COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Tuesday
CBC News | Posted: March 29, 2022 10:08 AM | Last Updated: March 29, 2022
Quebec seniors, immunocompromised people now eligible for 4th dose
- On Tuesday, Quebec reported 1,153 people in hospital (an increase of 38 from the previous day), including 63 in intensive care (an increase of 10 from the previous day).
- The province reported 2,171 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 deaths.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 961,383 confirmed cases, and 14,345 people have died.
- The province also reported a total of 18,622,299 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered, including 4,287 doses in the last 24 hours.
- 91 per cent of the eligible population in the province (aged five and up) have received one dose of the vaccine; 87 per cent have received two doses, and 53 per cent have received three doses.
*The new cases are those reported to the Quebec government only. They are believed to be an underrepresentation of the virus's spread, given the limited availability of PCR tests and use of home testing kits.
*Quebec's Health Ministry announced it will no longer report its COVID-19 numbers on the weekend.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé unveiled his vision for reforming the province's health-care system by 2025, with a focus on accelerating access to front-line services through a one-stop phone service, reducing emergency room wait times and improving working conditions for nurses.
The plan includes abolishing forced overtime for nurses and stepping up alternatives for front-line care, including giving nurse practitioners, paramedics and pharmacists more power to treat patients.
Under the plan, Quebecers will call a phone number which would act as a one-stop service, where a nurse would direct patients to the appropriate medical service, whether that's seeing a doctor or lining them up with some other method of care.
Dubé said he hopes that "the majority" of people without a family doctor, some 945,000 Quebecers, will be able to use the one-stop service by the end of the summer.
Among the 50 proposed measures are speeding up the processing of paperwork by hiring 3,000 new clerks, changing how emergency rooms are run, investing in more home-care services for seniors and modernizing access to medical data.
4th dose for seniors, immunocompromised people
Starting today, Quebecers most vulnerable to serious complications from COVID-19 — seniors over 80, immunocompromised people and residents of seniors' homes — can start receiving a fourth vaccine dose.
Last week, Quebec's immunization committee (CIQ) suggested the government start preparing a mass COVID-19 vaccine fourth-dose campaign for the general population that would be launched in the fall.
In a written opinion released Thursday, the CIQ recommended the government implement "a new vaccine strategy aimed at periodically boosting immunity against COVID-19 while also allowing for the ability to react to a possible emergence of a new variant of concern."
Currently, only 53 per cent of the population aged five and older have received a third dose of vaccine, according to provincial health data.
6th wave is imminent, says public health director
The province's public health director is urging Quebecers to exercise more caution in the face of a potential sixth wave of COVID-19.
On Sunday, Dr. Luc Boileau came short of confirming another pandemic wave of infections but said the spike in cases in recent weeks driven by the Omicron subvariant BA.2 suggests one is imminent.
He said the BA.2 variant could soon be responsible for at least two-thirds of COVID-19 cases in Quebec.
Despite several regions having seen a surge in cases, including Montreal, Quebec has no plans to reintroduce public health restrictions from previous waves, Boileau said.
The province is still planning to all but eliminate mandatory masking by mid-April.
Top COVID-19 stories
- Quebec plans to eliminate forced overtime for nurses, revamp health system by 2025.
- Quebec lifting some pandemic measures early, to soon lift public masking requirements.
- Quebec public health director defends plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions early.
- Quebec scraps masks in class for elementary, high school students after March break.
- Is it the right time to lift Quebec's vaccination passport? Experts are divided..
- Quebecers aged 12-17 are now eligible for a 3rd dose.
- Data, tests and transparency: What Quebec needs to live with COVID-19.
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.