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

• Quebec reported 896new cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths Sunday.Two deaths occurring between Sept. 20and Sept. 25wereadded to the total. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been71,901confirmedcases and5,825peoplehave died.
• There are 216peoplein hospital (a decrease of one), including 41 in intensive care(a decrease of four). One week ago, there were 148 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• Having trouble keeping track of what has reopened?Consult our list.

The number of COVID-19 infections in the provincecontinues to surge, Quebec reporting 896 new cases on Sunday. That'sthe highest single-day increase since early May, when the province was still in the grips of thefirst wave of infections.

The number of hospitalizations and patients in the intensive care unit saw a slight decrease compared to yesterday. But over the past week hospitalizations have risen 46 per cent.

Quebec's seven-day moving average is now at 73cases per million inhabitants. The government had hoped to keep that number below 25 per million.

"The high increase in cases is mainly associated to community transmission of the virus,"Health Minister Christian Dubwrote Sunday on Twitter.

He is urging the public to avoid social gatherings for the next 28 days.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• Residents at CHSLD Herron in isolation after staff member tests positive for COVID-19
• How Quebec's bungled messaging is hampering the anti-virus effort.
• Quebec announced $85 million in funding to help schools adapt to the pandemic.
• An outbreak on a floor of a Laval CHSLD has infected at least 11 residents and seven employees.
• Doctors in Quebec long-term care hospitals lean on each other as second wave begins.
• McGillstudents say COVID-19 is more widespread than reported by the university.