COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend

• On Sunday, Quebec reported2,081people in hospital (a decrease of 62from the previous day), including 140 in intensive care (a decrease of 12 fromthe previous day).
• The province reported 1,870new cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 898,842confirmed cases and 13,693people have died.
• The province also reported Friday a total of18,372,148doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered, including33,661in 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.

Over 20 per cent of paramedics were off the job Sunday, saysUrgences-Sant, the ambulance service for Montreal and Laval.

That amounts to 20 ambulances which would typically staff 40 paramedics, said spokesperson Stphane Smith. There are likely to be delays for those with non-urgent health concerns as a result.

On Sunday173 paramedics and 86 ambulanceswere needed on the road, however they were forced to make due with only133 paramedics and 66 ambulances.

While paramedic shortages are nothing new, the situation has deteriorated with the arrival of the Omicron variant, he said.

"Since Christmas our weekends have been very difficult," he said, with many having to isolate because themselves or another in the family has contracted the virus.

Paramedics on stress leave and vacations are also contributing to the shortage, Smith said.

"Paramedics are tired. It's been two years that we have been living through a pandemic," he said. "There's always more and more overtime coming their way."

Restrictions loosening

As of Saturday, Quebec is no longer placing anyrestrictions on home gatherings, thoughpublic health officials are still recommending having at most 10 people present, or only those from three households.

In addition, restaurants arenow allowed to accommodate the same number of peopleper table.

The relaxed rules are part of a phased re-opening that the Quebec government announced Tuesday. Starting Monday,organized sports matcheslike hockey will be allowed to resume, and gyms and spas will also open.

Almost all restrictions in Quebec to be lifted by March 14, Legault says

3 years ago

Duration 2:02

Calling it a 'calculated risk to learn to live with the virus,' Quebec Premier Franois Legault outlined a series of dates to lift COVID-19 restrictions, with almost all being eliminated by mid-March.

People living in long-term care in Quebec will also be able to receive more visitors, and will be able to leave their residences tovisit family and friends.

Until now, only registeredcaregivers were allowed in. Visitors to long-term care homes must be fully-vaccinated.

People living in provincially-funded care homes (CHSLDs) will be able to receive a maximum of two visitors per day, while those living in private long-term care homes (RPAs) will be allowed up to four visitors per day.

Visitors had been limited since the end of December, due to concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant.

Benot Msse, epidemiologist and professor at the Universit de Montral,says people will still need to be careful about increasing close contacts, with the Legault government effectively leaving the decisions in the public's hands.

"We might be tired of the virus and...the measures, but the virus is not tired of us," saidMsse. "If there's a lot of contacts in a short period of time, we can expect hospitalization to increase in a matter of 10 days, maybe two weeks."

He saysthe Quebec government should consider setting up anearly warning system and random COVID-19 testingto track trends in infections before cases overwhelm hospitals.

Protesters rally in Montreal in support of Ottawa protests

Protesters calling for the end of pandemic restrictions marchedthroughthe neighbourhood of Villeray in Montreal Saturdaymorning, ahead of a planned convoy to Ottawa.

Demonstrators marched throughresidential streets around Jarry Park, before regrouping at the park for a rally.

People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier gave a speech to the crowd denouncing vaccine mandates, saying they constitute a form of discrimination.

Organizers invited protesters tojoinconvoys from the Beauce and the Eastern Townships regions headed to Ottawa early this afternoon.

A smaller group of counter-protesters also marched through Villeray, denouncing the movement against pandemic measures as a "front for the far-right."

Old Brewery Mission winds down COVID-19 isolation shelter

Montreal's Old Brewery Mission says it's wrapping up operations at a soccer stadium which was being used as a shelter for homeless people with COVID-19.

The shelter was set up last month at theStade de soccer deMontralin theVilleraySaint-MichelParc-Extension borough,but the mission says the situation has now stabilized.

The Old Brewery Mission says it housed more than 300 people for stays ranging from 6 to 10 days.

A COVID-19 isolation zone for people living on the street will now resume at the Abri du Voyageur hotelin downtown Montreal.

Meanwhile, Quebec unveiled a newCOVID-19self-assessment toolFriday to help people determine whether they need to isolate based on their situation.

The site provides a recommendation on instructions to follow, depending on whether the person has symptoms compatible with COVID-19 or has been in contact with apositive case.

Health minister Christian Dubsaid the site is "one more tool to allow Quebecers to manage their own risk with respect to COVID."

Top COVID-19 stories

• Data, tests and transparency: What Quebec needs to live with COVID-19
• Quebec plans to lift most pandemic restrictions by mid-March
• 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
• Quebec announces plan to reopen restaurants, cinemas in coming weeks
• 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