COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Tuesday
CBC News | Posted: May 3, 2021 10:31 AM | Last Updated: May 4, 2021
High schools to reopen in Quebec City, drive-thru vaccinations coming to Trudeau airport
- Quebec reported 797 new cases on Tuesday and 16 deaths. One death previously attributed to COVID-19 is no longer.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 353,475 confirmed cases and 10,959 people have died.
- There are 594 people in hospital (an increase of six), including 155 in intensive care (an increase of four).
- 52,141 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours for a total of 3,308,542 since Dec. 14.
Premier François Legault is lifting restrictions in Quebec City and other parts of the province, given a decline in cases and a projected decline in hospitalizations.
But Legault is also maintaining closures in pockets elsewhere, where the virus is still spreading.
Here are the list of changes starting Monday, May 10:
- In Quebec City, Lévis–Bellechasse and Montmagny–L'islet high school students will resume in person classes, non-essential businesses can reopen and the curfew will be pushed back to 9:30 p.m.
- In Outaouais, Legault said the situation is still "very fragile." Elementary schools will be allowed to reopen but other restrictions will remain in place.
- Two sub-regions in Outaouais, however, will have restrictions eased: La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and Papineau MRCs. High schools and non-essential businesses will reopen, and the curfew will move to 9:30 p.m.
- In Beauce-Etchemin, Legault said, there are still lot of active cases. The only change will be primary schools reopening.
- Legault singled out Le Granit, a regional health unit (Réseau local de services) in the Eastern Townships that includes Lac-Mégantic. He said it has the highest per capita case rate in the province. Starting Wednesday at midnight, non-essential businesses and high schools will be forced to close and an 8 p.m. curfew will be in effect.
- The situation in Abitibi-Temiscamingue has improved and restrictions will be lifted on May 10, as the region moves from orange to yellow.
More vaccines on the way
Health Minister Christian Dubé encouraged everyone eligible to book an appointment to do so. He said the province has already succeeded in having 75 per cent of people 55 and over get vaccinated.
As of this afternoon, registration is already open to those 40 and older.
All adults in Quebec will be able to book a vaccine appointment in the coming weeks.
The province is expecting roughly 500,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech per week through the end of the month, and more on the way from Moderna as well. No AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines are scheduled to be delivered.
WATCH | Try registering for vaccine appointments the night before, says Dubé
Drive-thru vaccinations
Quebec will open its first drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site at Montreal's Trudeau airport later this month.
Staff at the site will be expected to administer up to 4,000 doses per day. It will open May 17, and people will be able to get vaccinated everyday of the week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dubé said the clinic's location was chosen because of the high number of people in the area who commute to work in their cars.
Top COVID-19 stories today
- As a postal worker, my job is essential. I worry about spreading COVID-19 every day.
- Hospitals in the Outaouais region are seeing a surge in emergency room visits
- Deaths and hospitalizations are down among older people, as the vaccination campaign ramps up.
- Here's how Montreal has so far avoided a disastrous 3rd wave.
- A day in the ICU at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital.
- An 'insensitive' vaccination notice was a painful reminder of father's COVID-19 death.
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.
Quebec government reminders for preventing the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Wear a mask or face covering 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.