Quebec is reporting 1,271 new cases and nine more deaths, including one in the past 24 hours, Thursday as the COVID-19 crisis gains steam.
It’s the highest number of new daily cases reported in the province since late January — and as the government begins to tighten restrictions in some regions.
The case count now stands at 312,362, one of the highest tolls in the country. The pandemic has claimed the lives of 10,676 Quebecers to date.
Recoveries have topped 292,648.
The number of hospitalizations rose by two to 487. Of those patients, there are 119 in intensive care units, a drop of one from the previous day.
The latest vaccination efforts saw another 41,406 doses administered Wednesday, for a total of 1,391,649 to date. Health officials say about 16.4 per cent of the population has received at least one dose.
When it comes to testing, 41,053 tests were given Tuesday.
The latest numbers come as some areas in the province will go into lockdown Thursday night.
Under the plan, schools and non-essential businesses in the Quebec City, Gatineau and Lévis areas will be closed starting at 8 p.m. for at least 10 days. The curfew in those cities has been rolled back from 9:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. as well.
— With files from The Canadian Press