Quebec confirms 26 more COVID-19-related deaths as hospitalizations decrease
Quebec confirms 26 more people have died from complications related to COVID-19, a total of 14,977.
There are 36 fewer Quebecers in hospital to be treated for COVID-19, according to public health officials Friday.
The number of people receiving care is now 2,290.
Intensive care admissions are down by four, for a total of 81.
On April 27, 17,542 samples were analyzed.
Quebec also added 1,649 new PCR COVID-19 cases to its tally, bringing the total number of people infected to 1,041,075 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
To date, 198,786 rapid tests have been declared since the online portal opened. Of that number, 162,419 positive tests have been registered.
In Friday's update, 433 were reported, with 352 of them positive.
Quebec is encouraging people to declare the status of their at-home rapid test so officials can get a clearer picture of infection levels in the province.
There are now 9,104 health care workers currently absent due to COVID-19-related reasons.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
Quebec's health care professionals administered 34,408 more vaccinations in the province; 32,637 doses in the last 24 hours and 1,771 doses before April 28 for a total of 19,461,432 doses.
Outside Quebec, 324,845 doses were given, for a cumulative total of 19,786,277.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé points out vaccination against the virus does not completely prevent infection, but it does decrease the risk of dire consequences.
As of April 28, 91 per cent of the eligible population aged five and up have received their first dose of a vaccine and 87 per cent have received two.
Of those eligible for a third dose, 54 per cent have received it.
The province has not yet released data on fourth doses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, allowing states to ban abortions
The U.S. Supreme Court has ended the nation's constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. Friday's outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states.

'Devastating setback': Trudeau, politicians react to overturning of Roe v. Wade
Canadian politicians are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling the news 'horrific.'
Roe v. Wade abortion ruling raising alarms among Canadian advocates
Canadian advocates are cautioning against complacency regarding abortions protections in place in Canada, after the U.S. Supreme court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday.
Roe v. Wade: These U.S. states are likely to ban abortion
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end constitutional protections for abortion, 26 states are likely to ban abortions; 13 of which are expected to enact bans against the medical procedure immediately.
'It feels so good': Alberta MP celebrates overturning of Roe v. Wade
A Member of Parliament from rural Alberta went live on Facebook Friday to celebrate a United States Supreme Court vote to end constitutional protections for abortion.
Two dead, 14 wounded in Norway nightclub shooting, police say
Two people were killed and 14 wounded on Saturday in a shooting at a nightclub and in nearby streets in Norway's capital Oslo, Norwegian police said.
Mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon 'most complete' find in North America: officials
Miners working in a gold field in Yukon have uncovered what is being called the 'most complete' mummified woolly mammoth found to date in North America, officials announced on Friday.
'So scary': Flying shovel misses Mississauga driver by just centimetres
An Ontario driver is speaking out after a shovel struck her windshield while she was driving on the highway.
This is who's in and who's out of Doug Ford's cabinet
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled his cabinet for the 43rd Parliament and there are some big changes to the front bench.