Quebec reports 428 new COVID-19 cases; unvaccinated 21 times more likely to be hospitalized
Quebec on Thursday reported 428 new COVID-19 cases, slightly down from the day before, along with three new deaths.
Overall hospitalizations due to the virus decreased by 13 -- while 17 people were newly admitted, 30 were discharged.
There are currently 72 people in intensive care for coronavirus, with nine discharged and nine admitted in the last day.
Active cases in the province stand at 4,773 after hovering around 5,000 threshold for about a week and a half.
No variant types other than Delta have been detected in the most recent update.
RISK TO THE UNVACCINATED
Of the day's 428 new cases, 289 were among unvaccinated people.
That group's rate of illness over the last four weeks is 18.1 cases per 100,000 people, much higher than fully vaccinated Quebecers, who are seeing 2.6 cases per 100,000 people.
The risk rises much more when it comes to hospitalization, however: unvaccinated people are now 21.1 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than the vaccinated.
That number is recalculated daily by the province based on data over the last 28 days, and it takes into account the incidence rate by age group.
3,306 FIRST VACCINE DOSES NEWLY GIVEN
Thursdays are consistently the day of the week when vaccinations are highest. Today, the province reported 13,614 new shots in Quebecers' arms, continuing slow but steady growth in the vaccination rate for the last two weeks.
That included 3,306 first doses, as well as 5,718 second doses.
The share of the total population that is vaccinated has now crept above 79 per cent, including children, who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.
Of the eligible population, 90 per cent have at least one dose, and 86 per cent have both doses.
HARDEST-HIT REGIONS
The regions with the highest incidence of coronavirus are currently outside the province's major cities.
Nunavik currently has the highest number of active cases per 100,000 people, at 132. It is followed by Chaudiere-Appalaches at 113 per 100,000.
Laval is next, with 79 cases per 100,000 people, then Montreal at 71 and the Eastern Townships at 69.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It’s discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.