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

• Quebec has 55,079 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,448 people have died, an increase of 142 new cases and sevendeaths.The government says one of the newly reported deaths occurred prior to June 17.
• There are 487 people in hospital, including 50in intensive care. Here's aguideto the numbers.
• COVID-19 numbers will be released only weekly from now on. The next update is July 2.
• Bars, casinos, spas, water parks and similar businesses may now reopen across Quebec, on the condition strict sanitary measures remain in place.
• Howrisky is returning to routine in Montreal right now?Here's what anexpert has to say.
• Having trouble keeping track of what has reopened?Consult our list.

Quebec's director of public health, Dr. Horacio Arruda, has given the go-ahead to bars, casinos, spas andwater parksto reopen, effective immediately, as long asthey strictly adhere to sanitary regulations to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"This reopening is conditional on Quebecers respecting those measures," including continued physical distancing, wearing a mask in confined spaces and frequent hand-washing, said Arruda at a briefing Thursday afternoon.

With that decision, almost all sectors of Quebec's economy have now reopened, with three exceptions: there will be no festivals or other large gatherings this summer, no sleepaway camps, and sports that involve close-contact fighting will not be allowed to resume.

• MORE:With reopening of bars, spas and casinos, life returns to near-normal in Quebec

Quebec Health Ministry stopsposting daily COVID-19 data

Quebec will stop publishing daily COVID-19 figures as of tomorrow, providing only weekly reports on the number of infections in the province after that.

The first weekly report will be published on the Health Ministry's website July 2.

Health Ministry spokespersonMarie-Claude Lacassesaid the "decision was made due to the evolving epidemiological situation, which is stabilizing."

As of Wednesday, 54,937 people in Quebec have tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. That's an increase of 53 new cases since Tuesday.

• MORE:Quebec Health Ministry to stop publishing daily COVID-19 data

Home-care workers say their clients aren't getting the level of care they need

Home-care operators say Quebec's attempt to recruit more patient-care attendants to work in chronically short-staffed long-term care institutions has led to an exodus of staff, making it difficult to meet the needs of elderly and vulnerable clients who still live at home.

"Pre-COVID, we used to be able to help 12,000 people on the island of Montreal. In COVID, all of us together, I don't even think we're going to reach 750 by the end of this month," said Judy Bambach, the general manager of Rpit-Ressource de l'Est de Montral.

• MORE:Quebec's bid to hire more long-term care staff creates new problems for those still living at home