The National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) predicts “significant growth” in new hospitalizations in the next three weeks, in a new publication released on Thursday.
According to data collected until December 27, in the first scenario, the level 3 of load shedding established by the Ministry of Health and Social Services will be exceeded, with regular bed occupancy for COVID patients at around 1,600 beds. In intensive care, we are approaching level 3 with nearly 300 beds. The maximum load shedding level is 4.
In the second, more pessimistic scenario, these figures would rise to around 2,100 regular beds and 375 intensive care beds. INESSS specifies that it would therefore be “beyond level 3 and exceeding the thresholds observed during previous waves”.
We note, however, that the growth in the number of hospitalizations “could be slowed down by the intensification of vaccination efforts and by the impact of health measures recently implemented or to come”.
People over 70 represent 49% of hospitalizations and 64% of hospitalizations are concentrated in Montreal. The increase in COVID-19 cases is also very marked among 18-39 year olds, at + 298%.
Watch video