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

• Quebec reported 506new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and three new deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 413,306confirmed casesand11,400 people have died.
• There are 294people in hospital (an increase of three),including 90in intensive care(no change).
• The province has administered12,963,912doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 8,846in the last 24 hours.
• 89per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 85per cent hasreceived two doses.

Note:Quebec'sHealth Ministry does not publishthe number of vaccine doses administered over the weekend.

All federal employees, including "core public administration" and the RCMP,must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the month's end or be forced into an unpaid leave of absence.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally unveiled his government's mandatory vaccine policy today.

All would-be travellers must also be fully vaccinated by Oct. 30 before boarding planes, trains or marine vessels.

Ifemployees still haven't had their shots or received some sort of accommodation under theCanadian Human Rights Acttwo weeks after that date, they will face "disciplinary action that could ultimately cost them their job," a senior government official said at a technicalbriefing with reporters ahead of Trudeau's announcement.

Unvaccinated employees will be barred from going to work, either in person or remotely, and they will be put on administrative leave and denied pay.

Vaccines at construction sites

The Quebec government has launched a project to get construction workers vaccinatedin its latest push tocurb outbreaks of COVID-19 at jobsites.

Mobile vaccination units will be deployedto construction sites across Quebec togive workers the opportunity to get a shot on the job.

The group representing Quebec general contractors,theCorporation des entrepreneurs gnraux du Qubec(CEGQ),is partnering with the Health Ministry to make it happen.

The province says construction sites are linked to a high number of outbreaks about 1,200 since the start of the pandemic. About 4,000 workers have been infected, according to CEGQ presidentric Ct.

"The average age of the workers is around 40, so we know that's the group of vaccinated people that's under the average," he said."If you make [vaccines] available for them, they will show up,and they are showing up."

Paramedic pilot project

Health Minister Christian Dub says paramedics will soon be given the powerto provide urgent and primary care inside hospitals, long term carehomes and clinics, as part of theongoingeffort to ease staffing shortages in the province's health care system.

Dubsays Quebec will start with a pilot project of about 20 paramedics in the Montrgie region. Those first responders will be trained in the coming days and, if things go well, the plan could be expanded to all of Quebec's 6000 paramedics.

Stphane Smith, a spokesperson for Urgences Sant, expressed concern about the new approach, sayingparamedics have regularly been working mandatory overtime and certain regions can't affordto spare any staff.

Restrictions on venue capacity to be lifted

As of Friday, show venues in Quebec will no longer have restrictions on the number of people they take in.

The change applies to venues with assigned seating such as cinemas, theatres and amphitheatres such as Montreal's Bell Centre.

Only people who show proof that they are adequately vaccinated will be allowed entry. Wearing masks will be mandatory while seated, unless a person is eating or drinking. The same rules will apply to outdoor venues.

There are exceptions when it comes to the use of the vaccination passport, however. For events such as graduation ceremonies, large meetings and assemblies, proof of vaccination status will not be required unless the number of people attending surpasses 250.

Members of choirs and orchestras will be able to gather indoors in groups of up to 100, instead of the current limit of 25.

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• Quebec passes law to make protesting outside schools, hospitals and vaccinations sites illegal
• Groups say Quebec's bonus pay for nurses won't solve staffing crisis.