Quebec’s institute of public health, the INSPQ, officially declared a sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday evening, confirming information that various health experts had been suggesting for the better part of the week.
Despite this new information, the provincial government made no indication that there is any plan to impose new restrictions, or even to deviate from the plan to remove the province’s mask mandate later in April.
There were 1,238 people in hospital with COVID-19 across Quebec on Thursday, an increase of 38 compared to the previous day. Of that total, 66 people were in intensive care, for an increase of six compared to the previous day.
Eastern Townships reported 79 people in hospital with the virus, one of whom was in intensive care.
The local healthcare network, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS announced on Thursday that the public vaccination clinic at the Galeries Orford shopping mall will close April 1 at 4:30 p.m. in order to be relocated. The centre will reopen on April 13 in its new location at 2700 rue Sherbrooke. Anyone looking to receive a vaccination in-between those dates is invited to make an appointment at one of the other nearby vaccination sites, as listed on Clic Santé.
The start of the fourth dose vaccination campaign in long term care homes announced on Wednesday was clear in Thursday’s vaccination data. Quebec reported 17,466 doses added in its daily update, more than double the amount reported the day before.
Also, there were 12 new deaths linked to COVID-19 across Quebec for a total of 14,365 since the start of the pandemic. None of those new deaths were in the townships, however, where the regional total remained at 549.
