Quebec is reporting 1,053 new cases and 38 additional deaths linked to the novel coronavirus Tuesday as the province looks to loosen some restrictions designed to hamper the spread of COVID-19.
Health authorities say seven of those deaths occurred in the past 24 hours while the others were added retroactively.
The death toll, which remains the highest in Canada, has reached 9,862 after two fatalities previously attributed to the virus were withdrawn from the list following an investigation.
Meanwhile, the caseload now stands at 264,526 while recoveries have topped 241,000.
Hospitalizations related to the virus dropped by 34 to 1,110. Of those patients, 178 are in intensive care, a decrease of five compared to the previous day.
When it comes to screening, the province’s latest data shows 20,579 tests were administered Sunday. More than 5.9 million tests have been given over the course of the pandemic.
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As the vaccination campaign continues to slow due to delayed shipments, 356 doses were given Monday. So far, the province has provided 240,830 vaccines.
With the daily number of new cases starting to drop, Quebec Premier François Legault eased some restrictions Tuesday.
As of Feb. 8, stores, hair salons and museums will be allowed to reopen across the province. Universities and CEGEPs will also be allowed to gradually resume in-person classes.
Six regions, however, are being downgraded from red alert, the maximum possible on the provincial COVID-alert system, to orange.
Those regions include the Gaspésie, Lower St. Lawrence, Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean, Abitibi–Témiscamingue, Nord du Québec and Côte-Nord.
In those regions, restaurants, gyms and indoor sporting activities will resume with certain restrictions and the curfew will be pushed back from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Theatres and cinemas are also allowed to reopen on Feb. 26 in orange zones.
— With files from The Canadian Press, Global News’ Annabelle Olivier