Quebec confirms that vaccination will not be compulsory for school personnel.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services supports its decision on the epidemiological situation which is improving in Quebec, we can read in a press release published Wednesday morning. “The consequences of COVID-19 in children are weaker and outbreaks are well controlled in schools,” says the ministry following a recommendation from Public Health.
In public and private preschool, primary and secondary schools, 91% of staff have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 89% have received two doses, according to the Ministry of Health. Including people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and only need a single dose, 90% of staff are adequately protected (i.e. 194,475 people).
In general adult education and vocational training establishments, 91% of staff have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 88% have received two doses. Taking into account the history of COVID-19, 89% of staff are adequately protected (or 14,909 people.
Then, in college and university level institutions, 92% of staff are adequately protected against COVID-19 (or 30,447 people).
The ministry says vaccination campaigns were held in schools where vaccination rates were not high enough. The network is also preparing for the upcoming vaccination of 5 to 11 year olds, he adds.
Review of the day
The number of new cases of COVID-19 has changed little over the past week. In the past 24 hours, Quebec has recorded 478 new cases and four additional deaths, bringing the daily average calculated over seven days to 412. The trend remains down 23% over one week.
A total of 257 people are hospitalized because of the virus, two more patients than the day before. Among them, 66 are in intensive care, a stable figure compared to the day before.
COVID-19 in graphics
Follow the progress of the pandemic in real time on our interactive charts page.