Coronavirus in Quebec | COVID-19

In-Depth COVID Coverage

Faced with rising COVID-19 hospitalizations, Quebec doctor calls for health system improvements

With COVID-19 numbers once again on the rise in Quebec, some doctors fear a serious crunch could be right around the corner.

'It's the real deal': Doctors warn about future wave fuelled by Omicron variants

COVID-19 cases are rising again in Canada, with the two fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants known as BA.4 and BA.5 to blame. CTVNews.ca has a guide to what you need to know about the new variants.

A jar full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials is shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on April 6, 2022. Federal health officials are bracing Canadians for another round of COVID-19 vaccines expected to roll out in the fall, and are urging those behind on their boosters to catch up now. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

Risk of shingles rises after COVID-19 infection: study

Adults over 50 who have had COVID-19 are more likely to experience a shingles outbreak, according to a study published in May.

New Omicron subvariant expected to become dominant COVID-19 strain in Ontario

A new subvariant of Omicron is expected to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario, health officials say.

U.S. grapples with whether to modify COVID vaccine for fall

Moderna and Pfizer have tested updated shots against the super-contagious Omicron variant, and advisers to the Food and Drug Administration will debate Tuesday if it's time to make a switch — setting the stage for similar moves by other countries.

Canada outperformed most G10 countries during first two years of pandemic response: study

Canada handled key aspects of the COVID-19 response better in the first two years of the pandemic than most G10 countries, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Toronto, Unity Health Toronto and St. Michael's hospital.

Influenza cases in Canada see rare spring surge amid eased COVID-19 restrictions

Experts say the easing of public health restrictions that were aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 has lead to a surge in cases of influenza, something not typically seen at this time of year.

How being infected with COVID-19 may impact your performance at work

A small Canadian study suggests that individuals who contact COVID-19 may experience cognitive failures that impact their performance at work, even after recovering from the initial illness.

Quebec's health network spent $15 billion on COVID-19 pandemic

Quebec's health network spent $15 billion to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report tabled by Health Minister Christian Dube.

How COVID-19 Affects Me

Canada's COVID Alert app will be discontinued as PCR testing becomes rare

Canada's COVID Alert app will be discontinued in the coming days, a federal government source tells The Canadian Press.

The COVID Alert app is seen on an iPhone in Ottawa, on Friday, July 31, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Vaccines likely to reduce risk of long COVID, experts say, but by how much?

As more details emerge about the long-term effects of COVID-19, experts say vaccination is likely to have protective benefits against long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection. But an important question that has yet to be answered is exactly how much protection it offers.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may pose higher heart inflammation risk: CDC

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine may pose a higher risk of heart inflammation in some age groups than Pfizer-BioNTech's shot, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday, citing recent data.

Prenatal COVID exposure affects babies' motor skills, speech, studies find

Infants born to those who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy may have neurodevelopmental issues after birth, according to preliminary findings from two separate studies out of the U.S. and Spain.

Is there any benefit to wearing a mask when nobody else is?

A province-wide mask mandate that was first introduced in October 2020 has now been lifted in virtually all of the so-called “high-risk” settings where it had remained in place, including on public transit.

Your Finances During the Crisis

Saving for retirement is becoming out of reach for young Canadians

Even though it may seem years away, saving for retirement is a top priority among 26 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34, a recent survey from the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan found. However, 79 per cent of respondents in that age group say saving for retirement is prohibitively expensive.

A piggy bank is seen in this undated file photo.

Bank of Canada's rapid rate hikes likely to cause a recession, study finds

The Bank of Canada's strategy of rapidly increasing its key interest rate in an effort to tackle skyrocketing inflation will likely trigger a recession, a new study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) says.

TD 'significantly' downgrades home sale, price forecasts

A new report from TD says Canadian home sales could fall by nearly one-quarter on average this year and remain low into 2023.

Gas prices see long weekend drop in parts of Canada, but analysts say relief not likely to last

The Canada Day long weekend saw gas prices plummet in parts of the country, but the relief at the pumps may not stay for very long, analysts say. The decreases come after crude oil prices slid in June following the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes, sparking fears of a recession.

Stocks are down, but here's why experts say you shouldn't panic

As stocks continue to slump, it can be easy to let your emotions take over if you've got money invested in the market. But experts agree that there's no need to panic if you're invested in the right type of portfolio with the right level of risk.

CTV News Montreal Top Stories

Two young ER doctors quit Montreal jobs, blaming Quebec's broken health-care system and Bill 96

Two young emergency room doctors, raised and trained in Montreal, are leaving their jobs after only two years to move back to Toronto – and they say the Quebec health-care model and Bill 96 are to blame.

Dr. Philip Stasiak and Dr. Daria Denissova, with their two young boys, are leaving Montreal to work in Toronto ERs.

Quebec reports jump in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations as province adds 20 deaths

Quebec is reporting another jump in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as the province records 20 more deaths and 147 additional hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.

A woman wears a face mask as she walks by an art installation in Montreal, Sunday, June 13, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Ultrasounds no longer required in Quebec before getting abortion pill

Until now, Quebec has required patients to have ultrasounds before getting the pills that induce a medical abortion. In the rest of Canada, that measure was abandoned in 2019.

In this Aug. 7, 2018 photo, a doctor performs an ultrasound scan on a pregnant woman at a hospital in Chicago. Clinicians and epidemiologists don't yet know much about COVID-19 and pregnancy, says the leader of a newly formed national network that's aiming to fill in those gaps. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Teresa Crawford

Montreal airport workers report harassment as travel chaos continues

Amid chaos at Montreal's airport, some of the frustration is being directed at staff. 'People are insulting, or being very aggressive toward our crew members,' said a spokesperson for the Air Transat union.

26-year-old woman dies in Laval crash, 3 others injured

A 26-year-old woman has died and three others were seriously injured following a crash in Laval Monday night.

Mariupol to Montreal: Ukrainian mother escapes 'hell on Earth' with two daughters

Hanna Kovalenko was leading a comfortable lifestyle with her husband and two little girls in Mariupol, Ukraine, when all of a sudden her hometown became the epicentre of a full-scale war.

Prominent Montreal social work educator Sheila Goldbloom dies at 96

Known for her many contributions to Quebec arts, education, health and social services, Goldbloom passed away peacefully in her home Sunday, surrounded by her family.

2 million litres of milk dumped after Quebec dairy plant labour dispute

A labour dispute at a Quebec dairy plant has led to the dumping of 2 million litres of milk since Wednesday.

Trades, picks, signings? Habs GM confirms top three candidates

A few days ahead of the Montreal Canadiens first overall draft pick, general manager Kent Hughes says there are still three candidates in the running for the top spot.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Bank of Canada's rapid rate hikes likely to cause a recession, study finds

People pass the Bank of Canada building on Wellington Street in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Independence Day parade shooting leaves 6 dead, 30 hurt; man detained

A shooter fired on an Independence Day parade from a rooftop in suburban Chicago, spraying the crowd with gunshots initially mistaken for fireworks before hundreds of panicked revellers of all ages fled in terror. At least six people were killed and at least 30 wounded.