For the first time in almost a week, the number of new cases of COVID-19 is down very slightly in Quebec.
According to data released Saturday by the Ministry of Health, 15,845 new cases have been identified since the previous report. At that time, 17,122 were reported.
Authorities have identified 636,035 cases since the start of the pandemic.
The average for the past seven days is 13,976, an increase of more than 74% since December 26.
As expected last week by the health authorities, hospitalizations continue to climb, and by the same token to approach the capacity limit of hospitals.
1,231 beds reserved for patients with COVID-19 are occupied, 70 more than the day before. Of these, 162 are in intensive care, an increase of 9 patients.
With level 3 of load shedding that there is currently, Quebec has a little less than 1,600 COVID beds. A fourth and final level could potentially be implemented in the future.
The province deplores 13 new deaths, bringing the total deaths to 11,727 since the start of the pandemic.
The rise in the number of active outbreaks, from 1,523 to 1,539, points to a future rise in cases.
Screening and vaccination
Of the 54,065 analyzes carried out in the last 24 hours, 30.9% obtained a positive result, or almost a third. However, this is less than the 31% of the day before.
This number is influenced by the distribution of rapid home tests, which are not counted.
The vaccination campaign, for its part, took a break for the New Year, and only 190 Quebecers received an injection. Of these, 176 were third doses.
Immunization rates have therefore not changed: 89% of people aged 5 and over received their first dose, 82% a second and 17% a booster dose.