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

• Quebec reported1,527new caseson Friday and seven more deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been334,071confirmed cases and10,785people have died.
• There are 664people in hospital (an increase of three), including 167in intensive care (an increase of eight).
• 74,927vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours for atotal of 2,223,775sinceDec. 14.

There will be no non-essential travel allowed between Ontario and Quebec starting Monday.

Premier Doug Ford announced that checkpoints will appear at Ontario's borders between Quebec and Manitobain an effort to manage the pandemic's third wave. Exceptions include peopletravelling for work, seeking medical care, transporting goods and exercising Indigenous treaty rights.

Quebec Deputy Premier Genevive Guilbaultlater announced on Twitter that Quebec is doing the same, stopping people from coming in from Ontario.

"We are in discussions with the Ontario government to determine the terms," Guilbault said.

Speaking during a news conference on herside of the border Friday, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott anybody coming into his province without a valid reason will be turned back.

"These are tough but necessary measures to help us overcome this health crisis," she said.

Push for vaccinations

Health Minister ChristianDubis encouraging Montrealers over the age of 55 to get theAstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine this weekend. If more people get the shot, the minister says the province could start vaccinating the general population by the end of next month.

About 200,000 doses of that vaccine currently remain unused. Dub said finding people to take those shots willspeed up the province's vaccination timeline.

"I would love to start giving those appointments in the next few weeks," the minister said. "I think that it would encourage people to see that we are getting closer to vaccinating [everyone] for June 24, just like the premier promised."

The AstraZeneca vaccine is currently available to all Quebecers between the ages of 55 and 79, except in theAbitibi-Tmiscamingueregion.

New pop-up vaccination clinics opening

Dubsaid trucks with loudspeakers on them will be driving around some Montreal neighbourhoods this weekendadvising residents of the new pop-up vaccination clinics where they can get the AstraZeneca shot.

Residents in Notre-Dame-de-Grce, Cte-Saint-Luc and Hampsteadages 55 to 79 can get inoculatedwith the AstraZeneca-Oxfordvaccine at the Saint-Raymond Community Centre, 5600 Upper Lachine Road nextTuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Anappointment is necessary and can be madeby calling514-734-9912.

Eligible residents of Cte-des-Neiges, Outremont, Town of Mount Royal and Westmountwill be able to get their shotof AstraZeneca at the Centre de Ressources Communautaire Cte-des-Neiges, 6767 Chemin de la Cte-des-Neigesnext Friday and Saturday. To make an appointment call514-734-9912.

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