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

• On Monday, Quebec reported 1,407people in hospital (an increase of 57from the previous day), including 69in intensive care (a decrease of three from the previous day).
• The province reported 2,331new cases of COVID-19 and sevendeaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 978,924confirmed cases, and 14,411people have died.
• The province also reported a total of18,716,775doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered, including 8,408doses in the last 24 hours.
• 91 per cent of the eligible population in the province (agedfive and up) have received one dose of the vaccine;87per cent have received two doses, and 53 per cent have received three doses.

*The new cases are those reported to the Quebec government only. They are believed to be an underrepresentation of the virus's spread, given the limited availability of PCR tests and use of home testing kits.

*Quebec's Health Ministry announced it will no longerreport itsCOVID-19 numberson the weekend.

The Quebec government is expected to announce its decision regarding the timeline for lifting indoor masking rules for public spaces today.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Premier Franois Legault hintedthe province was leaning towardextending the measure past April 15 for a couple moreweeks, but he saidto not expect any new restrictions in the face of the sixth wave.

Over the weekend, Quebec's interim public health director Dr. Luc Boileau said he was'seriously considering' recommendingthe mask mandate be maintained due to the severity of the wave.

"We certainly expect to provide a recommendation in that direction," he said.

He said the government is calling on Quebecers to take precautions and to be informed about the risks of contracting the virus before doing an activity that involves other people.

Quebec Public Health made its recommendation about the future of masking to the government yesterday, and Boileau will provide an update on the situation today at 11 a.m.

Up to 32,000 dailyCOVID-19 cases last week: study

Meanwhile, there were between 18,000 and 32,000 new COVID-19 infections per day last week across Quebec, according to an estimate released Friday byMontreal-based research centre,CIRANO.

The data indicates a rise in cases of between 20 per cent and 40 per cent over the previous week.

"It's a very significant rise non-negligible and worrisome especially for those who are vulnerable to COVID and to health workers,'' said Roxane Borges Da Silva, a professor at Universitde Montral's school of public health who worked on the research.

The Quebec government, she said, should strengthen its messaging on COVID-19 and reconsider its plan to lift mask mandates in mid-April.

Hold off on lifting mask measures,experts say

Montreal virologist Benoit Barbeausays it would be prudent to see how the contagious Omicronsubvariant, known as BA.2, plays out in Europe before making a decision about masking in Quebec.

"I'd give it at least one week to better appreciate how the situation is evolving and how much we will be capable of maintaining transmission and the increase in the number in hospital cases."

Last week, atop infectious diseases specialist in Quebec said the sixth wave of the pandemic could worsen if the government forgoes some restrictions, such as masking. She said the government should reduce capacity in some businesses where the risk of infection is greater,such as restaurants.

"The pandemic is not over, and this sixth wave is probably going to be as bad as the fifth one. We should at least have the same sense of urgency," saidDr. Ccile Tremblay.

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