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

The latest:

• Quebechas45,495 confirmed casesof COVID-19, and3,800 peoplehave died.That is an increase of 720cases and 82 deaths from a day earlier.
• There are 1,504 people in hospital (a decrease of 41), including 176 in intensive care (a decrease of seven).Here's aguideto the numbers.
• Small outdoor gatherings will be allowed as of Friday, May 22.
• Dentists and other private health providers across the provincewill reopen June 1.
• Personal care businesses, such as hairdressers, will be allowed to reopen outside Montreal and Joliette June 1.
• Children's summer day camps will be allowed to open June 22.
• You can find out where Montreal's mobile testing sites arehere.

Quebec's summer day camps will beallowed to open on June 22, with new measures in place to give childrenmore space.

"I encourage teenagers and young adults to become monitors," said Premier FranoisLegault, adding camps will be hiringmore employees because they will need about twice as manycounsellorsthis summer in order to comply with those measures.

"It's a great experience," Legault said.

• MORE |Quebec day camps get green light to open this summer

Legault made the announcement at his daily briefing in Montreal,accompanied by Laval Mayor Marc Demers and the director of public health for the Laval region, Dr. Jean-Pierre Trpanier.

The rate of infection in Lavalis nowhigher than that of Montreal.As of Thursday afternoon, there were4,950 confirmed cases in Quebec's third-largest city,and 475 people have died.

"The situation is getting better in Laval, but we must stay vigilant," said Legault. He reiterated the importance ofwearing a mask to help stop the spread of the virus, particularly while on public transit.

Relaxing measures

Soonyou'll be able to get a haircut and hang out with friends (from two metres away) in many parts of the province.

Quebec is relaxingsome of the measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Starting June 1, it will allowa number of personal-care services such as dental clinics and massage therapyto reopen.

Hairdressers, manicurists and other beauty-careservices will be allowed to open on the same date but not in the greater Montreal and Jolietteareas, where there are still significant COVID-19 outbreaks.

And as of Friday, people across the province will be allowed to gather outside in groups of 10 from three different households, as long as they maintain physical distancing.

Legault's approval rating soared then fell

Quebec Premier Franois Legault provided decisive leadership in the early days of the pandemic in Quebec, in March. At the time, hewas given higher marks than any other leader in the country.

But now thatLegault's government has started to open things up again, polls suggest he's heading into choppier waters.

• ANALYSIS | Franois Legault's approval ratings fall back to earth as Quebec tries to reopen

Other info you should know

Arruda said he's still not satisfied by the number of people getting tested. He says the province now has the capacity to test up to 20,000 people every day. He is encouraging people to go and get tested.Find out where the nearest testing site is here.