COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Tuesday
Employers asked to prioritize work from home as cases rise
- Quebec reported 1,747 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and three new deaths.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 469,356 confirmed cases and 11,618 people have died.
- There are 293 people in hospital (an increase of 25), including 75 in intensive care (an increase of two).
- The province has administered 14,032,710 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 34,001 in the last 24 hours.
- 88 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age five and up) has received one dose of vaccine, and 81 per cent has received two doses.
Quebec's Health Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends and public holidays.
The Quebec government is asking employers in the province to once again prioritize work from home, as cases and hospitalizations are on the rise and Quebec faces the threat of the omicron variant.
Health Minister Christian Dubé spoke in a provincial COVID-19 update at 1 p.m. along with Quebec's public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, and Daniel Paré, who has been overseeing vaccination operations in the province.
Dubé also said the province would be rolling out rapid tests in pharmacies as of Monday, giving people access to five free tests every 30 days.
Montreal's public health department says 14 cases of the omicron COVID-19 variant have now been detected in the city — and only five of them are associated with travel outside the country.
They say that means the others acquired it in Canada, which suggests limited local transmission.
The news of the variant's spread comes as Quebec reported more than 2,000 new COVID-19 infections last Friday for the first time in nearly 11 months.
As of Monday, Quebec's seven-day rolling average is 1,683 new cases.
One year since vaccinations began
Today marks a year since the first COVID-19 vaccine was given in Quebec, launching the start of the vaccination campaign in Canada.
Gisèle Lévesque, a resident of the CHSLD Saint-Antoine long-term care facility in Quebec City, became the first Canadian receive a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 14, 2020.
Since then, Quebec has administered over 14 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Patricia McKinnon, the head of Quebec City's vaccination campaign, remembers running through the halls of long-term care home as the first doses arrived.
"We were asking ourselves how we could administer 3,000 doses in seven days," said McKinnon. "Now, we give 3,000 doses a shift!"
Nurse Nadia Charef, the nurse who administered the dose to Levesque, said it was a privilege to have given the country's first vaccine.
"For sure, it's an event that marked me and I'm proud to have done it," she said.
Outbreaks in jails across Quebec
At least three provincial jails across the province are currently reporting outbreaks of COVID-19.
The Bordeaux Prison in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, also known as the Établissement de détention Montréal, reported 86 cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, out of about 1,100 inmates. One member of staff is also infected.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Monday reported two additional outbreaks of COVID-19 in provincial jails.
It said among inmates at the Rivère-des-Prairies detention centre in Montreal, there are 13 active cases of COVID-19, and another 13 among staff members.
While at the jail in Sorel-Tracy, Que., northeast of Montreal, there are 16 active cases among inmates.
Since the pandemic began, 808 inmates and 436 staff members have contracted COVID-19 in Quebec's prisons. Two inmates have died.
Omicron tests in LaSalle
Montreal public health is asking people who may have visited a LaSalle community centre or a gym in Kirkland at certain times to get tested for the omicron variant of COVID-19.
The two places in question are Buzzfit Kirkland, located at 3240 Jean-Yves Street and the Centre culturel et communautaire Henri-Lemieux located at 7644 Édouard Street in LaSalle.
You can find out more about the specific dates and times as well as the testing sites here.
Top COVID-19 stories
- Quebec-made vaccine shows 'high efficacy' against COVID-19
- Ottawa nixing molecular COVID test requirement for Canadians taking short trips abroad: sources
- Quebec backs down again on mandatory vaccination in health network
- Vaccines won't be mandatory for teachers, school staff as Quebec COVID-19 situation improves
- Doctor convinced vaccine hesitant patient attendant to get her shot with patience and respect
- Take a look inside: How a Montreal hospital deals with ongoing staffing shortages
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
- 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.
With files from The Canadian Press and Radio-Canada