This week, Premier François Legault focused on the return to school for Quebec elementary students and daycares, as well as reopening certain sectors of the economy including manufacturing, construction and retail.

Economic activities are scheduled to restart as early as May 4 in regions outside of Montreal, while school is set to resume on May 11.

But in Montreal, which remains the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, activities are set to start a week later.

Montreal regional public health director Dr. Mylène Drouin said the situation in the greater Montreal area will be closely monitored to ensure de-confinement goes ahead safely.

“Montreal has specific characteristics that we have to consider,” she said.

“We have a high density of population, of course; we have public transportation that causes an issue; and a vulnerable population that we have to consider in our strategy.”

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 soared to 12,487, a jump of 563 new cases in 24 hours. There have been more than 1,000 deaths, 80 per cent of which can be traced back to long-term care facilities (CHSLD) and seniors’ residences, according to Drouin.

Drouin explained that certain conditions must be met before loosening restrictions.

“We have to make sure that the transmission is well controlled,” she said. “That’s what we’re going to do in certain neighoubrhoods where we have a suspicion of maybe a sustained transmission.”