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

• Quebec reported 410new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and fivenew deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 420,129confirmed casesand11,449people have died.
• There are 303people in hospital (same as Sunday),including 77 in intensive care(an increase of one).
• As of Monday, the province has administered13,101,548doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• 90 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 86per cent hasreceived two doses.

Note:Quebec'sHealth Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends and public holidays.

Quebecers can now obtain a proof of COVID-19 vaccination specifically intended for travel outside the province, the Health Ministryannounced Monday.

Officials said the new proof of vaccination will be accepted in all other provinces, as well as in parts of the United States and some other countries.

Public health officials said the document is different from the province's vaccination passport, which is used to access gyms, restaurants, bars and sporting and entertainment venues in Quebec.

The new proof of vaccination will be available for download from Quebec's COVID-19 website as a PDF, to be used on a mobile device or printed.

Health-care workers losebonuses

Health-care workers who aren't adequately vaccinated will lose their salary bonuses, starting today.

Quebec has offered bonuses for the past year and a half tohealth-care workers. Front-line health-care workers received an eight-per-cent salary increase, whereas employees who were at a lower risk of exposure to COVID-19received a four-per-cent increase.

Staff who aren't adequately vaccinated would also be ineligible for the recently announced $15,000 bonus, Health Minister Christian Dub told Radio-Canada's Tout le monde en parlelast night.

"The most important thing for me is to protect our network and protect our patients, so there will be difficult decisions to make on Nov. 15." he said.

As of Monday, 19,835 health-care workers are not adequately protected, including 13,816workers who haven't received their first dose.

U.S. land borders to reopen, molecular tests required

Canadians will still need to take a molecular test, like the expensive PCR test, in order to return to Canada from the United States after the land border reopens to fully vaccinated travellers on Nov. 8.

Currently, Canadians can fly to the U.S. as long as they have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure including a much cheaper and more easily accessed antigen test.

But to return to Canada, Canadians are required to provide a negative molecular test within 72 hours of departure.

Some PCR tests, which are commonly used by travellers, can cost more than $139 US. Other types of molecular tests, like a NAAT test, are also accepted.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed for non-essential travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Canada opened its border to U.S. travellers in early August.

Vaccination passport in health network

Quebec is now requiring people to show proof of vaccination before they can enter numerous health network facilities.

People aged 13 and older will need a vaccine passport to enter places such as hospitals, long-term care homes, clinics, rehabilitation centres and seniors residences.

The health order applies to caregivers, companions and visitors, but it includes several exceptions, notably that a passport won't be required to receive services or care.

The new rule was supposed to come into force at the same time as the vaccine mandate deadline for health-care workers, but the health minister postponed the deadline by one month.

Eastern Townships health authority cutting additional services

TheCIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUSsaid on Friday that it expects to be short at least 1,700staff membersonce the province's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for health-care workerskicks in next month.

The health authority had about 1,000 vacant positions to fill before the vaccine mandate was announced. Another approximately 1,000 health care workers have yet to get their vaccines.

As a result of the staffing shortage,the health authority is already starting to shut down some of its services immediately.

Restrictions loosened for bars, restaurants

The province is scaling back public health restrictions on bars and restaurants starting Nov. 1, allowing them to reach full capacity and halving the two-metre distance rule.

Normal operating hours will also be allowed, meaning bars can once again stay open until 3 a.m. Under the current rules, bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol until 1 a.m.and bars must close by2 a.m.

The ban on dancing, standing and singing will remain in effect, and thevaccination passport will still be required.Wearing masks will continue to be required when moving around the establishment.

If the distance of one metre cannot be achieved between tables, a barrier must be in place.

There will still be a cap on the number of people allowed at one table 10 people from three different households.

Top COVID-19 stories

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• U.S.confirms it will accept Canadian travellers with mixed vaccines
• Quebecpostpones vaccination mandate for health-care workers to Nov. 15
• These Quebec nursesare willing to sacrifice their careers to avoid getting COVID-19 shots
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• Quebec passes law to make protesting outside schools, hospitals and vaccinations sites illegal
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