COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Wednesday
Unvaccinated health care workers will be suspended without pay as of Oct. 15
- Quebec reported 600 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and three new deaths.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 394,452 confirmed cases and 11,296 people have died.
- There are 178 people in hospital (an increase of seven), including 71 in intensive care (an increase of three).
- 19,989 vaccine doses administered were reported on Tuesday for a total of 12,517,931 doses administered in Quebec.
- 87 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) has received one dose of vaccine, and 80 per cent have received two doses.
With the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations steadily increasing, the Quebec government has announced health-care workers who aren't adequately vaccinated by Oct. 15 will be suspended without pay.
It had been weeks since Premier François Legault and Health Minister Christian Dubé made it clear they intended to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for health-care staff, but they had yet to specify a deadline or a consequence for those who did not comply.
Dubé also announced Quebec's vaccine passport is being extended to hospital visitors.
In the last month, the number of people in hospital due to the virus has tripled — going from 55 to 171.
The passport came into effect one week ago, on Sept. 1. It is required for most non-essential services, including restaurants, bars, movie theatres and gyms.
WATCH | Quebec takes a hard line against unvaccinated health workers
Inquiry into deaths at CHSLD Herron begins
A public hearing into the dozens of deaths that occurred at CHSLD Herron began on Tuesday.
It's part of a broader inquiry into deaths in Quebec's long-term care homes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This next part of that inquiry had been postponed due to the possibility of criminal charges being laid against Herron's former owners.
Getting used to vaccination passport
It's been a week since Quebecers began scanning their VaxiCode app in order to gain entry into a long list of businesses and non-essential activities.
Although the passports are now required, strict enforcement of the new rules won't begin until Sept. 15.
If you need help understanding how the passport applies and where it will be used, go here.
WATCH | We tested out Quebec's vaccine passport on its first day:
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- McGill professors, students protest for stricter COVID-19 measures on first day of class.
- Quebec hospital staff wearing down as the unvaccinated crowd ICUs.
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.