Thread by @Aaron_Derfel

1) After being eclipsed by Montreal's soaring rates of #COVID19 infections and deaths for most of the pandemic, Quebec's regions are now reporting a disturbing number of cases. Please click on my column below. montrealgazette.com/news/local-new…

2) On Friday, Quebec reported a rise of nine #COVID hospitalizations. It also posted cases in the 100-range for two days in a row. I’m indebted to PhD student @JPSoucy and his colleagues for the chart below showing Quebec’s up-ticking trend line, compared with other provinces.

3) In addition to rising cases in the Montérégie and the Laurentians, the Outaouais region has also been hit with growing community transmission of the #coronavirus since July 1. None of this portends well for Quebec so soon after it reopened bars and beaches.

4) Since I wrote about Annies Bar in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, we’ve read the news about La Voûte nightclub in Old Montreal. Two drinking establishments have decided to close on their own. In that context, why shouldn’t Quebec shut all bars until the #COVID numbers come down?

5) Meanwhile, Montreal declared 32 #COVID cases Friday. In contrast, the city of Toronto posted three cases, even though Ontario is testing two and a half times more people than Quebec. End of short thread. Stay cool, stay safe and please be kind to one another in this #heatwave.