COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Thursday
Vaccination clinic set up at Quebec City CEGEP to remain there for days to come
- Quebec reported 436 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and no new deaths in the past 24 hours.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 383,191 confirmed cases and 11,277 people have died. One death has been found to not be attributable to COVID-19.
- There are 91 people in hospital (an increase of three), including 27 in intensive care (a decrease of one).
- 42,012 doses of vaccine were administered for a total of 11,943,853 doses administered in Quebec.
- 85 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) has received one dose of vaccine, and 74 per cent have received two doses.
COVID-19 data is no longer updated by Quebec's Health Ministry on weekends or on public holidays.
Quebec's latest projections show hospitalizations could increase rapidly over the next few weeks in Montreal, after weeks of rising COVID-19 cases. The projections suggest that the greatest pressure would be felt in intensive care units.
The projections by the Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux also note that while those under 40 make up about 75 per cent of new cases, an increase in cases for those ages 60-65 is also being seen.
The institute looks at a number of factors when making these projections, including the spread of the delta variant and how many Quebecers are adequately vaccinated.
Masks in schools
Given the increased presence of the delta variant, experts are raising concern about the province's decision to send students back to primary and high school without masks required in class.
"Masks did work at preventing transmission in previous waves," said Dr. Olivier Drouin, a pediatrician at Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital and a public health researcher.
"I think we should err on the side of caution: have kids start the year with masks[in class], and then remove them if we see we are going in the right direction."
Vaccination blitz
With the start of the school year coming soon, health officials in the Quebec City region are trying to vaccinate as many students as possible.
For the second straight day on Wednesday, a vaccination clinic was set up at Cégep de Sainte-Foy.
"We'll be here for about ten days to allow each student that haven't received their first or second dose before the start of the school year to take those steps," said Patricia McKinnon, who oversees the vaccination campaign in and around Quebec City.
About 70 per cent of CEGEP students in the region have received two vaccine doses. Local health officials would like to see that number bumped up to 75 per cent by Sept 1.
Earlier this week, the Quebec government announced that students in CEGEPs and universities will be required to wear masks not only in common areas, but when seated in class, too.
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- Quebec mandates vaccinations for all health-care workers and masks in post-secondary schools.
- With September looming, parents across Canada call for pandemic-era safety measures and supports.
- Why it's now more likely you'll face coronavirus — even if you're vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Will Quebec's vaccine passport plan help the province stave off another lockdown?
- Public health officials in Laval and Montreal worry about the emerging 4th wave.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
- Fever.
- New or worsening cough.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose.
- Gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting).
- Sore throat, runny or stuffy nose.
- Generalized muscle pain.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
If you think you may have COVID-19, the government asks that you call 1‑877‑644‑4545 to schedule an appointment at a screening clinic.
To reserve an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, you can go on the online portal quebec.ca/covidvaccine. You can also call 1-877-644-4545.
You can find information on COVID-19 in the province here and information on the situation in Montreal here.