1) In perhaps an ominous twist of fate, some regions outside Montreal — once the epicenter of the #pandemic in Canada — are beginning to report nearly as many cases or even more than those in the city. In this thread, I will try to explain what this could mean for everyone.

2) For the longest time, Montreal posted far more cases daily than any other region. That makes sense because the city is so densely populated, with many apartments and stores where the #coronavirus can spread easily. As of Saturday, though, that is sadly no longer the case.

3) On Saturday, Montreal posted 23 #COVID cases, as the orange line in the chart below shows. By comparison, the Montérégie, south of Montreal, reported 33 new cases. Now we know why Dr. @ArrudaHoracio held a news conference Friday in the Montérégie to express his concerns.

4) At that same news conference, Dr. Julie Losier, the Montérégie's director of public health, noted investigators are discovering more contacts among younger people who're infected with the #coronavirus. There’s also been a surge in the rate of sexually transmitted diseases.

5) Meanwhile, in the Laurentians north of Montreal, authorities are observing an uptick in cases. The region reported 20 cases Friday and 18 Saturday. On Friday, Saint-Jérôme hospital suspended visits after a #COVID outbreak. There's likely community spread in that region, too.

6) The increases in cases outside Montreal are not huge, but they are worrisome and must be monitored. The community spread in those regions is likely the result of some younger locals not respecting #PhysicalDistancing and not wearing masks, but there might be other reasons.

7) It’s possible that asymptomatic Montrealers who're carrying the #coronavirus might be transmitting it inadvertently outside Montreal. Although this is just a theory that needs to be confirmed, people should nonetheless wear face coverings in indoor public spaces across Quebec.

8) Although the #pandemic has been brought under control in long-term care centres (CHSLDs), the CHSLD Saint-Jude in Laval reported three cases on Saturday. In this institution, 72 residents have died and 10 are currently infected, underscoring the stubborn nature of this virus.

9) On a positive note, Montreal did not report any #COVID deaths Saturday. This will likely be adjusted in the coming days. By comparison, the regions outside of Montreal declared six fatalities, two of which had occurred before June 20. Again, this is not just a Montreal crisis.

10) It’s truly surreal: As the weather heats up, it’s understandable people want to go out and travel. But as the rising numbers in the Montérégie and Laurentians show, #the pandemic is far from over in Quebec. End of thread. Please wear masks and maintain #PhysicalDistancing.