COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Monday
CBC News | Posted: December 7, 2020 11:25 AM | Last Updated: December 7, 2020
Quebec is prioritizing residents of long-term care homes and health-care workers for first vaccines
- Quebec reported 1,577 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 more deaths on Monday.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 153,176 confirmed cases and 7,277 people have died. Here's a guide to the numbers.
- There are 818 people in hospital (an increase of 40), including 105 in intensive care (an increase of three).
- 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.
Two thousand people in two long-term care homes will be the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Quebec, starting next Monday.
Health Minister Christian Dubé said the first four boxes of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive next week and that the province is ready to start vaccinating people as soon as they arrive.
There are roughly 1,000 doses per box. For the Pfizer vaccine to be effective, a person must receive two doses of the vaccines.
The first 4,000 doses will serve to vaccinate roughly 2,000 people in a long-term care home in Quebec City and another in Montreal, though Dubé did not specify which ones.
The next batch of vaccines will arrive in the province between Dec. 21 and Jan. 4 and will consist of 57 boxes, which Dubé said would allow for the vaccination of between 22,000 and 28,000 people.
At least one vaccination site will be set up in every region of the province, with four in Montreal and two in the Montérégie region. Because the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at –70C, Quebec has bought a special freezer for each region and most of the vaccination sites will be in or near long-term care homes.
Dubé said the government would be announcing more details about the who gets the vaccine when in the coming weeks, but that at least another 650,000 Quebecers will likely be vaccinated within the first three months of 2021.
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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).
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.