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

• Quebec reported 14,188new cases ofCOVID-19 on Thursday and nine new deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 586,607confirmed cases and11,711 people have died.
• There are 939people in hospital (an increase of 135from the previous day),including 138 in intensive care (an increase of 16).
• The province has administered 14,995,780doses ofCOVID-19 vaccines as of Thursday.
• 89per cent of the eligible population in the province (ages five and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, 82per cent hasreceived two doses, and 15per cent have received three doses.

*Quebec's Health Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends and public holidays. It will not be publishing daily COVID-19 data onDec. 31, Jan. 1 and 2.

Quebec is once again imposing a curfew in an effort to curb the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, as well as closing restaurant dining rooms, delaying the reopening of schools and closing non-essential businesses on Sundays.

Indoor gatherings involving more than one household bubble will also be prohibited.The new restrictions will take effect Dec. 31 at 5 p.m.

The province's health-care institute also released its latest hospitalization projections today. Models based on data collected between Dec. 18 and 24 showthat both the numberintensive-care patients and total hospitalizations could double within three weeks.

Of the new cases confirmed this week, 643 are at high risk of hospitalization, including 191 needing intensive care. Most patients (64 per cent) live in the greater Montreal area, and people age 70 and over represent 49 per cent of hospitalizations.

The number of cases in the province continues to spike, with a 172 per cent increase compared to the previous week. The spike in cases is most noticeable among 18- to 39- year-olds (+298 per cent).

The strain on the health-care system has led Quebec to create a four-level system determining when health-care workers who have tested positive for the disease can return to work.

Website for screening appointments fixed

Quebec's website to book appointmentsforaCOVID-19 PCR testisoperating againafter it erroneously scheduled 15,000 appointments, causingclinicsto turn people away Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson for the Health Ministry says the website'shigh traffic led to technical issues that caused the website to book more appointments than testing centres could handle.

The province is asking Quebecers to only go to a testing clinic when you are showingCOVID-19 symptoms and do not have access to a rapid test.

Who should and shouldn't get tested at a COVID-19 screening centre in Montreal

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Public Health Director Dr. Mylne Drouin says people should avoid going to a testing centre unless they have symptoms. Positive case contacts and people who have received positive rapid tests should avoid overrunning the testing centres, she says.

No more rapid tests in Quebec pharmacies

Quebec pharmacies have run out of rapid tests, according to a group representing pharmacist-owners, the Association qubcoise des pharmaciens propritaires.

The association's president told Radio-Canada that more rapid tests likely won't be available until next week, and when those tests will be delivered has yet to be confirmed.

"It does not help to contact us to try to get some," said Benoit Morin. "There arenone at the moment."

Montreal hotelfor homeless population

Thecity of Montreal has requisitioned a hotelto help alleviate pressure onthe health-care network and support community organizations accommodating COVID-19 patients who are experiencing homelessness.

The hotel, run by theCIUSSSduCentre-Sud-de-l'le-de-Montralandthe Old Brewery Mission, will offer 111 places to those living with homelessnesswho have tested positive for COVID-19 and do not need to be hospitalized, as well as those awaiting test results and those in need of a place to self-isolate.

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