COVID-19: Quebec Prime Minister to Support Press as Province Announces 6,361 New Cases | The Canadian News

Quebec reported 6,361 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, more than 1,300 more than the day before, as the Omicron variant becomes the dominant strain in the province.

Quebec Prime Minister François is expected to announce new measures during a press conference on COVID-19 on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Health officials said Tuesday they believe about eight out of 10 infections are related to Omicron.

Hospitalizations related to the pandemic are also increasing with 76 new patients admitted and 46 discharged for an increase of 30. Of the 445 patients, 88 people are in intensive care.

The already fragile healthcare network is coming under increasing pressure as cases and hospitalizations increase.

On Monday, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced new measures in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.

He also said that vaccination remains crucial to get the province out of this situation.

On Tuesday, Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbualt reiterated the threat posed by the highly contagious Omicron variant on the province’s hospital capacity and requested the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces to expedite the administration of the third booster doses.

Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair said the growing number of cases in Quebec is very worrying and that the federal government will work with the province.

Health officials have stated that a third dose provides 75 percent protection against Omicron, compared to about 30 percent with two doses.

Dubé said a record number of Quebecers had booked an appointment for a shot on Tuesday with more than 315,000 people signed up.

More than 73,000 doses were administered and of these, about 64,000 injections were for third doses.

To date, the province has registered 501,698 infections and 11,652 deaths, including two in the last 24 hours.

– With a file from The Canadian Press