Quebec Premier asking the federal government for 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces members to provide help

Premier Francois Legault is asking the federal government for 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces members to help in the province's struggling long-term care homes.

Despite extensive recruitment efforts, Legault says he was only able to fill half the 2,000 positions needed to overcome a staffing shortfall rendered critical by COVID-19.

The Canadian Armed Forces have already committed about 130 medically-trained staff and personnel members to help in care homes, but Legault said the additional people he's requesting won't necessarily have medical qualifications but can help with general tasks.

The province reported 93 new deaths and 839 new cases today, for a total of 1,134, and 839 more cases, for a total of 20,965.