COVID live updates: Quebec reports 22 deaths and big drop in hospitalizations

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The situation in Quebec schools continues to improve. The number of COVID-related student absences fell by 33 per cent this week.

Mask-wearing shoppers exit a downtown department store in Montreal on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Mask-wearing shoppers exit a downtown department store in Montreal on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette

Updated throughout the day on Friday, May 6. Questions/comments: [email protected]

top updates

  • Live: Federal officials provide pandemic update
  • Quebec reports 22 deaths and big drop in hospitalizations
  • Pandemic eases in schools as Quebec reports 33% drop in student absences
  • Quebec lays out when and where masks will still be required after mandate ends on May 14
  • Workers in food, transport most likely to catch COVID-19 at work: Montreal study
  • Five COVID deaths in 2021 are linked to workplaces, Quebec workers board says
  • Cases of unexplained hepatitis in children keep Montreal doctors on the lookout
  • Quebec aims to personalize care and services with action plan for seniors
  • Health agency tracked Canadians’ trips to liquor stores, pharmacies via phones during pandemic
  • Quebec COVID guide: Vaccinations, testing
  • Sign up for our free nightly coronavirus newsletter

11:05 a.m.

Live: Federal officials provide pandemic update

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11:05 a.m.

Quebec reports 22 deaths and big drop in hospitalizations

(This item is being updated)

Quebec has recorded 1,243 new cases of COVID-19, the provincial government announced this morning.

The case tally only includes people who received PCR tests at government screening clinics. It does not accurately reflect the number of cases since it does not include the results of home rapid tests.

In addition, 22 new deaths were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 15,106.

Some other key statistics from Quebec’s latest COVID-19 update:

  • Net decrease in hospitalizations: 68, for a total of 2,051 (127 entered hospital, 195 discharged).
  • Net decrease in intensive care patients: 4, for a total of 60 (6 entered ICUs, 10 discharged).
  • 16,518 PCR tests conducted Wednesday.
  • 26,578 vaccine doses administered over previous 24 hours.

10:40 a.m.

Pandemic eases in schools as Quebec reports 33% drop in student absences

The number of Quebec children absent from school due to COVID-19 has fallen to its lowest level in seven weeks.

A total of 9,957 students were not in school on Tuesday because of COVID, compared to 14,746 a week earlier, according to an analysis of new data supplied by the Education Department.

That’s a 33-per-cent decrease. It’s the fourth consecutive week that school absences have declined.

Pandemic-related absences haven’t been this low since mid-March

The numbers include students who tested positive as well as those who were self-isolating without a positive test.

Of the 9,957 absent this week, 7089 were elementary school students, with 2,540 from high schools and 328 in adult education.

A week earlier, 10,114 elementary school students were not in school due to COVID, along with 4,093 high school students and 539 people in adult education.

Fewer classes are being taught remotely.

On Tuesday, students in 21 classes were learning virtually, compared to 25 a week earlier.

The number of teachers absent because of COVID is also dropping.

On Tuesday, 682 teachers were absent. That compares with 976 last week.

10 a.m.

Quebec lays out when and where masks will still be required after mandate ends on May 14

9:45 a.m.

Workers in food, transport most likely to catch COVID-19 at work: Montreal study

Employees in essential services where teleworking was not an option were most at risk of catching COVID-19 in the workplace, according to a study by Montreal’s public health department.

Read our full story, by Marian Scott.

9:45 a.m.

Five COVID deaths in 2021 are linked to workplaces, Quebec workers board says

Five Quebec workers died of COVID-19 infections that were acquired on the job in 2021, according to the province’s workers compensation board.

The board said it has accepted a total of 15 claims made by the estates of people who died from workplace-acquired COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic.

Read our full story.

9:30 a.m.

Cases of unexplained hepatitis in children keep Montreal doctors on the lookout

Though they say it’s too early for people to be alarmed, Montreal pediatricians are keeping an eye out for any cases of a severe and unexplained form of hepatitis affecting children around the world.

Given the pandemic, a connection to a previous COVID-19 infection is being tested, but not all affected children tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The WHO says a link to the COVID-19 vaccine has been ruled out, as most of the children had not received the vaccine.

Read our full story, by Jesse Feith.

9:30 a.m.

Quebec aims to personalize care and services with action plan for seniors

People living in Quebec’s long-term care centers and other residences deserve to receive more personalized services and care, Seniors Minister Marguerite Blais says.

Blais made the comments as she unveiled a five-year action plan that follows the housing policy she tabled last year. With the minister leaving politics at the end of her current mandate, the plan could be perceived as her political legacy.

Read our full story.

9:30 a.m.

Health agency tracked Canadians’ trips to liquor stores, pharmacies via phones during pandemic

Canadians’ movements, including trips to the liquor store and pharmacy, were closely tracked via their mobile phones without their knowledge during the COVID-19 pandemic, a report sent to a parliamentary committee shows.

Outbreak intelligence analysts BlueDot prepared reports using anonymized data for the Public Health Agency of Canada to help it understand travel patterns during the pandemic.

Read our full story.

9:15 a.m.

Quebec COVID guide: Vaccinations, testing

vaccinations

testing

8:30 a.m.

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