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

• Quebec reported1,092new caseson Monday and 15 more deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been338,044confirmed cases and10,816people have died.
• There are 683people in hospital (an increase of three), including 183in intensive care (an increase of eight).
• 40,433vaccinedoses were administered in the last 24 hours for atotal of2,399,934sinceDec. 14.

Quebec is expected to make a decision soon onwhether it will makethe AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine available to younger age groups.

After getting his own dose of the Moderna vaccine, the province'spublic health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, said this morning he expects the age limit to be lowered to under 55 but the new limit hasn't been decided.

"All three vaccines used in Quebec are good. They are going to save lives," he said.

Right now, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is only available to Quebecers between the ages of 55 and 79, in line withrecommendations from the National Advisory Council on Immunization(NACI)earlier this spring.

Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba have announced they would be lowering the eligible age to 40 years and older for that vaccine.

NACI is expected to update their guidelines in the coming days, as well.

WATCH| Arruda ges vaccinated, and encourages others to follow suit:

Quebec's public health director gets 1st vaccine dose

3 years ago

Duration 1:12

Quebec's Public Health Director, Horacio Arruda, urged citizens to get their COVID-19 shot after he received his first jab Monday morning at a pharmacy in Saint-Eustache, Que.

Provincial border closed

Quebec and Ontario placed limits on crossing the provincial border.

Police wereat checkpoints set up this morning, allowing people to cross only for work, medical care, transporting goods and exercising Indigenous treaty rights.

The new rules created a long line of cars trying to enter Ottawa from Gatineau.

People comingto Quebec from Ontario are asked to quarantine at their home for 14 days unless theywere there for work, court or medical care.

Cases holding steady

Quebec has so far avoided the kind of spike in cases seen in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada. The province reported 1,092 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the fewest since late March.

"The situation in Quebec, honestly, is not comparable to what is happening in the rest of Canada, we're really heading toward a drop or a plateau,"Arruda said after receiving a first dose of the Moderna vaccine at a pharmacy.

"But we must never, ever cry victory because things can change from day to day."

Top COVID-19 stories today

• 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.