Quebec reported 1,079 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday which marks the third straight day that it has surpassed the 1,000-case mark.
A day earlier, Canada’s worst hit province reported 1,107 new cases— the second most ever in a 24-hour stretch — and on Friday there were 1,052 new cases. No other province has ever recorded a 1000-plus increase even once throughout the pandemic.
This latest update marks the 10th straight day that Quebec 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.
In the latest 24-hour reporting period, two more people have died, however the province added 10 other fatalities from previous dates, and also subtracted one from its death toll (5,878) because an investigation has shown that the death can’t be attributed to COVID-19. In addition, 826 more people have recovered, which brings the province’s active case count to 7,277, the highest in Canada.
Of the province’s currently infected individuals, there are 334 in hospital and 64 in intensive care, up by eight and four since Saturday, respectively. The amount of patients in hospital is the most for Quebec since July 7, and the most in ICU since June 18.
In comparison, on Sept. 4, there were 102 people in hospital and 18 in intensive care throughout Quebec.
“The numbers can’t be argued … The situation is critical,” said Premier François Legault earlier in the week, as he announced new restrictions. “We’re doing this because we need to protect others. We need to protect kids who continue to go to school, those working in hospitals, the elderly.”
Of the latest 1,079 cases, 344 were identified in Montreal, 193 in Quebec City, 158 in Montérégie, 97 in Laval, 74 in Laurentides, 51 in Chaudière-Appalaches, 46 in Lanaudière, 39 in Outaouais and 33 in Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec. Of Quebec’s 18 regions, four of them reported zero new cases.
Montreal remains the nation’s epicentre with 35,167 total cases throughout the pandemic, more than every other province except for Ontario.
On Thursday, 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. The restrictions on businesses and gatherings, which are being blamed for the rise in cases, are expected to last at least 28 days.
After Quebec reported 1,052 new cases on Friday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said that the “situation is really critical,” and that the province “might need to close other activities in the coming days.”
Quebec’s testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 29,077 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity.
