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

• On Friday, Quebec reported 1,637people in hospital (an increase of 55from the previous day), including 62in intensive care (a decrease of twofrom the previous day).
• The province reported 3,572 new cases of COVID-19 and 30deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 992,649confirmed cases, and 14,512 people have died.
• The province also reported a total of18,818,996doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered, including35,199doses in the last 24 hours.
• 91 per cent of the eligible population in the province (agedfive and up) have received one dose of the vaccine;87per cent have received two doses, and 53 per cent have received three doses.

*The new cases are those reported to the Quebec government only. They are believed to be an underrepresentation of the virus's spread, given the limited availability of PCR tests and use of home testing kits.

*Quebec's Health Ministry no longerreportsCOVID-19 numberson the weekend.

Public health officials do not intend to bring in new restrictions ahead of the Easter long weekend, Dr. Luc Boileausaid at a virtual news conference Friday, even as case numbers and hospitalizations increase, and 13,000 workers are absent from the health-care network.

But Boileau urged people to avoid contact with vulnerable family members if they havesymptoms or if they haverecently been ill.

Projections released Wednesday from theInstitut national d'excellence en santet en services sociaux(INESSS)predict Quebec could see 265 new hospitalizations a day, two weeks from now.

The number of COVID-19 intensive-care patients is also expected to rise over the same period but is not expected to put significant pressure on the health-care system, the institute projected.

Boileaualso said Friday new instructions for using rapid tests willsoon be available on the government's website. New data suggests that swabbing both cheeks, the back of the throat and both nostrils may yield more accurate results,Boileausaid.

Tuesday, theprovince pushed back the end of mask mandates until the end of April.

Officialsdo not intend to extend masking requirements into May, Boileau said Friday, however, theywillreassess that decision if the province does not appear to be turning the corner two weeks from now.

Expanding 4th doses

Starting Monday, April 11, fourth doses will be offered topeople age 60 and older.

Boileau reiterated hiscall for caution amongthose age 60 and older, as the vast majority of people currently hospitalized in intensive care are in that age group.

Seniors aged 70 and older are already eligible for a fourth dose of the vaccine.

Officials are also continuing to urge allQuebecers to get a third dose.

Boileau said Friday that while people under 50 do generally face less risk of serious illness than older Quebecersdo, they can reduce their risk even further by getting a third dose.

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