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

• On Monday, Quebec reported2,095people in hospital (an increase of 14 from the previous day), including 136in intensive care (a decrease of four fromthe previous day).
• The province reported 1,431new cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 900,273confirmed cases and 13,710people have died.
• The province also reported Monday a total of18,198,492doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered, including12,174in the last 24 hours.
• 91 per cent of the eligible population in the province (agedfive and up) have received one dose of the vaccine;86 per cent have received two doses, and 49per 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.

Gyms and spas areopening their doorsat half capacity across Quebec today as the province enters thenext stage of its COVID-19 reopening plan.

Indoor sports and recreation activities can also resume (including at colleges and universities) with a maximum of 25 people per group. Competitions and tournaments remain prohibited until Feb. 28.

Relaxation of vaccine passport could be imminent

Premier Franois Legaulttold reporters today that Health Minister Christian Dub plans to ''get rid of the pass as soon as we get the OK from public health."

But Legault said it will depend on what his committee of experts saystonight at their regular, weekly briefing.

Sources have told Radio-Canada thatthe government is considering lifting the requirement to show vaccine passports at box stores, SAQs and provincial cannabis stores.

The sources sayvaccine passports are likely to stay in effect at gyms, restaurants, and theatres.

Here's what's happening next door in Ontario, where the government has decided to do away with vaccine passports March 1.

Time to fix flaws in health system: frontline workers

Chronic underfunding, insufficient beds and inadequate staffing have plagued Quebec's health-care system for years. Frontline workers tell CBC that COVID-19 simply made it more glaring.

As the province lifts further restrictions, health-care workers say unless the system undergoes a major overhaul, the long-standing problems highlighted by the pandemic will have disastrous consequences in the years to come.

WATCH | The system was already broken, this cardiac surgeon says:

Health-care system needs major reforms, cardiac surgeon says

3 years ago

Duration 2:24

Dr. Louis P. Perrault, president of Quebec's Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons, says that unless the system undergoes a major overhaul, the consequences will be disastrous.

Top COVID-19 stories

• Quebecunveils new isolation guidelines for those who caught COVID-19 in 5th wave
• Quebec plans to lift most pandemic restrictions by mid-March
• Data, tests and transparency: What Quebec needs to live with COVID-19
• Atleast 2 million Quebecers infected with Omicron variant since December
• Community workers are keen to tackle Montreal's pockets of unvaccinated
• Quebec was among the first to test wastewater for COVID-19. Then it stopped funding the research
• As Quebec moves to ease COVID-19 restrictions, daily death toll remains in double digits
• What to do if you think you have the Omicron variant