Quebec reports 756 new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations up by 10
Quebec reported on Monday that 756 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 as the province saw a slight spike in hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
Two people have also died from the disease, bringing the total number of deaths to 11,576 since the start of the pandemic.
Quebec's health minister, Christian Dubé, and Dr. Horacio Arruda, the director of public health, are holding a press conference at 1 p.m. in Montreal on Monday to provide an update on COVID-19 in Quebec.
Canadian health officials are monitoring the spread of the new coronavirus variant, classified as Omicron, which was first confirmed in Ottawa on Sunday from two travellers who returned from a trip in Nigeria. Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced Monday morning that the two travellers entered the country at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and were tested there before arriving in Ottawa.
Of the new cases recorded in Quebec on Monday, 417 (55 per cent) were from people who aren’t vaccinated, 16 were from people who had one dose more than 14 days ago, and 323 (42 per cent) were from people who had their second shot more than seven days ago.
Quebec's public health institute (INSPQ) is reporting 7,846 active cases, an increase of 522 active cases from Sunday.
Provincial data also showed that 22 people were admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours and 12 people were discharged, for an overall increase of 10 hospitalizations. As of Monday, there were 226 people in hospital, including 45 people in intensive care, which is a decrease of three ICU cases from the day before.
Non-vaccinated people are 16.1 times more likely to be hospitalized and 3.6 times more likely to be infected compared to vaccinated people, according to Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services. The province says those statistics are based on COVID-19 data from the past four weeks.
Of the 22 people admitted to hospital, nine were unvaccinated and 13 had their second shot more than seven days ago.
The positivity rate in Quebec was 3.3 per cent on Monday. Testing is also up as health-care workers analyzed 23,013 samples on Nov. 27.
VACCINATION COVERAGE
An additional 22,598 vaccine doses were administered in Quebec in the last 24 hours, for a total of 13,594,078 doses given out in the province. There are also 232,450 doses given to Quebecers out of province, which means the total number of doses given to residents is 13,826,528.
In the past 24 hours, health-care workers have administered 19,857 first doses, the vast majority of which (18,927) were for youth between five and 11 years old. So far, 69,889 doses have been given out to Quebec kids under 12 since they became eligible last week.
According to the latest data, 85 per cent of the population aged five and older have received one dose, 81 per cent has received two doses, and 3 per cent has received a booster.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Hurts like hell': What goes into the price of gas in Canada
With the price of gas rising above $2 per litre and setting new records in Canada this year, CTVNews.ca looks at what goes into the price per litre of gasoline and where the situation could go from here.

'This is an unusual situation': Feds monitoring monkeypox cases in Canada
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the federal government is monitoring monkeypox cases and their chains of transmission after two cases were confirmed in this country.
WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases cross 100 in Europe
The World Health Organization was due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after more than 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe.
After N.B. police killing of Indigenous woman, chiefs demand systemic racism inquiry
The results of the recent coroner's inquest into the police killing of an Indigenous woman in New Brunswick demonstrate the urgent need for an Indigenous-led inquiry into systemic racism, according to the six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation.
'Holy grail of all finds': Ottawa boy finds gun while magnet fishing in creek
A 12-year-old Ottawa boy is sharing his story after a magnet fishing trip turned up an unexpected find.
What to do when your home appraisal falls short as the housing market cools
The cooling housing market has left some buyers with mortgages that can't cover the full cost of their home following an appraisal. Toronto-based mortgage broker Mary Sialtsis discusses what options these buyers have.
Why Canada is banning Huawei from participating in Canada's 5G network
The federal government is banning China's Huawei Technologies from involvement in Canada's 5G wireless network. Huawei and the Chinese government have vigorously denied accusations around the danger of spying, saying that the company poses no security threat.
'Buy now, pay later' plans could lead to exorbitant debt for Gen Z consumers: expert
'Buy now, pay later' plans are growing in popularity among Gen Z consumers, driven by influencers on TikTok and Instagram promoting these services. But one personal finance expert says these services can carry serious financial risks for young people.
Russian vodka, caviar and diamonds on new Canadian sanctions list
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced a fresh wave of sanctions against Vladimir Putin's regime on Friday including a ban on importing Russian vodka, caviar and diamonds. The ban on the import of certain luxury goods from Russia will tighten the net on the country's elite and covers alcoholic drinks, fish and seafood.