COVID-19 in Quebec: Hospitalizations drop to 2,051, more than 7,300 health workers absent
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 decreased again on Friday with 68 fewer people receiving care as the province reports 7,337 health-care workers are absent for reasons related to the virus.
The number of health-care worker absences, which can be for several reasons including isolating after testing positive or waiting for test results, dropped from 7,506 on Thursday.
The Ministry of Health reported the total number of hospitalizations fell to 2,051 after 127 people were admitted and 195 people were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours.
ICU cases also dropped to 60, a decrease of four from the day before.
Another 22 people are reported to have died due to COVID-19, the ministry said, which brings the total to 15,106.
The update from the province also said 1,243 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours through PCR testing, which is reserved for high-priority segments of the population. An additional 283 rapid antigen test results were logged with the health ministry, which reported 240 of those tests were positive.
Health-care workers analyzed 16,518 samples on May 14.
The positivity rate improved from Thursday, dropping to 9 per cent from 11.6 per cent on Wednesday. Meanwhile, active cases and active outbreaks both dropped across the province to 18,896 and 920, respectively.
VACCINATION UPDATE
Health-care workers administered 28,063 vaccine doses into people's arms Thursday, an increase of more than 6,000 shots from the day before. An additional 327,140 shots have been given to Quebecers outside of the province, for a cumulative total of 19,935,642 jabs.
To date, health-care workers have given out 7,432,543 first doses covering 91 per cent of the eligible population, 4,434,611 third doses covering 54 per cent of the population, and 876,437 fourth doses covering 11 per cent of the population.
The majority of Thursday's shots (23,681) were for fourth doses, also known as "second booster" shots, which are now available to all Quebec adults who want one.
Data for second doses is no longer published on the province's COVID-19 dashboard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.