Quebec COVID-19 deaths spike by 39 as cases rise by 14,486
Quebec reported a spike of 39 COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday as hospitalizations continued to rise sharply.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 11,820 people have died due to the virus.
It's the most deaths reported in a single day since almost a year ago, late January 2021, when 36 people died per day on average, according to Quebec's public health institute.
There are now 1,750 people in hospital, a net increase of 158, after 321 were admitted and 163 were no longer in care.
Of those hospitalized, 191 people are in the ICU, an overall increase of six from the day before. Twenty-nine were admitted into that unit and 23 were released.
The province also reported 14,486 new infections, however that's likely much lower than the actual number of new cases.
Health authorities have long warned testing capacity can't keep up with the recent explosion of new infections. On Tuesday, Quebec limited PCR testing access to select groups.
There are now 115,626 active cases and 1,285 active outbreaks in Quebec.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
Health workers administered 92,506 vaccine doses in the 24 hours prior, for a total of 15,551,992.
Of the edligible population (aged five and up), 89 per cent have gotten at least one dose of a vaccine, 82 have two, and 19 have been boosted.
Of those aged 60 and up, 46 per cent have gotten a third dose.
Unvaccinated people are 7.8 times more likely to be hospitalized after catching COVID-19.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
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.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
'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.