COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend
CBC News | Posted: August 15, 2020 12:22 PM | Last Updated: August 16, 2020
Health officials warn of potential 'fall peak' in COVID-19 cases
- Quebec reported 67 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday and no new deaths in the past 24 hours, although the government reported another death for which it said the date is unknown. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 61,151 confirmed cases and 5,720 people have died.
- There are 149 people in hospital (a decrease of two since Friday), including 25 in intensive care (no change). Here's a guide to the numbers.
- CBC Montreal is collecting stories from Quebecers who have recovered from COVID-19. If you would like to share your experience, please get in touch.
- Having trouble keeping track of what has reopened? Consult our list.
Canada's top doctors say they're striving for a best-case scenario but preparing for the worst: a so-called "fall peak" of COVID-19 cases across the country that threatens to overwhelm the public health-care system.
Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam and deputy public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo presented new modelling on the coronavirus on Friday, flagging a potential surge in cases several times worse than what we've seen so far in Canada.
Tam declined to put a figure on what the caseload might look like, but said health authorities should plan for "something that's at least several times worse than your previous experience." There is much that's still not known about COVID-19, including whether it accelerates with seasonality.
She said what actions Canadians take now will determine how transmissions unfold in the fall.
Top COVID-19 stories today
- Program to grant residency to asylum seekers who work in health care excludes hundreds, advocates say
- Outbreak at Quebec City Costco prompts surge in demand for testing
- Quebec promised extra pay for some health-care workers, but many still haven't received it.
- Parents are anxious about poor ventilation and COVID-19 as they prepare their children for the fall term.
- Documents reviewed by CBC News show Ottawa was slow to respond to personal protective equipment shortages flagged in February.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
- Fever.
- New or worsening cough.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose.
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.
Quebec government reminders for preventing the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Wear a mask or face covering when physical distancing is not possible. Wearing a mask is mandatory in enclosed public spaces across the province.
- Stay at least two metres away from other people as much as possible.
- Self-isolate for 14 days after returning from a stay outside the country.