COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Thursday - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 12:04 AM | Calgary | -11.5°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
MontrealThe Latest

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

Quebec has been reserving half its vaccine doses in order to ensure people receive their second doses, which provide much stronger protection against COVID-19.

Quebec to use all available vaccine doses, rather than hold second doses in reserve

Passengers are shown in the international arrivals hall at Montreal-Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Tuesday, December 29, 2020. The federal government announced that travellers will soon need to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding their flight. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
  • Quebec reported 2,819new caseson Thursday and 62more deaths, 22of which occurred in the last 24 hours.
  • Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 202,641 confirmed cases and 8,226people have died. One death was withdrawn from the count after an investigation showed it wasn't related to COVID-19. Here's aguide to the numbers.
  • There are 1,175 people in hospital (a decrease of 36), including 165 intensive care (an increase of 13).
  • 3,942 doses ofvaccine were administered yesterday, for a total of 29,250.
  • CBC Montreal is collecting stories from Quebecers who have recovered from COVID-19. If you would like to share your experience, pleaseget in touch.

Quebec's Health Ministry has decided to go ahead and use the second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, rather than keeping them in reserve.

The company says supply is assured, so there is no reason to hold the vaccines back.

A government forecast forhospitals in the Montreal areasays COVIDcasescould overwhelm facilities soon.

Thelatest reportfrom the Institutnational d'excellence en sant et en services sociaux(INESSS) indicates a "more than 50 per cent risk" that existing hospital bed capacity for COVID-19 patients in Greater Montreal will run out over the three-week forecast horizon.

The federal government has announced that air passengers entering Canada will soon need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test beforearriving in the country.

Under the new protocol, travellers must receive a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within a 72-hour period prior to boarding a plane.Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said heexpects the new rulewill be in force within a week.

Provinces including Quebec have been asking for mandatory testing before travellers who spent the holiday season abroad board their flight back home.

The measure does not replace the federal government's mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

Top COVID-19 stories today

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

  • Fever.
  • New or worsening cough.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose.
  • Gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea, diarrhea).

If you think you may have COVID-19, the government asks that you call18776444545to schedule an appointment at a screening clinic.

Quebec government reminders for preventing the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Wear a mask or face coveringwhen physical distancing is not possible. Wearing a mask is mandatory in enclosed public spaces across the province.
  • Stay at least two metres away from other people as much as possible.
  • Self-isolate for 14 days after returning from a stay outside the country.

You can find information on COVID-19 in the provincehereand information on the situation in Montrealhere.

Add some good to your morning and evening.

Your daily guide to the coronavirus outbreak. Get the latest news, tips on prevention and your coronavirus questions answered every evening.

...

The next issue of the Coronavirus Brief will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in theSubscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.