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

• Quebec reported1,248 new caseson Thursday and seven more deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 341,645 confirmed cases and10,845 people have died.
• There are 711 people in hospital (a decrease of 5), including 174 in intensive care (a decrease of four).
• 84,837 vaccinedoses were administered in the last 24 hours for atotal of 2,589,682 sinceDec. 14.

The federal government will ban passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days starting tonight.The ban is being imposed to deal with concerns over India's rising case loads and mutations of the coronavirus.

Quebec, meanwhile,hasreleased a new list of chronic conditions and illnesses which will qualify people for priority vaccination.

Also, as of April 28, everyone who has a physical or intellectual disability will be able to make an appointment. This includes people with speech, language, visual, auditory impairments or autism.

The appointments can be made either in a vaccination clinic or in a pharmacy. For this group, one caregiver per eligible person can sign up as well. The full list can be found here.

Record vaccination day

Health MinisterDub said the province had a record day in its vaccination campaign Wednesday, with more than 85,000 doses administered, including 30,000 of the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot.

As of yesterday, Quebecers as young as 45 were eligible to get the AstraZeneca, and thousands either signed up or lined up for one. Previously, theAstraZeneca vaccinewas only available toQuebecers between the ages of 55 and 79.

While some regions are reporting that all of their doses have already been reserved or administered, it was not clear how many, if any, remainedavailable in key places like Montreal.

The province had about 191,000 doses remaining before the eligibility age was lowered.

New variant detected

On Wednesday, a first case of a COVID-19 variant first detected in India wasidentified in Quebec's MauricieCentre-du-Qubecregion.

Dr. Alain Lamarre, an immunologist and virologist with Quebec's research institute(INRS), says the two mutations present in the B1617 variant have been associated with a poorer antibody response. He also saysit's not clear if the infection is due to travel abroad.

TheMauricieCentre-du-Qubecregion region is between Montreal and Quebec City.

A push for vaccinations in Beauce

The province istrying to boost low vaccination numbers in the Chaudire-Appalaches region.

As of yesterday, the regional health authority set upmobile vaccination sites at some workplaces, hoping to reach people who want to get the shot, but have struggled to make time for it.

Indigenous people living in the Montreal region will also be able to get vaccinated as of Friday. Gohere for more information.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• Osheaga cancelled again for this summer, back in 2022.
• Quebec ICUs steel themselves for one last COVID-19 surge.
• Moderna slashing vaccine deliveries to Canada, but Pfizer steps up with 8 million more doses.
• Lessons from Quebec City's gym outbreak, one of Canada's largest COVID-19 superspreading events.
• More than 200 travellers fined for refusing to quarantine in hotels after landing in Canada.