Quebec added 882 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and one new death, bringing the number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 441,344.
The health authorities, however, indicate that 423,075 people have recovered.
The number of active cases has risen to 6,703, and the seven-day average of daily infections remains above the 700 mark at 751.
Of the new cases reported Tuesday, 537 are among people who are not vaccinated or who did not receive a first dose of the vaccine for less than 14 days.
The last time new cases were this high in Quebec was September 11, when 995 new infections were reported.
Hospitalizations are increasing with 27 new patients admitted and 19 discharged for a total of 211, an increase of eight in the last day. Of those hospitalized, 46 are in the ICU.
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More than 80,000 appointments booked when Quebec opens COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 to 11
Inoculation of children between the ages of five and 11 began Wednesday at mass vaccination centers across the province.
It will also be possible for children in that age group to get a chance at school starting next week. Parents should expect to see the consent forms in the next few days.
By Tuesday, the first day of registration, the parents had booked 80,000 appointments for an injection, by midafternoon.
Quebec Prime Minister François Legault said there are about 650,000 eligible children in that age group in the province.
The goal is to have one dose administered before Christmas, with an eight week delay for the second dose.
The benefits of vaccinating children, Legault said Tuesday, are reducing the risk of children experiencing severe symptoms and also preventing outbreaks in schools and subsequent school closings.
So far, 79.8% of the population has received at least one vaccine. This percentage rises to 91.1 for those 12 and over who have received at least one dose and to 88.8 for those duly vaccinated.
The third dose booster shots are now available for people 70 years of age and older, as well as those who received two doses of AstraZeneca, as long as a period of six months has passed since the previous injection.
The virus has claimed the lives of 11,566 Quebecers to date.
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Reference-globalnews.ca