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

• Quebec reported 637new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths Friday.Four deaths occurring between Sept. 18and Sept. 23 wereadded to the total. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been70,307confirmedcases and5,814peoplehave died.
• There are 199 peoplein hospital (an increase of 15), including 33in intensive care(an increase of two).
• Having trouble keeping track of what has reopened?Consult our list.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dub is asking the public to avoid social gatherings for 28 days.

Dub said public health experts believe that, if the spread of the virus can be contained for two consecutive two-week stretches, the second wave of the virus will be better contained.

The provincereported637 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the highest daily number sinceMay 21. The province also conducted more than 36,000 tests, the most ever in a day.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• How right-wing extremists, libertarians and evangelicals built Quebec's movement against COVID-19 restrictions.
• Montreal public health is preparing for a shift to the red alert level. The borough with the highest rate of infection is now Outremont.
• Quebec's long-term care homes are about to be put to another test, and the cracks are already showing.
• The family of a 17-year-old murdered in 2006 demands the right to be present at the parole hearing for the girl's killer. They have been told to attend by phone due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• Schools scramble to make up for learning losses that have already occurred in the pandemic.
• New Brunswick's travel bubble with Quebec shrinks again.