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

• Quebec reported 1,094new caseson Wednesdayand 12 more deaths. Two previously reported deaths are no longer attributed to COVID-19.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 347,690confirmed cases and10,908people have died.
• There are 643people in hospital (adecrease of 24), including 161in intensive care (adecrease of nine).
• 50,312vaccinedoses were administered in the last 24 hours for atotal of 2,967,209sinceDec. 14.

Quebec will soon make vaccines available to the general population.

Details forhow the vaccine rollout will work will be announced at a news conference Thursday, sources have told Radio-Canada.

The province is expecting a significant increase in shipments of vaccine starting next week.

Third wave on wane in Montreal

In an updatethis afternoon, Montreal's public health director,Dr. Mylne Drouin, saidshe's pleased with how the city has fared in the third wave, maintaining a stability in cases and keeping hospitalizations at a fraction what they were in the second wave.

Still, Drouin urged caution, saying things could change quickly as has been seen elsewhere in the province with superspreader events.

Drouin said the city has seen fewerthan 2,000 new cases in the last 14 days, as well a stable positivity rate of about three per cent, despite the highly transmissibile variant of concern B117 making up 65 per cent of new cases.

The curfew in Montreal and Laval will be pushed back to 9:30 p.m. starting next Monday, given the improving situation in the two cities.

Woman dies after getting AstraZeneca vaccine

Francine Boyer, 54, died last Friday two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

On Tuesday, Quebec's public health director,Dr. Horacio Arruda, confirmed thattests showed the antibodies created by the vaccine caused the platelet problem that led to her death.

He said 400,000 Quebecers have so far received the vaccine and that the woman's death iswithin the vaccine's average risk, which is that serious complications arise in one in every 100,000 people vaccinated.

Arruda said it's important to weigh the risk of vaccination against the much higher risk of serious complications related toCOVID-19.

WATCH:Dr. Zain Chaglaon the risks and benefits of the vaccine

Weighing the benefits against the risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine

3 years ago

Duration 7:47

Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Zain Chagla says rare adverse reactions and even deaths related to the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine must be balanced against the much higher numbers of COVID-19 deaths and serious illness that can be prevented by receiving the vaccine.

Elementary schools to open again in Quebec City

Also yesterday, Legaultsaid elementary schools will open back up in Quebec City and Chaudire-Appalaches, though secondary schools inBeauce, Lac-Etcheminand part of Bellechasse will remainclosed given the level of spread in the community, he said.

"We are getting out of the tunnel but the train of the third wave will hit us if we don't progress gradually," Legault said at a news conference Tuesday.

Given the high positivity rate in the Outaouais region, public health measures will stay in effect until May 9.

Pregnant peoplenext on priority list

Vaccines will alsobe made available to pregnant people starting today, aftersome doctorshad called for them to be given priority.

Legault said they are still waiting for those with chronic illnesses and disabilities to make their appointments. As vaccine supply ramps up, he said, they will soon make doses available to the general population.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• A day in the ICU at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital.
• An 'insensitive' vaccination notice was apainful reminder of father's COVID-19 death.
• Deaths and hospitalizations are down among older people, as the vaccination campaign ramps up.
• Pregnancy should be next priority for COVID-19 vaccine in Quebec,obstetricians say.
• Some Quebec companies are offering bonuses to workers who get vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Canadians over 30 should be offered AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, advisory body recommends.
• Federal modelling data suggest lockdowns have slowed COVID-19 spread.
• Health Canada to start real-time review of Medicago COVID-19 vaccine.
• Quebec is planning to use a different vaccine for the 2nd dose in some cases. Here's what the experts say.
• What we know about the coronavirus variant contributing to India's surging caseload.