The increase in hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 continues in Quebec, 73 patients having been added for 24 hours. However, the government anticipates that the number of occupied beds should start to decrease within two weeks, once the peak of the seventh wave has been crossed in hospitals.
Posted at 12:06 p.m.
Updated at 12:23 p.m.
Quebec reports an increase of 73 hospitalizations on Wednesday. The 2,221 people hospitalized in connection with COVID-19 currently represent an increase of 8% over one week. In intensive care, the 65 patients represent an increase of 14% over one week.
However, the number of people hospitalized is likely to begin to drop within two weeks, the National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESS) now predicts. The organization responsible for predicting the impact of COVID-19 on the health network anticipates that the number of occupied beds should drop to 1,836 once the peak of the seventh wave has been crossed in hospitals. There are currently 23 more patients per day on average, but the balance of admissions and discharges is decreasing and tending to balance out.
INESSS also points out that only 40% of admissions take place because of the coronavirus, with the vast majority of patients being hospitalized for another reason, but also testing positive for the disease.
Already, COVID-19 is beginning to weigh a little less on healthcare personnel. The number of workers absent due to the pandemic has decreased by 10% over the past week. They were 6478 Wednesday to have to isolate themselves.
The 25 new deaths reported on Wednesday bring the daily average calculated over seven days to 15. The trend is down 4% over one week.
The 1,780 new cases reported on Wednesday bring the daily average to 1,679. The trend is thus down 15% over one week. These figures likely reflect only a portion of total infections, due to limited access to PCR screening tests.
In addition to the cases detected by PCR tests, 754 people have also reported in recent days having tested positive on a rapid test. Self-reported cases, which are not included in daily reported cases, are down 18% over the past week.
