COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Tuesday
Masks now mandatory in class for students in 9 regions; more details on vaccine passport
- Quebec reported 345 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and three new deaths (two of them occurred in the last 24 hours, the other happened prior to Aug. 17)
- Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 385,465 confirmed cases and 11,283 people have died.
- There are 102 people in hospital (an increase of three), including 29 in intensive care (a decrease of two).
- 32,597 doses of vaccine were administered for a total of 12,131,278 doses administered in Quebec.
- 85 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) has received one dose of vaccine, and 77 per 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 Dubé 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. Dubé 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-François 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, Montérégie, Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Centre-du-Québec, 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.
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Top COVID-19 stories
- Montreal to end its local state of emergency on Friday.
- Quebec mandates vaccinations for all health-care workers and masks in post-secondary schools.
- Quebec could soon allow some 11-year-olds to get COVID-19 vaccine
- With September looming, parents across Canada call for pandemic-era safety measures and supports.
- Why it's now more likely you'll face coronavirus — even if you're vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Will Quebec's vaccine passport plan help the province stave off another lockdown?
- Public health officials in Laval and Montreal worry about the emerging 4th wave.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
- Fever.
- New or worsening cough.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose.
- Gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting).
- Sore throat, runny or stuffy nose.
- Generalized muscle pain.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
If you think you may have COVID-19, the government asks that you call 1‑877‑644‑4545 to schedule an appointment at a screening clinic.
To reserve an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, you can go on the online portal quebec.ca/covidvaccine. You can also call 1-877-644-4545.
You can find information on COVID-19 in the province here and information on the situation in Montreal here.