The spread of COVID-19 in Quebec is on the rise while the number of deaths also remains high.
The province is reporting 11 new deaths Thursday, bringing the seven-day daily average to nine. The trend is up 10% over one week.
The 1,241 new cases by PCR tests reported on Thursday bring the daily average to 1,056. The trend is thus up 8% over one week. These numbers likely reflect only a portion of total infections, due to limited access to PCR testing. Moreover, the proportion of PCR screening tests proving positive for COVID-19 remains high, at 10.9%.
In addition to the cases detected by PCR tests, 231 people have also reported in the past few days having tested positive on a rapid test. Self-reported cases, which are not included in daily reported cases, increased by 13% over one week.
In hospitals, the number of workers absent due to the pandemic is stable. Thursday, there were 4,102 absences in the health network, as many as a week ago.
In hospitals, the province reports Thursday an increase of seven hospitalizations. The 1,981 people currently hospitalized, including 53 in intensive care, represent a stable trend over one week. Of these, 646 patients were hospitalized directly due to their COVID-19 infection, the others having been admitted for another reason.
The number of people hospitalized tends to stabilize, the number of discharges equaling admissions.
Vaccination still in decline
Meanwhile, the pace of the vaccination campaign continues to decline. Quebec administers an average of 14,800 doses per day, or 18% less than last week.
The pace of the campaign nevertheless made it possible to maintain vaccination coverage. Taking into account the fact that Public Health recommends getting vaccinated after five months, 28.1% of Quebecers currently have their vaccinations up to date.
It is especially people aged 60 and over, a group more vulnerable to COVID-19, for whom vaccination is the most up-to-date. Among the youngest, very few have received a dose in the last few months.
