Quebec COVID-19 hospitalizations drop for second day in a row
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Quebec dropped by 60 on Friday, and ICU numbers decreased by 20.
Premier Francois Legault spoke about the levelling off of hospitalizations on Thursday, but said the hospital system is still very fragile, and it's too soon to ease public health rules.
"Finally we're seeing a decrease in the overall number of hospitalizations," he said. "Still, we're at the worst point so far in the pandemic."
The total number of hospitalizations is now 3,351 with 346 patients checking in for care and 406 being discharged. Of the new patients, 19 were under five years old when checking in and ineligible for a vaccine dose, 77 were unvaccinated or received a dose of vaccine less than two weeks prior, 133 received two doses of vaccine, 104 received three doses and 13 received one dose more than two weeks prior.
Nineteen patients were transferred to or admitted into ICU wards, which now are caring for a total of 265 patients. Of the new ICU patients, six were unvaccinated, nine were double-vaccinated and four received a third booster shot before being admitted.
The health ministry says unvaccinated people are 5.7 times more likely to require hospitalizations and 12.2 times more likely to wind up in an ICU.
This is based on 4,383,646 Quebecers being double-vaccinated, 2,140,959 have received a third booster dose, and 1,073,357 are unvaccinated.
JUST UNDER 60 NEW DEATHS
Quebec continues to report high numbers of deaths due to the novel coronavirus with 59 deaths added on Friday.
Since the pandemic began, 12,698 people have died due to the disease.
ACTIVE CASES, OUTBREAKS CONTINUE TO DROP
The province also reported 5,995 more infections, though that number is lower than the real number of infections, as screening centres are reserved for priority clientele.
Since the pandemic began, the province has reported 824,942 COVID-19 cases, including 761,215 recoveries.
The Quebec Institute of Public Health (INSPQ) is monitoring 51,029 active cases, 1,030 fewer than 24 hours ago, and the Minister of Health is watching 1,611 active outbreaks, 21 fewer.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
Quebec health-care professionals administered 113,829 more COVID-19 vaccines, including 108,305 in the past 24 hours.
Since the vaccination campaign began, 16,915,403 doses of vaccine have been administered in the province, and 264,806 Quebecers got their jab out of province.
The province says 37 per cent of the eligible population has received a booster shot.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Hubble Space Telescope marks 34 years with new portrait of a 'cosmic dumbbell'
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new image of the glowing gas ejected from a dying star, which in this case happens to resemble a 'cosmic dumbbell.'