Hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 are on the rise again on Wednesday, when Quebec is also reporting 14 new deaths from the virus and 1,262 additional infections.
Posted at 11:42
These 1,256 new cases bring the seven-day moving average to 1,030, a figure that has been following an overall downward trend for a few weeks already, but which is up slightly from the previous day. To date, 1,166,390 Quebecers have therefore been infected with the disease. 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 10.7%. 14 more virus-related deaths were also reported on Wednesday, for a total of 16,179 fatalities.
In the health network, the authorities report Wednesday an increase of 39 hospitalizations linked to the disease, that is to say 176 new entries and 137 exits, passing again beyond the bar of 2000 hospitalizations. To date, 2003 patients remain hospitalized, of which 50 are still in intensive care, a stable figure compared to the previous day (6 entries, 6 exits). Approximately 691 of the 2003 patients currently hospitalized are with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19; the others were admitted for other reasons, before being declared positive for the disease.
The number of workers absent for reasons related to COVID-19 continues to increase. Wednesday, they were 4309 to have to isolate themselves, an increase of 200 of them in just 24 hours.
Focus on vaccination
On the vaccination side, 17,653 doses have been administered in the last 24 hours, mostly fourth doses. According to the VaccinTracker Quebec site, more than 87.2% of the Quebec population now has one dose, about 83.7% has two, 53.15% has three and just over 18% has four.
On the eve of the start of the school year and faced with a potential eighth wave, the Legault government announced on Tuesday a “Massive vaccination campaign” against COVID-19. The vaccination will be open to people aged 60 and over from August 22, then to the general population (18 years and over) from August 29.
Since Wednesday, people aged 75 and over can get an appointment to receive a booster dose. Public Health recommends receiving a new dose five months after the previous dose, regardless of the number of booster doses received so far.
On Monday, 13,254 screening tests were carried out, a relatively high figure compared to the weekly average. In all, 277,271 rapid tests have been self-reported so far on the government platform, of which 232,067 have tested positive. On Tuesday alone, 255 tests were reported, of which 226 were positive.