COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Monday

The latest:

• Quebec has 53,047confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,984people have died, an increase of 198cases and sixdeaths from a day earlier.
• There are 979 people in hospital(an increase of seven),including 121in intensive care (a decrease of seven).Here's aguideto the numbers.
• Movie and TV productionwill be allowed to resume Monday, provided workers respect physical-distancing rules.
• Starting Monday, daycares will be allowed up to 75 percent of their normal capacityexcept ingreater Montreal, Joliette and l'piphanie.
• Small indoor gatherings and dining in restaurants will be allowed, with certain restrictions, starting June 15 in most of the province and June 22 in Montreal.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths attributed to the virus continued to drop over the weekend, with only six new deaths reported today the lowest number reported since April 1.

Premier Franois Legault said Monday that the numbers are "encouraging" and that he thinks small indoor gatherings can now be allowed.

Public health now says indoorgatherings of 10 people or fewer will be allowed starting June 15 in most of the province. In the greater Montreal area,Joliette and l'piphanie, indoor gatherings are allowed starting June 22.

Those dates also apply to the reopening of restaurant dining rooms. However, as is the case for other sectors of the economy that have reopened, certain restrictions will be in place.

Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province'spublic health director, cautioned that it is too early to tell if the first wave of infections has passed. He said that will depend on what effect the gradual easing of containment measures has had on transmission, which can take 10 to 15 days after a sector reopens to detect.

• MORE:Small indoor gatherings, dining in restaurants allowed in most of Quebec starting June 15

$50M for Montreal businesses

The federal and provincial governments have announced a new$50-million fund to provide smalland medium-sized Montreal businesses with loans to help cope with the economic fallout brought ofCOVID-19.

The federal government is contributing $30 million, and the province is putting forward $20 million.

Though businesses in the city have been allowed to reopen, many are struggling to cover overhead costs with fewertourists, students and commuters inthe streets.

• MORE:Montreal businesses to receive up to $50M in government aid

Team sports resume

Outdoor sports teams can start practising again as of today, but they need to respect strict guidelines when doing so.

Practices will have to be supervised and modifiedto make sure that players are staying two metres apart from one another and teams will not be allowed to play competitively just yet.

Play could resumeby the end of Junebut it will depend on whether the COVID-19 situation continues to improve, the government says.

• MORE:Quebecers can play team sports again as long as they're physically distancing

Daycares outside Montreal accepting more children

Daycares outside thegreater Montreal region, Jolietteand l'piphanie are entering the next phase of reopening today.

Where they were previously allowed to accept up to 50 per cent of their capacity, they can now take in 75 per cent as of Monday morning, and will be allowed to return to regular numbers as of June 22.

TheAssociation qubcoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE) has expressed concerned that the province's daycares could face a serious staffing shortage when things return to normal.

With more staff needed to ensure children are respecting health and safety guidelines, theAQCPE has estimated it could be missing anywhere between 1,300 and 3,000 staff members when daycares resume full capacity.

Daycares in Montreal and the Joliette areas are still at 50 per cent capacity for now, but are expected to return to full capacity July 13.

• MORE:Montreal daycares are open again, but educators are worried about how the kids will respond