COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend

• Quebec reported1,535 new caseson Sunday and five more deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been326,383 confirmed cases and10,742 people have died.
• There are 608 people in hospital (an increase of 25), including 139 in intensive care (an increase of one).
• 59,447 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours for atotal of 1,890,476sinceDec. 14. (The total number has been corrected here; an earlier version of this article listed the total doses received by the province rather than doses administered.)

Health authorities in Quebec City say thefirst night vaccination sessionwas a resounding success.

People started lining up as of 9 p.m. Saturday outside the ExpoCit convention centre to get their appointment times.

According to the Capitale-Nationale CIUSSS, all 950 available appointments were filled, and as of midnight Sunday, they all had been honoured.

In its latest COVID-19 update, the province reported 1,754 new cases the highest total since Jan. 17.

The Quebec City region continues to be the hardest hitarea of the province,with more than 400 cases reported Saturday, the third consecutive day.

Emergency measures in Quebec City,Lvis andGatineau,as well as towns in the Chaudire-Appalachesregion, have been extended until at least April 19.

As of this weekend, most people living in orange and red zones are prohibited from travelling toyellowand green zones, and could face fines if they don't comply.

There are eight specific exceptions, including people travelling for medical reasons, commercial transportation, and people who need to take care of a primary or secondary residence.

Meanwhile, the 9:30 p.m. curfew in Montreal and Laval is a thing of the past. As of Sunday, curfew is back to 8 p.m.

And as of Monday, people age 60 and younger who have high-risk chronic illnesses and receive treatments or consult their doctors in hospital will be able to book their vaccine appointments.

All health-care workers can get vaccine

As of Saturday, all health-care workersin the public and private sector can sign up for a first dose of the vaccine, Quebec's Health Ministry says.

That includes people who work in pharmacies and dental offices, those who work inpsychology, physiology and optometry clinics, and community workers in direct contact with high-risk patients, such as street workers in mental health, homelessness and addiction.

The Health Ministry says these groups would have been vaccinated earlier in the campaign had it not been forthe reduction in the delivery of doses.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• Some Quebec health-care workers will now need to show proof of vaccination.
• Quebecers 55 and overjump at the chance to get AstraZeneca vaccine without appointment.
• Driven outdoors by the pandemic, Quebecers are rescuing birds in record numbers
• COVID-19 shots for school? What needs to happen to get kids in Canada immunized.
• What's behind Quebec's targeted approach to the 3rd wave, and could it work?
• VIDEO |Essential but forgotten? Youth who toil in grocery stores, cafs and restaurants feel the strain.