Quebec records 478 new COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths
Quebec is reporting 478 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and four more deaths attributable to the virus.
The province has been averaging 412 new infections on a daily basis over the last seven days.
Of the new cases, 345 are among unvaccinated Quebecers, or people less than 14 days removed from their first dose of vaccine.
Health officials say those who are unvaccinated are 19.7 times more likely to end up being hospitalized for COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated.
Pandemic-related hospitalizations dropped by two the last 24 hours with 18 patients admitted and 20 discharged for a total of 257. Of those, 66 are in the ICU which remains unchanged since yesterday.
To date, over 13,1 million shots have been administered in the province, including 10,021 doses in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Quebec’s health ministry said it will not be imposing mandatory vaccinations for school personnel following a recommendation by Public Health.
In a news release Wednesday, the ministry cited an improving epidemiological situation in Quebec and high vaccine coverage among school personnel in both public and private institutions, as well as among youth between the ages of 12 and 17.
In preschools, primary and secondary schools, 90 per cent of the personnel or 194,475 people are considered adequately vaccinated.
Furthermore, the ministry pointed to good control measures in schools aimed at preventing outbreaks, including rapid testing kits in elementary schools across the province, and less severe outcomes for children infected with COVID-19.
Immunization campaigns were also organized in schools where vaccine coverage was deemed insufficient.
Health officials are also getting ready to roll out vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11 to boost coverage and further reduce the risk of outbreaks.
The decision to not mandate vaccination for personnel also applies to CEGEPS and universities.
Since the start of the health crisis, Quebec has recorded 423,813 infections and 408,458 recoveries. The death toll linked to complications from the virus stands at 11,485.
by Global News
