Quebec to start flu vaccination campaign, as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise by dozens
Quebec's director of public health Dr. Luc Boileau updated the province on the evolution of the COVID-19 situation in Quebec on Thursday.
He was accompanied by Daniel Desharnais, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Direction générale de la coordination réseau et ministérielle et des affaires institutionnelles of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Boileau asked Quebecers to get a flu vaccine at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, as cases are on the rise. The influenza vaccination campaign will begin Oct. 5.
He said it's "too early" to begin talking about an eighth wave of the pandemic, but admitted that hospitalizations due to the disease are rising and SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are showing up in wastewater more.
NEW NUMBERS
Quebec reported on Thursday that eight more people died due to the disease, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 16,770 since the start of the pandemic.
Hospitalizations rose by a net total of 44 to 1,663, with 34 of those people in intensive care units, the same number as on Wednesday.
A total of 3,861 health-care workers are absent for COVID-19-related reasons, which is one more than 24 hours ago.
Out of 11,836 PCR tests that were analyzed, 1,037 came back positive for a positivity rate of 9 per cent.
Since the pandemic began, Quebec has logged 1,199,868 positive PCR tests.
In addition, 170 more positive self-declared rapid tests were recorded, for a total of 245,035.
Quebec's Health Ministry is monitoring 248 active COVID-19 outbreaks.
On Sept. 27, 12,669 samples were analyzed.
Health-care professionals administered 24,986 more vaccinations, bringing that total to 21,242,658.
With files from the Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.