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

• Quebec reported 345new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and three new deaths (two of them occurredin the last 24 hours, the other happened prior to Aug. 17)
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been385,465confirmed casesand11,283people have died.
• There are 102people in hospital (an increase of three),including 29in intensive care(adecrease of two).
• 32,597doses of vaccine were administered for a total of12,131,278doses administered in Quebec.
• 85per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 77per cent have received two doses.

The Quebec government will push ahead with its plan to introduce a vaccine passport Sept. 1 that will effectively bar people who aren't fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from visiting restaurants, taverns and other non-essential public activities.

Health Minister Christian Dub said the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the growing presence of the more dangerous delta variant made the passport system necessary.

The passport an electronic record of vaccination has already been tested out at a handful of establishments across the province. Dub said it proved to be functional and effective.

Masks in class

Quebec will require students in primary and secondary schools in several regions, including Montreal and Laval, to wear masks at all times while indoors when they return to class.

Education Minister Jean-Franois Roberge announced the changes to the back-to-school plan in a news conference Tuesday.

The masks would make a comeback in classrooms across Montreal, Laval, Montrgie, Lanaudire,the Laurentians, Centre-du-Qubec, Outaouais, the Eastern Townships and Mauricie.

"This is a measure that is preventive and prudent," Roberge said. "This is not a situation we were hoping for."

CEGEP students back in class

Most CEGEP students returned to in-person learning this week, after spending more than a year away from post-secondary classrooms.

Students are expected to follow sanitary guidelines, including wearing a mask at all times indoors.

About one in four 18- to 24-year-olds in Quebec still haven't received their first dose, but there still is no requirement to be vaccinated on campus.

WATCH| Infectious diseases specialist calls for masks, return to bubbles inschools

Pediatric infectious diseases specialist calls for masks, return to bubbles in Quebec schools

3 years ago

Duration 3:55

Dr. Earl Rubin of the Montreal Children's Hospital says it is prepared for an uptick in COVID-19 cases as children return to school

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