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

• Quebec reported 1,138new cases of COVID-19 and 28more deaths on Thursday, 10of which were in the past 24 hours. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been111,056confirmedcases and6,378people have died.
• There are 538peoplein hospital (a decrease of one), including 82in intensive care (an increaseof one).Here's aguide to the numbers.
• Having trouble keeping track of what's now closed?Consult our list.
• CBC Montreal is collecting stories from Quebecers who have recovered from COVID-19. If you would like to share your experience, pleaseget in touch.

The Lanaudire and Saguenay regions reached a record high for new daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with 162 new cases in Lanaudire and 109 in Saguenay.

Quebec Premier Franois Legault said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that those two regions have the highest number of cases per capita, and that he has asked the health and public security ministers to see what they can do to help.

"There is really a problem," Legault said.

WATCH| Premier Franois Legault on the possibility of making an exception to allow students to meet up:

Premier opens door to one-on-one visits

4 years ago

Duration 1:03

Premier Franois Legault says the province is trying to balance COVID precautions and quality of life, and will consider allowing two people to meet at a time.

The daily total of COVID-19 cases across the province has remained relatively stable since red zone restrictions were put in place, but in recent days, the number of hospitalizations related to the virus has crept back up.

Since last Friday, the number of people in hospital has gone from 496 to 538.

Even if the situation in Montreal does appear to be improving, there is no question of reopening gyms, museums, concert halls or restaurants in the province's COVID-19 red zones anytime soon, despite a request from Montreal public health officials to roll back some of them.

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• The pandemic has forced many Quebecers into difficult choices, includinga teacher who was forced to take an unpaid year offto care for her immunocompromisedchild.
• The province's public health director saysCOVID-19 vaccinations in Quebeccould begin in early 2021.
• Here's how the Abitibi-Tmiscamingue region has largelydodged the second COVID-19 wave.
• Howrapid testswork and why timing is critical.
• Quebec doctors treating COVID-19 havenew techniques and treatmentsbut there is still some unknown.
• This is what you can and can't do whileliving in a red zone.