Quebec reported 1,052 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the most the province has announced since May 1 for a 24-hour stretch.
On May 3, the province did announce 2,209 cases, but that was in part due to a data error that missed 1,317 positive cases in April.
This latest update marks the eighth straight day that the province has recorded at least 600 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not hit that mark since May 26. Since then, it has also experienced multiple stretches where the province consistently reported fewer than 100 daily cases as it contained the spread of COVID-19.
“Today’s numbers show us that the situation is really critical,” said Quebec Premier François Legault on Friday, while noting that the province “might need to close other activities in the coming days.”
Of the latest 1,052 cases, 357 were identified in Montreal, 183 in Quebec City, 112 in Montérégie, 92 in Laval, 73 in Chaudière-Appalaches, 50 in Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec, 38 in Lanaudière, 37 in Estrie, 36 in Laurentides, 32 in Outaouais and 26 in Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Of Quebec’s 18 regions, three of them reported zero new cases.
On Monday, enhanced restrictions under the province’s red alert (the highest) came into effect for the greater Montreal region, Chaudiere-Appalaches and the majority of the Quebec City region.
Across schools in the province, 182 new cases of COVID-19 were identified, with 144 among students and 38 among staff. Of the 2,141 total cases, 1,341 are considered active, with 78 more having recovered since the last update.
There are currently 674 class bubbles that have been sent home and asked to learn remotely, up by 43. Of the province’s 3,089 schools, 785 of them have had a case of COVID-19, an increase of 65. However, 149 of them don’t currently have an active case, up by 10, since the individuals have recovered.
“For schools, for me, it’s the last thing I want to close,” said Legault. “I will do everything I can to keep schools open.”
In the latest 24-hour stretch, no one has died, however the province added seven fatalities to its death toll (5,857) that occurred before Sept. 30. In addition, 539 more people have recovered, which brings the province’s active case count to 6,733, the highest in Canada.
Quebec’s testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 30,252 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity.
Of the province’s currently infected individuals, there are 302 in hospital and 49 in intensive care, up by 27 and three since Thursday, respectively.
