COVID-19: Quebec sets new daily record with 3,768 cases, active total soars

As expected, Quebec reported a record number of daily COVID-19 cases on Friday, with 3,768 new infections and seven additional deaths.

The highest number of cases in one day in Quebec was recorded on January 6, 2021 with 2,880 infections. The one-day record is however held by Ontario with 4,812 on April 16.

The number of active cases in Quebec has climbed to more than 19,500.

Quebec Premier François Legault warned of the peak at a press conference Thursday, where he announced new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 as the Omicron variant begins to take hold in the province.

The government’s two-pronged approach is focused on reducing contact and accelerating the rollout of third-dose boosters to a larger segment of the population.

Shops, gymnasiums, bars, cinemas, restaurants and theaters will only be allowed to operate at 50% of their capacity from Monday. And activities like dancing and karaoke are again prohibited.

Legault said the increase in the number of cases could lead to an increase in hospitalizations and that new modeling projections have shown that the province’s already fragile health network could be in overcapacity as early as January.

1:52
Screening clinics overwhelmed

Hospitalizations related to the pandemic increased by seven from the previous day with 39 new patients admitted and 32 discharged. Of the 312 people hospitalized, 62 are in intensive care.

In the past 24 hours, 56,097 COVID-19 vaccine injections have been administered. So far, 83.8% of the population has received at least one dose.

On Monday, December 20, appointments will open for booster injections for people aged 65 and over, then for those 60 and over on December 27.

To date, the province has recorded 478,246 infections, 447,054 recoveries and 11,634 deaths.