1) In a stunning lack of transparency, Quebec has announced it will no longer make public each day its #COVID numbers on infections, deaths and tests. In this thread, I will explain why this not only hurts our democracy but undermines efforts to control this unstable #pandemic.

2) The Health Ministry chose to make this announcement on a holiday, la Fête nationale, explaining that it will release only weekly numbers from now on, every Thursday, starting on July 2. It's doing so despite the fact Quebec is still reporting #COVID deaths and cases daily.

3) Premier @francoislegault was justifiably criticized when he withheld for more than two weeks daily updates on #COVID outbreaks in the province’s long-term care centres and seniors’ residences during the peak of the #pandemic on the pretext this data had to be “cleaned up.”

4) And now, even as Quebec tests fewer and fewer people for #COVID (failing to meet its daily objective of 14,000 tests), it’s switching to weekly updates, even though neighboring Ontario and many other jurisdictions continue to release #pandemic numbers every day.

5) By refusing to divulge data each day, the government is conveying a false message that the #pandemic no longer poses a dire threat. Journalists, epidemiologists and members of the public will no longer be able to track the #pandemic properly.

6) This is especially worrisome because the public needs to know quickly if and when there are upticks of #COVID cases in various neighborhoods of Montreal. As we’ve seen in the United States, rushed re-openings in Texas and other states have recently caused huge resurgences.

7) The Legault government's paternalistic approach to doling out information fuels mistrust and is likely to cause a drop in compliance toward measures like #PhysicalDistancing. Quebec’s chief health officer has already expressed concern fewer people are wearing masks in public.

8) On Wednesday, Montreal posted 19 new #COVID cases. As the orange line in the chart below shows, the city is observing a slight uptick. With weekly updates, it’ll be more difficult to note these subtle changes, so crucial to be able to warn the public.

9) Meanwhile, Montreal — which as we know had long been the epicenter of the #pandemic in Canada — declared eight #COVID fatalities, up by six since Tuesday (see below). To date, 3,339 lives have been cut short in the city. No longer will we get daily reminders of this tragedy.

10) The good news is Quebec hospitalizations for #COVID19 are likely to drop below 500 on Thursday. By comparison, Ontario reported 278 hospitalizations Wednesday, also a downward trend that Ontarians will continue to be able to observe daily, unlike in Quebec.

11) Fortunately, Quebecers can still check out hourly updates of the overcrowding in hospital ERs. How's that for inconsistency?! Reluctantly, this will have to be my last daily #COVID thread. However, I'll continue reporting on the #pandemic, and holding authorities accountable.

And for those who want proof of the announcement, here it is below.