Quebec reports lowest COVID-19 increase since October for 2nd consecutive day

Quebec health officials are reporting the province’s lowest daily COVID-19 increase since October for back-to-back days.

The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux is reporting 826 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in Quebec since October 25, when 808 new cases were announced.

The encouraging case announcement comes on the heels of Monday’s numbers which reported the province’s lowest case increase in 106 days.

Public health has also added 32 new virus-related deaths to the province’s tally. Of the newly-added deaths, five have occurred in the last 24 hours, 22 occurred between February 2 and 7, four from January, and one from an “unknown date.”

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The number of hospitalizations decreased by 29 compared to Monday, for a cumulative total of 940. Of these, the number of people in intensive care decreased by 15, for a total of 145 across Quebec.

Since Monday, 2,816 doses of vaccine were administered for a total of 262,594 across the province.

There are now 271,737 COVID-19 cases across the province, 250,652 recoveries, 10,078 deaths, and 2,606,755 negative tests.

As of February 8, businesses, salons, libraries, and museums are slated to open everywhere across Quebec. University and CEGEP students will begin a “gradual” return to physical classes.

Legault said the COVID-19 situation has been “improving” over the past few weeks, which he said is “very encouraging.”

The premier says public health sees a decrease in cases and hospitalizations “almost on a daily basis” and thanked Quebecers for their efforts.

Santé Quebec advises residents to “frequently wash” their hands (for 20 seconds with soap and water), use alcohol-based disinfectant, respect the measures regarding private gatherings, and limit travel as much as possible.

The distribution of deaths in Quebec by age group is as follows:

The distribution of provincial cases per age group is as follows:

Canada’s COVID-19 death toll is now 20,852 along with 809,142 total cases.