Quebec reported 22 more deaths associated with COVID-19 on Sunday, as the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 dropped to 2,411, the lowest since early January.
Of those who were newly admitted, 19 per cent were among the nine per cent of the population who were over the age of 12 and not vaccinated.
Four fewer people were in intensive care compared with the previous day, for a total of 177 patients, which is the lowest it’s been in more than a month.
On Saturday, 21,462 people received their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Fifty-five per cent of Quebec adults have now gotten their booster shot.
Additionally, 938 children between the ages of five and 11 received their first dose of the vaccine, bringing the total for that age group to 64 per cent.
As of Monday, theatres, cinemas and shows may reopen to 50 per cent indoor capacity (for a maximum 500 people) or up to 1,000 people outdoors. Proof of vaccination is required to attend.
Additionally, houses of worship may reopen as of Monday with up to 50 per cent capacity or 250 people, whichever is lower. Checking vaccine passports is mandatory, except for funerals, where the maximum will be 50 people.
Jon Weisz, general manager of Les Scènes de Musique Alternatives du Québec (SMAQ), told The Canadian Press the cultural sector will need three to five years to recover because of the changes in spectators’ behaviour. He said the government has “not presented any data to justify” its decisions to shut down theatres.
On Sunday, Health Minister Christian Dubé took to Twitter to remind Quebecers that, “in order to flatten the fifth wave and reduce hospitalizations,” people who are double-vaccinated and have tested positive for COVID-19 using a PCR test must make an appointment for their third dose after a minimum of eight weeks.
For those who caught COVID-19 but did not get a PCR test, Dubé encouraged them to visit the government’s rapid test result self-reporting website .
“In all cases, get vaccinated as quickly as possible,” he wrote.
