The downward trend in COVID-19 continues Monday in Quebec, with the province dropping back below 2,000 hospitalizations and reporting 713 infections, as well as three deaths.
Posted at 11:49 a.m.
These 713 new cases bring the seven-day moving average to 1014. The total number of people infected since the start of the pandemic has now reached 1,163,872 Quebecers. However, these data only reflect a portion of total infections due to limited access to PCR screening tests.
The proportion of PCR screening tests proving positive for the coronavirus is currently 8.7%. Three more deaths associated with the virus are also reported, for a total of 16,129.
In the health network, the authorities recorded on Monday a drop of seven hospitalizations linked to COVID-19. To date, 1,993 patients remain hospitalized, of which 55 are still in intensive care, a decrease of two cases in the last 24 hours. A total of 701 of 1,993 patients were admitted with COVID-19 (35%), with the remainder admitted for other reasons before testing positive for the disease.
A sign that the pressure continues to drop in the health network, the number of workers absent due to reasons related to COVID-19 is falling sharply. On Monday, only 3,457 had to self-isolate, a sharp drop of 877 from last Friday.
On the vaccination side, 3199 additional doses have been administered in the last 24 hours, mostly fourth doses. According to the VaccinTracker Quebec site, 87.2% of the Quebec population now has one dose, 83.73% has two, 53.13% has three and 17.88% has four.
Quebec is also launching a new booster dose vaccination campaign against COVID-19 on Monday. This will primarily be aimed at people living in CHSLDs and in private seniors’ residences (RPA). The recommended interval between the basic vaccination and the first booster dose remains three months or more, but the suggested interval between each booster dose is five months or more.
Premier François Legault received a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine last Friday in Montreal, encouraging Quebecers to follow his example, especially young people who are less at risk of being seriously ill. A state of the situation must be made soon on the vaccination campaign, in particular on the low rate of vaccination noted so far in children.
Earlier on Saturday, 8,366 screening tests were carried out, a relatively stable figure compared to the weekly average.
In all, 276,121 rapid tests have been self-reported so far on the government platform, of which 231,054 have tested positive. For Sunday alone, 243 tests were reported, including 213 positive.