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

• Quebec reported 745new caseson Wednesdayand 11moredeaths. One previously reported death is no longer attributed to COVID-19.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 360,201confirmed cases and11,012people have died.
• There are 530people in hospital (adecrease of 10), including 126in intensive care (adecrease of two).
• 74,391 vaccinedoses were administeredfor atotal of3,918,884sinceDec. 14.

Starting Thursday, hundreds of walk-in vaccination spots will be available for priority groups at the Palais des congrs de Montral.

Vaccination is currently offered to Quebecers 25 years old and up. On Friday, it will be 18 and up.

With the daily COVID-19 caseload and hospitalizations remaining stable, PremierFranois Legaultsays he will soon release his plan to gradually roll back public health restrictions.

On Tuesday, the premier saidthe epidemiological situation indicates the province is on track to have a better summer than the last.

Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province's public health director, didn't offer specifics on a timeline for reopening Montreal and other areas under the tightest restrictions,but said it would be announced soon, adding that the plan would be based onthe rate of vaccination and level of transmission.

To make a vaccinationappointment, go to Clic Sant.

But Montreal public health knows that young people are particularly interested in walk-in vaccine clinics, and a "special guest" will be at thePalais des congrsto greet people between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be administered at thePalais.

End of emergency restrictions in Outaouais

Legault said emergency restrictions imposed on theOutaouaisregion will be lifted next Monday. That means the curfew will be pushed back to 9:30 p.m., many non-essential businesses will be allowed to reopen, and high school students will be able to attend in-person classes.

However, heightened measures will remain in place in parts of the Lower Saint-Lawrence,except for Rimouski, where theywill also end Monday.

In some specific sectors of the province, the government has opted to partially lift those emergency measures.

In the Chaudire-Appalaches region, the areas ofRobert-Cliche, Beauce-Sartigan et Les Etcheminswill be allowed to reopen their high schools, but the curfew will remain at 8 p.m. and non-essential businesses will have to stay closed.

As of next Monday, the same set of rules will apply to Le Granita regional health unit in the Eastern Townships that includes the town of Lac Mgantic.

A full list of the restrictions is available on the government's website.

WATCH| Legault cautions against Ontarians crossing into Quebec

Quebec warns Ontarians about border hopping as restrictions ease

3 years ago

Duration 0:44

Quebec Premier Franois Legault says Ontarians need to stay on their side of the border, even as restrictions are eased in Quebec's Outaouais region, across from Ottawa.

Vaccination opens to young adults

With appointments for Quebecers who are 25 and older now open, Health Minister Christian Dubcalled on young adults to get vaccinated in an open letter published on Monday.

Dub said on Twitterthat the beginning of the province's so-called "youth week" has been successful, with 50 per cent of those 30 to 34 having secured an appointment since Monday.

In an open letter posted to Facebook, Dub said he knows the past year has been difficult for young adults who have made remarkable sacrifices to protect the most vulnerable and the health-care system.

He saidhe recognizes that young people's mental health has taken a toll, as they have been relegated to distance learning and those in the hotel, restaurant and culture sectors have lost jobs.

11,000 have died

The number of daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain stable,but the province now finds itself with a death toll of more than 11,000 people since the start of the pandemic.

Two months ago, the province held a ceremony to mourn the loss of 10,518 Quebecers.Since then, the virus has killed484 people an average of eight per day a rate lower than other moments during the pandemic, even though it isstill claiming lives.

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