MONTREAL — Quebec's public health director says the province has reached a turning point in its management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore authorities will no longer be releasing daily data related to coronavirus infections.

"Over the course of the past few weeks, the different indicators ... that we’ve been following closely regarding the number of cases, number of hospitalizations and deaths, are all down," Dr. Horacio Arruda told reporters Thursday. "We are really in a total decline all over Quebec, even in the greater Montreal area."

Arruda's explanation for the new policy on publishing data came as he announced that virtually all businesses, services and activities can reopen across the province, including bars, spas and casinos.

He said he made the decision to switch to weekly updates despite his worry that Quebecers are taking the virus less seriously.

"It's not a question of transparency," Arruda said in Montreal. He said the overall decline in cases means daily numbers don't provide an accurate reflection of the situation in the province.

"Be assured that the moment when we think there is a change in the epidemiology, and people need to be informed, and it becomes pertinent — we will do it."

The province reported Thursday 142 new cases of COVID-19 — almost triple the number from Wednesday — as well as seven additional deaths attributed to the virus. Arruda said Thursday's jump is "relatively small" and he noted that hospitalizations continue to decline.

The decision to end the daily updates — announced quietly Wednesday on a provincial holiday — came after Premier Francois Legault named a new health minister, Christian Dube, on Monday.

Dube replaced Danielle McCann, who had led the department through the COVID-19 crisis. The disease has devastated the province's long-term care homes, where roughly 64 per cent of Quebec's 5,448 deaths attributed to the virus occurred.

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal health authorities were cautious in their assessment of Quebec's decision to end daily updates.

Trudeau told reporters "every province makes its own decisions about how transparent it needs to be," but he noted that Quebec still has "a significant number of cases every day, significant number of deaths, unfortunately, every single day."

He added: "I certainly hope that Premier Legault will continue to be transparent with Quebecers and indeed with all Canadians as he has been from the very beginning."

Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada's deputy chief public health officer, told reporters Thursday that provinces should be regularly warning people to continue to follow health directives, such as regular hand-washing and physical distancing.

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu echoed Njoo's statement, adding that what's most important is for provincial health authorities to rapidly share COVID-19 data with Ottawa.

"It's important for Canadians not to think this is over in any sense of the word," she said. "Although we are out of the surge that we saw in March, we are putting out localized fires .... We still have an important role to play no matter where we live to make sure those fires don't reignite."

Quebec now has a total of 55,079 cases, including 23,786 that are considered recovered. 

Arruda said Quebec has fully controlled its COVID-19 outbreak, even within long-term care homes. And he said his office is now taking a "different approach" in announcing what parts of the economy can reopen.

"Starting today, rather than saying what we are reopening, we are saying what is staying closed," he said. With a few exceptions, every business, activity or service that had not reopened is now allowed to resume operations, Arruda said.

The only exceptions are festivals and large gatherings, sleepover summer camps and combat sports. Those are still too risky because they encourage close contact, he said.

Bars and clubs, he added, can reopen but only for a seated clientele — and no dancing will be allowed.

And despite his good news for the many business owners who can now reopen, Arruda said he is still worried that Quebecers are dropping their guard and taking the virus less seriously.

People still need to keep a two-metre distance from one another, wash their hands frequently and wear a mask in public, Arruda said. If they don't, he warned, "we're going to pay dearly. Either in the fall or maybe even before."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2020.

Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press