According to urgencesquebec.com historical data for May 20, 2026, the emergency room situation across Quebec remains under significant pressure with a province-wide stretcher occupancy rate of 97%. A total of 3,849 patients are currently in emergency departments, with 1,057 still waiting to be seen. These figures show a stabilization in demand compared to 24 hours ago, as there was no net change in the number of patients waiting or the overall stretcher occupancy percentage.
Regional disparities are evident, with major urban centers and the Laurentides experiencing severe overcrowding. The Laurentides region has reached 142% capacity, while specific facilities like Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé in Laval are operating at a staggering 188%. The Hôpital général juif in Montreal remains among the most congested sites, reporting 36 patients waiting and a critical 240% stretcher occupancy rate. In contrast, outlying regions such as Nord-du-Québec maintain a much lower occupancy of 25%.