No ‘euthanasia’ in Quebec care homes during COVID-19, expert tells coroner’s inquest Public health officials, he said, did not have a sense of how rapidly the virus was spreading at long-term care facilities, including at Montreal’s Residence Herron, a private centre where 47 people died.It was a shock to see there were outbreaks of that magnitude that rapidly,” he said.Public health director is scheduled to testify later Thursday. ‘Systemic ageism’ to blame for COVID-19 deaths in Quebec care homes, inquest hears Earlier in the day, Quebec reported 663 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.Health officials said COVID-19-related hospitalizations dropped by five from the day before, to 215, and 42.