Quebec COVID-19 hospitalizations going down as province adds 14 more deaths
Quebec COVID-19 hospitalizations going down as province adds 14 more deaths
The number of Quebecers in hospital to be treated for COVID-19 has decreased by 37, according to public health officials Thursday.
The total number of people receiving care is now 1,562.
Intensive care admissions are up by five, for a total of 53.
The province also confirmed 14 new deaths, a total of 15,326.
The number of active infections is now 11,072 with 516 outbreaks.
On May 17, a total of 12,910 samples were analyzed.
Quebec also added 626 new recorded PCR COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of people infected to 1,060,045 since the start of the pandemic.
A total of 209,649 rapid tests have been declared since the online portal opened. Of that, 171,771 positive tests were registered.
In the last 24 hours, 212 were reported, with 173 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 5,039 health care workers currently absent due to COVID-19-related reasons.
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
Quebec's health care professionals administered 14,845 more vaccinations in the province; 14,160 doses in the last 24 hours and 685 doses before May 18 for a total of 19,811,415 doses.
Outside Quebec, 332,282 doses were given, for a cumulative total of 20,143,697.
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 May 18, 91 per cent of the eligible population aged five and up have received their first dose of a vaccine and 55 per cent have received three.
An additional 13 per cent have received four doses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Some emergency rooms across Canada shutting down amid staff shortages
Hospitals overwhelmed by the pandemic’s onslaught are still facing a number of challenges, causing unprecedented wait times in emergency rooms across the country.

'Defeated and discouraged': Airport frustrations sour Canadians' summer travel plans
CTVNews.ca asked Canadians to share their travel horror stories as cancelled flights, delays and lost luggage throw a wrench in Canadians' summer travel plans, due in part to staffing shortages at Canadian airports. Some report sleeping at airports and others say it took days to get to or from a destination.
Gunmen killed in Saanich bank shootout identified as twin brothers
Twin brothers in their early 20s were responsible for the shooting that injured numerous police officers at a bank in Saanich, B.C., earlier this week, RCMP alleged Saturday.
TD 'significantly' downgrades home sale, price forecasts
A new report from TD says Canadian home sales could fall by nearly one-quarter on average this year and remain low into 2023.
Dwindling salmon stocks mean endangered B.C. orcas are going hungry, researchers say
Researchers in British Columbia say the province's endangered southern resident orcas have not been getting enough food for years, with some of the worst bouts of hunger occurring since 2018.
Calgary's new 'Museum of Failures' aims to spark creativity
It's been said no one's success is complete without failure, but a new international exhibit in Calgary is proving that even some of the most talented innovators had some of the worst ideas for consumers.
Importing dogs from more than 100 countries to be banned in Canada
Animal rescue groups are criticizing a new policy by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that will ban the import of dogs from more than 100 countries.
Gas prices see long weekend drop in parts of Canada, but analysts say relief not likely to last
The Canada Day long weekend saw gas prices plummet in parts of the country, but the relief at the pumps may not stay for very long, analysts say. The decreases come after crude oil prices slid in June following the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes, sparking fears of a recession.
Anti-Taliban law could be tweaked to get more humanitarian aid to Afghans: minister
A law outlawing any dealings with the Taliban, which charities complain is impeding their ability to help needy Afghans, could be adjusted by the federal government to give more flexibility to aid agencies.