MONTREAL -- COVID-19 cases in Quebec surpassed 130,000 Saturday when 1,189 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

The total number of confirmed cases is now 130,888, according to the province's public health authorities.

Saturday's new cases are 26 fewer than the seven-day average of 1,215.

The Institute of Public Health in Quebec reported that there are now 11,348 active cases, and 1,408 more people have recovered from the disease for a total of 112,734.

Quebec also added 32 deaths Saturday meaning the total number of people who have died due to the disease since the start of the pandemic is now 6,806.

Of the new deaths reported, five occurred in the past 24 hours, 21 were reported between Nov. 14 and Nov. 19, four before Nov. 14 and two occurred at an unknown date. 

The number of hospitalizations in the province increased by 22 Saturday, and there are now 646 people receiving treatment for the disease in Quebec hospitals. Of those, 99 are in the intensive care ward, an increase of three.

Health-care professionals analyzed 31,099 samples Nov. 19. (Quebec releases its testing data from two days prior to its daily updates).

REGIONAL DATA

The regions with the highest increase in cases are Montreal with 256 new cases (48,165 total), Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean with 161 new (3,981 total), Monteregie with 127 new (18,636 total), Quebec City with 119 new (10,623 total), and Lanaudiere with 115 new (10,242 total).

Saguenay (93 total) and Monteregie (826 total) reported six new deaths; Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Quebec (249 total) and Lanaudiere (298 total) reported five more; Quebec City reported three more deaths (403 total); and Montreal (3,591) and the Laurentians (330 total) reported two more deaths.

NORTHERN QUEBEC ENTERS RED-ZONE

Health and Social Services Minister Christian Dube announced Saturday that two regions in northern Quebec will become red-zones. 

The Chapais and Chibougamau areas, and the surrounding communities in Eeyou Istchee will go on red-alert on Monday, November 23. 

Red-zone measures will apply in bars and restaurants on Monday, and schools will be affected on Wednesday. 

Dube said data showed outbreaks could occur in the coming weeks.

"I invite the population to exercise extreme caution and significantly reduce family contact, starting now, in all towns and cities in the region," he said.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY

As of noon EST, there are 323,496 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada, and 11,387 people have died. 

The following is the breakdown by province: 

  • Quebec: 130,888 confirmed (including 6,806 deaths, 112,734 resolved)
  • Ontario: 102,378 confirmed (including 3,472 deaths, 86,079 resolved)
  • Alberta: 43,952 confirmed (including 462 deaths, 32,835 resolved)
  • British Columbia: 25,474 confirmed (including 331 deaths, 17,477 resolved)
  • Manitoba: 12,919 confirmed (including 207 deaths, 4,851 resolved)
  • Saskatchewan: 5,804 confirmed (including 33 deaths, 3,626 resolved)
  • Nova Scotia: 1,160 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,067 resolved)
  • New Brunswick: 401 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 343 resolved)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: 311 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 294 resolved)
  • Nunavut: 84 confirmed
  • Prince Edward Island: 68 confirmed (including 64 resolved)
  • Yukon: 29 confirmed (including 1 death, 22 resolved)
  • Northwest Territories: 15 confirmed (including 10 resolved)
  • Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

-- with files from The Canadian Press.