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COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Wednesday

Nearly 80 per cent of Quebecers aged 12 and up have already received their first vaccineor have made an appointment to receive one, and Montreal is among the regions moving to the yellow zone. Here's what you need to know.

Most Quebecers aged 12 and up are partially vaccinated

CBC News Posted: Jun 09, 2021 6:19 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 9, 2021

Saint-Henri high school students in Montreal were among those getting their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccination this week. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada)

Quebec reported 178 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and eight newdeaths (though one was in the last 24 hours).
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 372,287confirmed cases and11,164people have died (a decrease of one because a previous death is no longer attributed to COVID-19).
There are 257people in hospital (adecrease of six), including 60 in intensive care (no change).
74,208 vaccinedoses were administered in the last 24 hours and 2,862doses before Tuesday, for a total of 6,309,860doses administered in Quebec.
75 per cent of Quebecers have received one dose of vaccine, and nineper cent have received two doses.

Premier Franois Legault is further loosening restrictions in much of the province,allowing residentsto gather with another household indoors starting next Monday.

Montreal, Laval and much of the surrounding area will be downgraded to yellow zones.

Funerals and weddings with a maximum of 50 people will be allowed, and high school promswill be permitted to take place outdoors with a limit of 250 people.

Quebec to allow small indoor gatherings in much of province as vaccination rate rises

Vaccination rate keeps rising

Nearly 80 per cent of Quebecers aged 12 and up have already received their first vaccineor have made an appointment to receive their first jab, said Health Minister Christian Dub.

People between the ages of 18 and 40, however, are lagging. Roughly195,000 appointments are still needed to reach the goal of 75 per cent.

People looking to schedule an earlier second dose have been running into technical issues with Quebec'sClic Santwebsite.

The Health Ministry said on Wednesday that those 70 and up that are having trouble should first ask a loved one for help setting up the appointment.

If that doesn't work, there may be missing client data in the computer system. The ministry says people could try going to a walk-in clinic to sort out the issues, and maybe get a second dose thereif the right one is available. The other option, the ministry says, is to simply wait untilyour original appointment time to get your second does.

Months after launch of Quebec's vaccine campaign, hardest-hit areas still struggle with access

More Moderna on the way

The lack of the Moderna vaccine has preventedsome people from making an earlier appointment for their second dose.

But the federal government said Wednesday it is expecting seven million doses ofModernaby the end of the month, which means Quebec will get 1.5 million.

Quebecers 70and over are now eligibleto move up their second vaccination appointment through the online booking systemClic Sant.

Walk-ins are also open to people who had their first shot more than eight weeks ago.

After weeks of uncertainty, Moderna says 7 million vaccine doses will arrive this month

Masks off in class

The Health Ministrysays, until the end of the school year, wearing masks in the classroomis no longer mandatory for elementary and high school students living in orange zones.

However, students must always wear a mask in common areas, when traveling in the corridors and in school transportation, says the ministry.Students in yellow and green zones were already allowed to remove their masks.

Teachers in orange zones will still be required to wear masks in accordance with Quebec's workplace health and safety board guidelines.

Staff working in yellow and greenzones can remove their masks in the classroom as long as they can maintain a distance of two metresfrom students.

With high heat and lower orange-zone risk, Quebec students can take off masks in class

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Dr. Donald Vinh says people may regret gathering without masks or distancing if it means outbreaks or a return to confinement.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Fever.
New or worsening cough.
Difficulty breathing.
Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose.
Gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting).
Sore throat, runny or stuffy nose.
Generalized muscle pain.
Headache.
Fatigue.
Loss of appetite.

If you think you may have COVID-19, the government asks that you call18776444545to schedule an appointment at a screening clinic.

To reserve an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, you can go on the online portal quebec.ca/covidvaccine. You can also call 1-877-644-4545.

Quebec government reminders for preventing the spread of COVID-19:

Wash your hands frequently.
Avoid touching your face.
Wear a mask or face coveringis mandatory in enclosed public spaces across the province.
Stay at least two metres away from other people as much as possible.
Self-isolate for 14 days after returning from a stay outside the country.

You can find information on COVID-19 in the provincehereand information on the situation in Montrealhere.

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