Cases and hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 continue to increase in Quebec following a warning from health authorities in the province.
Authorities reported 2,082 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Thursday, including 614 cases treated specifically for the disease, an increase of 52 patients.
There is also a slight increase of three in intensive care, where 55 people are treated, including 19 as a direct result of COVID-19.
Health professionals are also more likely to have to self-isolate. They were 3,939 on Thursday, which represents an increase of 191.
Two new deaths have also been added to the toll, which now stands at 16,863 since the start of the pandemic. These new deaths occurred two to seven days ago.
The case index is also pointing up. The authorities have identified 1,236 new cases, but this is only the tip of the iceberg, because access to screening centers is restricted to priority clienteles.
Quebecers declared 327 rapid tests on Wednesday, including 297 positive. The total stands at 298,651 self-reported rapid tests so far, including 250,762 positives.
According to the ministry’s dashboard, the positivity rate is 10.6%.
On the vaccination side, 23,921 new doses were administered, for a total of 21,486,587 doses administered in Quebec to date.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and the national director of public health, Doctor Luc Boileau, warned Quebecers to recommend caution and ask them to keep up to date with vaccinations.
Currently, only 22% of the population has received a booster dose for less than five months.