As per usual, the Government of Quebec held a conference at 1 p.m. to provide the province with an update about the current pandemic. On Tuesday, May 12, Premier François Legault announced that Quebec now has 39,225 COVID-19 cases in total. The previous day, there were 38,469 confirmed infections. In the past 24 hours, there have been 118 new deaths related to the virus. This brings the province's total to 3,131 deaths since the beginning of the crisis. Legault said that his thoughts are with the families of these victims. In a Facebook post published just before the press conference began, Legault wrote "the virus will not leave Quebec for quite some time. We will have to get used to it and learn to live with it, like everywhere else in the world." He mentioned a similar idea during his briefing. So, the idea of needing to adapt to a "new normal" seems to be necessary now, which the Premier says should involve us wearing protective face masks whenever we're in public. He even wore one at today's press conference. "If we take all the precautions, starting by keeping our distance, we will be able to return to a more normal life." Legault shared a live video of the government's public briefing on May 12, which you can watch below. During his first words in the conference, the Premier said we're going to "have to learn to live with the virus" and that we should not expect a vaccine in the next few months. It is for this reason that Legault is now asking all of us to get in the habit of wearing protective masks in public. Mayor Valérie Plante has asked the same of all Montrealers. View this post on Instagram Nous traversons une période sans précédent qui nous amène à changer nos habitudes de vie au quotidien. J’ai maintenant un couvre-visage avec moi en tout temps pour mes déplacements dans des lieux publics où le respect de la distance de 2 mètres est difficile! . . . La recommandation du port du couvre-visage, c’est un geste de solidarité. En le portant, on se protège soi-même, on protège les autres, on fait attention à nous toutes et tous. Bien que cette mesure n’est pas la solution unique, une fois adoptée, elle devient complémentaire aux autres mesures afin que nous puissions éventuellement commencer à reprendre nos activités. Je compte sur nous, je compte sur vous. . . . Pour plus de détails sur comment les porter ou pour vous en confectionner un, cliquez sur le lien en bio! . . . We are going through an unprecedented period which leads us to change our daily habits. I now have a face covering with me at all times for my trips to public places where respecting the distance of 2 meters is difficult! . . . The recommendation to wear a face covering is a gesture of solidarity. By wearing it, we are protecting ourself and others, we are thinking of those around us. Although this measure is not the only solution, once adopted, it becomes complementary to the other measures we are taking so that we can eventually start to resume our daily activities once again. I am counting on us and on all of you. . . . For more details on how to wear them or on how to create one, click on the link in bio. . . . #cavabienaller #cavabienaller🌈 #covid19 #coronavirus #couvrevisage #mask #restonscheznous #stayathome #merci #healthcareheroes #montréal #mtlmoments #mtl A post shared by Valérie Plante (@val_plante) on May 8, 2020 at 2:54pm PDT Legault said that "if everyone does it, we’d find ourselves in an ideal situation." François Legault reminded everyone that wearing such a mask is a way of protecting others, not just yourself. #COVID19 - Au Québec, en date du 12 mai 2020 à 13 h 15, la situation est la suivante:39 225 cas confirmés256 518 cas infirmés1 841 personnes hospitalisées3 131 décèsPour en savoir plus sur la situation au Québec : https://t.co/fiqW5E4y8R— Santé Québec (@sante_qc) May 12, 2020 Currently, there remain 1,841 people hospitalized in Quebec due to the virus. Of these individuals, 186 are in intensive care. 256,518 people have tested negative for COVID-19 in the province since the pandemic began.