COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend

• Quebec reported 3,846 new cases ofCOVID-19 on Sundayand three new deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 486,323confirmed cases and 11,639people have died.
• There are 376people in hospital (an increase of 29),including 79in intensive care (an increaseof five).
• Since Friday, the province has administered 14,449,734doses of theCOVID-19 vaccine.
• 88 per cent of the eligible population in the province (ages five and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 81per cent hasreceived two doses.

Quebec'sHealth Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends and public holidays.

A day after Quebecreportedits highest ever daily COVID-19 case count, some Montreal hospitals are delayingsurgeries in response to rising case numbers.

In an internal memo obtained by Radio-Canada, theCIUSSS du Nord-De-L'le-de-Montraltold employees elective and cardiac surgeries will be delayed in order increase patient capacity at its four hospitals in Montreal's north end.

The health authority for the northern part of Montreal says it's worried about a rapid rise in cases sparked by the Omicron variant. It will be re-activating COVID hot zones in hospital and long-term care homes to admit patients who have the disease and is encouraging employees to work from home and meet with patients virtually as much as possible.

Montrealmayor tests positive for COVID-19

Montreal MayorValrie Planteannounced shereceived a positive COVID-19 result Saturday afternoon, via a Tweet.

On Friday night, Plantesaid she took aCOVID-19 test and was going into preventive isolation after a case was detected"in her entourage."

Plante says she will continue to do her job remotely while she isolates.

Record case numbers

The province announced 3,768 cases on Friday.The previous record was on Jan. 9, when Quebec reported 3,127. On Sunday, the number of infections went up to 3,846 despite taking a dip on Saturday at 3,631.

Sunday, 29more people were admitted to hospital with the disease and the number of people in intensive care increased by five.

According to data released Thursday by Quebec's public health research institute, the INSPQ, there are currently309 presumed cases of the Omicron variant in the province.

The milestone comes as the Quebec government tightens measures ahead of the holiday season.

New measures coming in Quebec to combat Omicron variant

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Quebec Premier Franois Legault announced a number of measures to take effect on Monday in order to limit the Omicron variant from spreading.

Rapid tests coming Monday

Legault said, as of Monday, rapid tests will be available in pharmacies. However, people should be staying home if they have symptoms and getting officially tested.

Outbreaks at Laval hospital

Two outbreaks were detected over the weekend at Laval's Cit-de-la-Sant Hospital, one in Unit 4 and one at is Vieux-Moulin site. A total of six employees have so far tested positive, according to the local health board.

As a result, the Laval health board is reducing visits to one every 24 hours per patient at the hospital, the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital and in long-term care homes.

Changing booster shot age limits

As of Monday, people 65 and over will be able to make an appointment for a booster shot, Health Minister Christian Dub said. People with certain health conditions aged 60 and up will also be eligible.

The Monday after that, all people 60 and up will be able to make an appointment. From there, the aim is to begin offering the rest of the population booster shots in the new year.

Though some experts say it makes sense to prioritize those with a longer delay between their second dose and the booster, Quebec is lagging behind other provinces.

"We're ahead of everybody in terms of [infection] rates and behind everybody in terms of eligibility for third doses," saidDr. Don Vinh, an infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at McGill University Health Centre.

"It's almost like the government's trying to make the situation worse by doing the opposite of what every other province is starting to realize is common sense."

The government is using an "outdated" strategythat was used when the province had a shortage of vaccines, which Vinh says is no longer the case.

Two doses of the vaccine still provide important protection against hospitalization, but not necessarily against infection in the face of the new Omicron variant. Three doses are necessary to keep infection at bay, saysBenoit Barbeau, a professor of biological science at Universit du Qubec Montral.

Eastern Townships also see record case numbers

The Eastern Townships reported 396new cases on Friday, the highest daily total since the beginning of the pandemic, and there are currently 71 outbreaks and 1,822 active cases in the region.

The Massey-Vanier regional high school in Cowansville isshut down after at least one case of the Omicron variant was detected among its students.

Regional public health authoritieswarned people in the Townships today about the increasing pressure on Sherbrooke's Htel-Dieu and Fleurimont hospitals, the two main facilities for COVID-19 patients.

There are currently 35 people in hospital due to the virus, including four in intensive care, and authorities say non-urgent surgeries may have to be delayed to free up personnel and make room for rising hospitalizations.

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