Quebec COVID-19 deaths surpass 13,000 since the start of the pandemic
Another 73 people have died in Quebec due to COVID-19, a total of 13,009 since the start of the pandemic.
There are eight fewer Quebecers in hospital to be treated for COVID-19, a total of 3,270 people.
Intensive care admissions are down by 11, for a total of 252 people receiving care.
Of the new hospitalizations, 16 are under the age of four (an age group not eligible for vaccination) and two are between the ages of five and 11.
An additional 27 people under the age of 59 and 49 aged 60 and older are unvaccinated or received their first dose less than 14 days ago.
Four people under the age of 59 and five aged 60 and older have one dose of vaccine, while 30 people under the age of 59 and 65 aged 60 and older received their second dose of vaccine more than seven days ago.
Four people under the age of 59 and 70 aged 60 and older received their third dose more than seven days ago.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé points out vaccination does not completely prevent infection, but it does decrease the risk of dire consequences.
The province's seven-day average is 4,735.
On Jan. 24, a total of 38,734 samples were analyzed.
Quebec is reporting 4,150 new recorded COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of people infected to 845,564 since the start of the pandemic.
Public health officials note the actual number of new infections is probably much higher as they have asked people with mild symptoms to stay home and isolate to give those in high-risk groups access to PCR testing.
Wednesday, Quebec announced it has created a self-declaration platform on its website for people to declare the status of their at-home rapid test in order to get a clearer picture of infection levels in the province.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
Quebec's health care professionals administered 86,062 more vaccinations in the province; 80,131 doses in the last 24 hours and 5,931 doses before Jan. 25 for a total of 17,337,953 doses.
Outside Quebec, 270,569 doses were given, for a cumulative total of 17,608,522.
As of Jan. 25, a total of 7,359,045 Quebecers, or 90 per cent of the eligible population aged five and up, have received their first dose of a vaccine and 6,792,515 people, or 83 per cent, have received two.
Of those eligible for a third dose, 3,385,980 Quebecers, or 41 per cent, have received it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Gunman kills at least 19 children at Texas elementary school
An 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 19 children as he went from classroom to classroom, officials said, in the latest gruesome moment for a country scarred by a string of massacres. The attacker was killed by law enforcement.

Biden makes urgent call for new firearms restrictions after Texas school shooting
Lamenting a uniquely American tragedy, an anguished and angry U.S. President Joe Biden delivered an urgent call for new restrictions on firearms Tuesday night after a gunman shot and killed 19 children at a Texas elementary school.
Language law Bill 96 adopted, promising sweeping changes for Quebec
Bill 96, the provincial government's controversial legislation aimed at protecting the French language in Quebec, has been adopted in the National Assembly.
U.S. senator begs for gun compromise after Texas shooting
Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who came to Congress representing Sandy Hook, begged his colleagues to finally pass legislation addressing the nation's gun violence problem as the latest school shooting unfolded Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas.
RCMP suspend flights at Victoria International Airport after suspicious package discovered
Travellers who have a flight planned at Victoria International Airport (YYJ) on Tuesday afternoon are being warned of travel disruptions due to police activity.
Many Ontario residents could be waiting several days for power after storm
Provincial provider Hydro One said Tuesday afternoon that more than 142,000 customers in parts of Ontario were still without power after a devastating weekend storm.
Society 'may not survive' Putin's war, says billionaire George Soros
Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have marked the start of "a third world war," and Russian President Vladimir Putin must be defeated "as soon as possible" if the world wants to preserve civilization, said billionaire and philanthropist George Soros.
Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard denies rape allegations at sex assault trial
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has emphatically denied raping a teenager and a young woman nearly six years ago, testifying Tuesday that both encounters were consensual and "passionate."
Canada sending more artillery to Ukraine, 'crucial' to fight against Russia: Anand
Canada is sending an additional 20,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine for the Ukrainian military to use in its ongoing defence against the Russians. This ammunition—155mm calibre, as well as fuses and charge bags—is being donated, but comes at a cost of $98 million, according to the federal government.