• On Sunday, Quebec reported 1,758 people in hospital (a decrease of 31 from the previous day), including 114 in intensive care (a decrease of six from the previous day).
• The province reported 1,197 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 909,399 confirmed cases and 13,853 people have died.
• The province also reported Sunday a total of 18,531,965 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered. 
• 91 per cent of the eligible population in the province (aged five and up) have received one dose of the vaccine; 86 per cent have received two doses, and 50 per cent have received three doses.

*The new cases are those reported to the Quebec government only. They are believed to be an underrepresentation of the virus’s spread, given the limited availability of PCR tests and use of home testing kits.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Quebec

Quebec will be relaxing even more health guidelines tomorrow. 

Starting Monday, people will no longer need to show their vaccine passport to enter a place of worship or to attend funerals.

Recreational centres and indoor conferences will be allowed to operate at half capacity, welcoming a maximum of 500 people while requiring vaccine passports.

By March 14, the passport will be phased out entirely, including for restaurants, gyms, cinemas and long-term care homes.

• Quebec announces plan to drop vaccine passport by March 14

Quebec City demonstrations

Protesters are gathering in Quebec City for the second day in a row to call for the immediate end to public health measures such as the vaccination passport, despite the announcement that the passport will be phased out. 

Organizers are also calling for the end of the public health emergency, first declared at the outset of the first wave of the pandemic in March 2020. 

Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand has given police more powers to “act instead of reacting” to the protest.

• Protesters pack Quebec City streets for noisy demonstration against pandemic measures

• Ottawa police close in on final protesters, vow to hold all participants accountable

Youth aged 12-17 now eligible for 3rd dose

Quebec announced youth aged 12 to 17 are now eligible for a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and they can start booking their appointments online as of today.

The decision follows a recommendation from Quebec’s immunization committee (CIQ). It recommends teens who are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19 roll up their sleeves for a third time. However, the booster dose can be offered to everyone in the age group, the CIQ said. 

• Quebecers aged 12-17 now eligible for 3rd dose, appointments open as of Saturday

Restrictions loosen in seniors’ residences

Quebec seniors living in long-term care homes and other types of seniors’ residences should soon see a bit more freedom.

Starting Monday, residents of private seniors homes will be able to dine in groups of up to 10 people, as long as they are physically-distanced. They will also be able to receive visits from up to 10 visitors or caregivers. Service providers such as hairdressers will once again be allowed as well. 

Those measures will be extended to public care homes (CHSLDs) and intermediary resources as of Feb. 28. 

• Quebec loosens restrictions in seniors’ homes, scraps preventive 10-day isolation policy

Top COVID-19 stories

• Is it the right time to lift Quebec’s vaccination passport? Experts are divided.
• Ottawa is dropping pre-arrival PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers as of Feb. 28.
• Quebec is spending $65 million to recruit and train 1,000 nurses from overseas.
• Quebec plans to lift most pandemic restrictions by mid-March.
• Quebec unveils new isolation guidelines for those who caught COVID-19 in fifth wave.
• Data, tests and transparency: What Quebec needs to live with COVID-19.
• At least 2 million Quebecers infected with Omicron variant since December.
• Community workers are keen to tackle Montreal’s pockets of unvaccinated.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? 

• Fever. 
• New or worsening cough. 
• Difficulty breathing. 
• Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose.
• Gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting).
• Sore throat
• Generalized muscle pain.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Loss of appetite.

If you think you may have COVID-19, the government asks that you call 1‑877‑644‑4545 to schedule an appointment at a screening clinic.  

To reserve an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, you can go on the online portal quebec.ca/covidvaccine. You can also call 1-877-644-4545.

You can find information on COVID-19 in the province here and information on the situation in Montreal here.