The decline in COVID-19 cases continues slowly in Quebec, but hospitalizations continue to rise in the province.
Posted at 11:21 a.m.
Updated at 11:44 a.m.
The 1,767 new cases reported on Tuesday bring the daily average to 1,761. The trend is thus down 9% over one week. These data seem to confirm that the province has recently passed the peak of the seventh wave. However, these figures probably only reflect a part of total infections, due to limited access to PCR screening tests. Moreover, the proportion of PCR screening tests proving positive for COVID-19 remains very high, at 13.8%.
In addition to the cases detected by PCR tests, 1,003 people have also reported in recent days having obtained a positive result from a rapid test. Self-reported cases, which are not included in daily reported cases, are down 11% over the past week.
However, Quebec reported on Tuesday an increase of 62 hospitalizations over the weekend. The 2,148 people currently hospitalized represent an increase of 10% over one week. In intensive care, the 61 patients represent an increase of 11% over one week.
The number of people in hospital is likely to continue to rise in the coming days, with the number of admissions still outpacing discharges. On average, there are 27 more patients every day.
The number of workers absent due to the pandemic has increased. They were 6580 Tuesday to have to isolate themselves.
The 15 new deaths reported on Tuesday bring the daily average calculated over seven days to 13. The trend is down 12% over one week.
The vaccination campaign remains on a plateau of 11,000 doses per day on average. These are mainly people aged 55 and over coming to pick up their fourth dose.
To date, 83.6% of Quebecers have received two doses, but only 52.9% have had three and 16.5% have received four.
