1) On Thursday, as Quebec Premier François Legault cancelled larger Christmas gatherings amid a surge in #COVID19 hospitalizations, the province’s chief public health officer warned the #coronavirus is everywhere. In this thread, I will focus on one unlikely sector: construction.

2) Quebec’s public health institute (the INSPQ) released a little-discussed report last week on the number of #COVID19 outbreaks across the province. That report shows a big one-week increase in clusters in the construction sector. Please see the chart below.

3) There were six #COVID19 outbreaks in residential construction in the third week of November, the latest period under study. In total, there were 26 outbreaks in this sector, plus another 20 in stores that partly service construction. The spikes were the biggest of any sector.

4) This is not to suggest the construction industry is the hardest-hit of any workplace setting, but to illustrate the point Dr. Horacio Arruda made: that the #coronavirus is now circulating everywhere in the province. Certainly, though, this industry must take more precautions.

5) Whether it’s in stores, the construction sector or in schools, the #coronavirus will ultimately lead to #COVID19 hospitalizations, which have soared from 526 on Nov. 3 to 737 on Dec. 3. Stays in the intensive-care unit remained at 99 on Thursday.

6) Sustained and widespread community transmission of the #coronavirus will also result indirectly in more cases in eldercare homes. The province is now battling no fewer than 27 #COVID19 outbreaks in long-term care centers and seniors’ residences, up by one since Wednesday.

7) The #coronavirus continues to cause outbreaks in schools, especially those without portable air purifiers. The Education Ministry added 56 more #COVID19 cases to an active total of 3,521. Another school had to close because of an outbreak, raising the total to six. See below.

8) Meanwhile, Montreal reported another record high in its incidence rate of #COVID19, with a rolling seven-day average of 182.87 cases per million population. A month ago, that rate stood at 111.44. Please take a look at the orange line in the chart below.

9) The #coronavirus is not only everywhere, it can move swiftly from one neighborhood to the next. On Wednesday, the east and north ends of Montreal dominated in the number of new #COVID19 cases, but on Thursday, it was the centre of the city and the West Island. See below.

10) Faced with a sharply rising #COVID19 death toll (now at 7,155), the Premier took the sensible decision to cancel 10-person holiday gatherings. But given the ubiquity of the #coronavirus, Quebecers must stay more vigilant than ever. End of thread.

Addendum: In tweet 6, I meant to write 27 outbreaks deemed critical. My apologies.