If the number of deaths continues to increase in Quebec, even approaching the 100 mark on Thursday, the province may well have reached the peak of hospitalizations. These are decreasing for the first time since mid-December, while vaccination maintains a good pace.
Posted at 11:02
Updated at 11:14 a.m.
The 98 new deaths reported on Thursday bring the daily average to 73 in this regard. The trend is thus up 84% over a period of one week.
In the health network, however, there was a drop of 14 hospitalizations on Thursday, which translates into 352 new entries and 366 additional exits. The day before, a small increase of eight hospitalizations had been observed, causing several experts to say that the peak was imminent.
A total of 3,411 patients currently remain hospitalized in connection with the virus, marking the first drop in hospitalizations since December 15. Of this number, 285 people are still in intensive care, which represents a stable figure compared to the previous day (43 entries, 43 exits).
On the vaccination side, the authorities administered just over 104,200 doses on Wednesday, to which are added 6,146 vaccines given before January 19 which had not yet been officially counted. Including people vaccinated outside the province, so far 17 million doses have been given to Quebecers.
Quebec also reported 6,528 new cases on Thursday, bringing the daily average for one week to 6,175, a trend that is currently down 46%. It should, however, be remembered that this data has been much less representative for a few days already, access to screening tests now being limited to certain categories of the population.
It all comes as Prime Minister François Legault is due to hold a press conference Thursday at 2 p.m. to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in Quebec. For the occasion, he will be accompanied by the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, as well as the interim national director of public health, Dr.r Luc Boileau.
In Ontario, the government of Doug Ford must for its part announce that it will reopen restaurants, bars and gyms on January 31, but at 50% of their capacity.
With Pierre-André Normandin