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

• On Tuesday, Quebec reported2,742people in hospital (an increase of 188from the previous day), including 255in intensive care (a decrease ofseven).
• The province reported 8,710new cases of COVID-19 and 62new deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic,there have been758,576confirmed cases and 12,028 people have died.
• On Monday, the province also reported a total of15,853,252doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered, including 97,295in the last 24 hours.
• 89 per cent of the eligible population in the province (ages five and up) has received one dose of the vaccine, 82 per cent have received two doses, and 24 per cent have received three doses.

The new cases represent 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.

Unvaccinated Quebecerswho don't have a medical exemption will have to pay a "significant" health tax if they don't get vaccinated soon, PremierFranois Legaultannounced on Tuesday.

"These people, they put a very important burden on our health-care network," Legault said during a news conference. "I think it's reasonable a majority of the population is asking that there be consequences."

Roughly 10 per cent of eligibleQuebecers remain unvaccinated, but health officials say they take up about 50 per cent of COVID-19 beds in hospitals.Several regional health boards have had to cancel up to 80 per cent of non-urgent and semi-urgent surgeries to free up staff to help with COVID-19 infections.

Legault did not say when the payment would take effect or how much it would cost, but he did say he wanted it to be "significant"enough to act as an incentive to get vaccinated more than $50 or $100, he added.

He said the contribution could be included in people's provincial tax filings, but he did not say whether it would be in those for 2021, which are to be filed by April 30, 2022.

WATCH| Quebec health minister says latest restrictions are helping slow the virus's spread

Health minister says Quebec's tough measures are starting to show results

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Christian Dub says new daily hospitalizations are no longer increasing, which he says is evidence that restrictions like the curfew are slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Boileau replaces Arruda as public health director

Quebec Premier Franois Legault has named Dr. Luc Boileau as the province's new public health director, on an interim basis.

Boileau takes over from Dr. Horacio Arruda, who had held the job for nearly 12 years and was reappointed to another three-year term in June 2020.

Arruda submitted his letter of resignation on Monday as the Omicron wave overwhelms hospitals across the province, forcing the health-care network to postpone surgeries and other medical services.

600,000 rapid test kitscoming to pharmacies today

Thousands are expected to begin lining up in front of pharmacies all over the province on Tuesday to pick up rapid testing kits that are in high demand.

It could be a frosty wait. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an extreme cold warning. Several pharmacy chains have opted to create appointments for rapid test pickups.

Pharmacies are expected to receive 600,000 kits with five rapid tests each inside. Each person is eligible for one kit.

Last month, when pharmacies first received the kits, there were long lineups and the tests were scooped up within hours of their deliveries.

The at-home tests have become one of the only ways Quebecers can find out if they are infected with COVID-19 or not, with public PCR testing now reserved to health-care workers and some marginalized groups.

Montreal hospitals go to highest alert level

Three hospitals in Montreal's north end are now at a Level-4 alert, including Sacr-Coeur hospital.

TheCIUSSS du Nord-de-l'le-de-Montral isthe fifth regional health board in the province to issue a Level-4 alert the highest level in the province's contingency plan to cope with COVID-19's strain on the healthcare system.

Under the measures, hospitals will be able to close emergency rooms, delay up to 80 per cent of their surgeries, and close urgent care departments such as cardiology and trauma centres, redirecting those patients elsewhere.

Hospitals in the Eastern Townships, the Mauricie and Montrgie-Est are among those thatrecently moved to Level 4.

The Montreal hospitals affectedby themeasures as of Monday includeSacr-Coeur,Jean Talon Hospital and theFleury Hospital.

While elective surgeries won't be happening, all urgent and semi-urgent surgeries and oncology cases will still be able to goahead at their hospitals, said a spokesperson with the regional health board in a statement to Radio-Canada.

Their trauma centres will also remain open.

The two psychiatric hospitals in the region are not affectedby the measures.

Over 200 test positive among Montreal's homeless

According to Montreal public health, 216 homeless people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week.

In recent days, it's climbed to about 50 positive cases a day, with at least 23 known outbreaks in the community.

Shelters are struggling to keep up with the demand, withmanystaying in shelters to isolate now that they have tested positive for the virus.

Top COVID-19 stories

• Quebec's new restrictions have been met with mixed reactions
• Experts warn outbreaks in Quebec's long-term care homes could get worse before they improve
• Quebec sees recordnumber of kids in hospital with COVID-19
• Here's how Quebec plans to keep some COVID-infected, exposed essential workers on the job
• Several Montreal hospitals restrict visitors amid soaring COVID-19 cases
• What to do if you think you have the Omicron variant