Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders across the country are taking a rare day off from updating the nation on the COVID-19 crisis as Canadians celebrate Easter today. Yet even as people gather with their families both physically and virtually for the holiday, the pandemic continues to cause pain and grief for many Canadians whose health and livelihoods have been devastated by the illness. The federal government is expected to release later today updated figures on the number of Canadians who have tested positive for COVID-19 as well as the number that have died from the respiratory

Quebec has registered 39 new deaths due to COVID-19, for a total of 328. The province reports 554 new cases, for a total of 12,846. There are a total of 824 in hospital in Quebec, including 217 in intensive care, while 1,745 people are listed as recovered. The Quebec government has not scheduled a briefing today, after weeks of daily updates on the progression of COVID-19.

The Quebec coroner's office will investigate the deaths of 31 seniors at a private long-term care facility west of Montreal. The office says in a statement that it will probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths and issue recommendations if needed. Premier Francois Legault said yesterday that at least five of the deaths at the Residence Herron in Dorval, Que., were due to COVID-19. A police investigation was launched after regional health authorities obtained an order to access patient files at the residence and learned of the dozens of deaths that had occurred since March 13.

Ontario is reporting 401 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the province's total to 7,049. The province now has 274 deaths after 21 were reported today. Ontario says 261 people are in intensive care, while 3,121 cases have been marked as resolved.

The House of Commons has approved a massive $73-billion wage subsidy program aimed at helping businesses and workers survive the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was passed ``on division,'' meaning there was some opposition among the handful of MPs in the chamber but there was no recorded vote. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling it the most significant economic program since the Second World War. The bill is expected to be passed by the Senate and receive royal assent later today.

There are 23,318 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 12,292 confirmed (including 289 deaths, 1,563 resolved) Ontario: 6,648 confirmed (including 253 deaths, 2,858 resolved) Alberta: 1,569 confirmed (including 40 deaths, 774 resolved) British Columbia: 1,445 confirmed (including 58 deaths, 905 resolved) Nova Scotia: 428 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 95 resolved) Saskatchewan: 289 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 147 resolved) Manitoba: 226 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 96 resolved), 17 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 241 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 120 resolved) New Br

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says 31 people have died at a west-end Montreal long-term care home that is now under trusteeship. Legault said at least five patients at the Residence Herron in Dorval, Que., died after testing positive for COVID-19. The premier says Quebec's Health Department has ordered an investigation and the province's Public Security Department has also asked for a police investigation. Legault says the owner of the long-term care residence owns other such homes and they will all be inspected.

British Columbia is reporting 35 new cases of COVID-19 as well as three new deaths. The province now has 1,445 total positive tests and 58 deaths. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry says 134 people are hospitalized, with 63 in critical care. Henry says the province is working closely with federal counterparts to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak at a federal prison in Mission, B.C. She also urged residents to stay home for the long weekend and avoid ``unnecessary travel.''

The Rogers Cup women's tennis tournament will not be played this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennis Canada announced the event, scheduled for Aug. 7 to 16 in Montreal, is off the schedule. Quebec's government announced Friday no sporting events could be held through Aug. 31, though it left the door slightly open for pro teams. Tennis Canada says the women's event will return to Montreal in August 2021.