Quebec health officials have identified 279 new cases of COVID-19, the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 3.
It’s also the third straight day that the province has recorded over 200 cases. The last time it had a similar stretch was June 5-7. Officials have now reported over 100 cases in 16 straight reporting periods; before the recent stretch, it had recorded fewer than 100 cases on 14 of its last 18 occasions.
In recent weeks, the virus has spread all throughout the province in various settings. Of the most recent 279 cases, 57 were identified in Montreal, 42 in Quebec City, 38 in Montérégie, 27 in Laval, 26 in the Laurentides, 21 in Bas-Saint-Laurent, 20 in Chaudière-Appalaches, 17 in Estrie and 15 in Outaouais.
Quebec’s testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 20,479 tests for COVID-19. It’s the third straight time that labs have completed at least 20,000 tests — a mark it had never hit before.
“All Quebecers have a responsibility and that is to prevent a second wave. … We’re not in a second wave but the trend is not good,” said Quebec Premier François Legault on Friday.
“I don’t plan and I don’t hope to have to go into each house, so I’m asking the population, please look at the number of cases, look at the virus. It’s serious, so please don’t do big parties without respecting the directives.”
One more person has died in the province’s latest 24-hour stretch. However, the death toll remains at 5,780, since an investigation has determined that a previously announced fatality was in fact not due to COVID-19.
Two-hundred and fourteen patients have also recently recovered. Throughout the province, there are 1,938 active cases, up by 65 since Saturday. Of those currently infected patients, 124 of them are in hospital, which includes 19 in intensive care.
On Saturday, several thousands of people gathered in downtown Montreal to protest against the Quebec’s government’s most recent mask mandate; it allows police to fine anyone who isn’t wearing a mask when required to, such as in enclosed public places.
Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has been Canada’s worst-hit province. It currently has the most total cases (64,986), active cases (1,938) and deaths (5,774) of all of the nation’s jurisdictions.
