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

• Quebec reported 436new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and no new deaths in the past 24 hours.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been383,191confirmed casesand11,277people have died. One death has been found to not be attributable to COVID-19.
• There are 91 people in hospital (an increase of three),including 27in intensive care(a decrease of one).
• 42,012doses of vaccine were administered for a total of11,943,853doses administered in Quebec.
• 85per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 74per cent have received two doses.

COVID-19 data is no longerupdated by Quebec's Health Ministry on weekends or on public holidays.

Quebec's latest projections showhospitalizations could increase rapidly over the next few weeks in Montreal, after weeks of rising COVID-19 cases. The projections suggest that the greatest pressure would be felt in intensive care units.

The projections by theInstitut national d'excellence en sant et services sociauxalso note that while those under 40 make up about 75 per cent of new cases, an increase in cases for those ages 60-65 is also being seen.

The institute looks at a number of factors when making these projections, including the spread of the delta variant and how many Quebecers are adequately vaccinated.

Masks in schools

Given the increased presence of thedelta variant, experts are raising concern about the province's decision to send studentsback to primary and high school without masks required in class.

"Masks did work at preventing transmission in previous waves," said Dr. Olivier Drouin, a pediatrician at Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital and a public health researcher.

"I think we should err on the side of caution: have kids start the year with masks[in class], and then remove them if we see we are going in the right direction."

Vaccination blitz

With the start of the school year coming soon, health officials in the Quebec City region are trying to vaccinate as many students as possible.

For the second straight day on Wednesday, a vaccination clinic was set up at Cgep de Sainte-Foy.

"We'll be here for about ten days to allow each student that haven't received their first or second dose before the start of the school year to take those steps," said Patricia McKinnon, who overseesthe vaccination campaign in and around Quebec City.

About 70 per cent of CEGEP students in the region have received two vaccine doses. Local health officials would like to see that number bumped up to 75 per cent by Sept 1.

Earlier this week, the Quebec government announced thatstudents in CEGEPs and universities will be required to wear masks not only in common areas, but when seated in class, too.

WATCH| Legault says province is ready for fourth wave

Quebec premier says province ready for coronavirus 4th wave

3 years ago

Duration 1:47

Quebec Premier Franois Legault says his province is ready for a fourth wave of COVID-19 because of its high vaccination rate but he's mindful that hospitalizations could rise.

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