COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Friday

• Quebec reported 950new caseson Fridayand seven deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been306,385confirmed cases and10,637people have died.
• There are 481people in hospital (a decrease of 15), including 115in intensive care (adecrease of two).
• 54,951doses ofvaccine were administered on Thursday for atotal of 1,380,295sinceDec. 14.

Quebec appears to be seeing another rise in COVID-19 cases just asthe province loosens restrictions in red zones, but, soon after getting vaccinated on Friday, Premier Franois Legaultstaunchly defended his government's decisions.

"Regarding measures, we need to have a balance," Legault said. "If we want the population to follow the measures we have in place, we need to have a balance."

The province recorded 950 new cases on Friday, the most in more than a month.

In a briefing this morning Quebec's public health institute warned the next few months will not be easy, with variants projected to account for more than half of new cases in the province by early April.

Legault said the variants are worrisomeand that is why it is essential that everybody who is eligible to get vaccinated, go and get their first shot as soon as possible. With more people 65 and up getting that crucial first shot, the government is betting that fewer people will end up in hospital.The province gave54,951 doses on Thursday, a new daily record.

"It was expected to see an increase in the number of cases," Legault said, andthe government is keeping a close eye on the situation and new measures may be introduced if needed.

Gyms andspas in red zonesare allowed to reopen. In the Montreal area, they had been closed since October. All places of worship can welcome up to 250 people, depending on their capacity, but funerals and weddings will be limited to 25 people in orange and red zones.

The people in the Gasp and the Magdalen Islands, the North Shore, and northern Quebec no longer have to deal with a curfew, as those areas are now designated as yellow zones.

Meanwhile, the Lower Saint-Lawrence is grappling with a growing spread of COVID-19 variants.

Starting today, allschools in theKamouraskaRivire-du-Loupservice centre about 18in total will be closed until April 5.

'Light at the end of the tunnel' not enough to ease restrictions, Legault says

4 years ago

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He knows people are tired of confinement, but Premier Franois Legault says people cannot let down their guard for a few more weeks until the most vulnerable are vaccinated.

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