Canada.
The institute, which worked with experts from Laval University, says new cases could soar to 10,000 a day by June amid a potential “rapid increase” in hospitalizations. [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ] Montreal has recorded 18,435 cases of COVID-19 and 1,727 deaths, making it by far the hardest-hit part of the country.