Quebec eases more COVID-19 restrictions as province reports under new 90 cases

In Quebec, health officials recorded 88 new cases and no additional deaths attributable to the COVID-19 health crisis Friday.

The immunization campaign saw another 68,155 doses of the novel coronavirus vaccine administered since the last report. More than 7.7 million shots have been given to date.

The province is still awaiting more than 74,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine as well as a shipment of upwards of 556,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine set to arrive this week.

Meanwhile, the number of pandemic-related hospitalizations continues to be on the downturn. It dropped by eight to 135.

This includes 40 patients in intensive care units, an increase of two from the previous day.

The latest screening information shows 20,320 tests were conducted Wednesday.

Quebec’s caseload stands at 374,406, while the health crisis has killed 11,202 people to date. Recoveries have topped 362,000 in the province.

As of Friday, fully vaccinated Quebecers can gather indoors without masks as the government continues to ease COVID-19 measures. The province also increased the capacity for festivals and outdoor events to 3,500 spectators.

All of Quebec will be at the green pandemic-alert level on Monday, under which rules for gatherings and sports are further relaxed.

Walk-in vaccination centres

Quebecers hoping to get a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine can do so at a few last-minute walk-in centres this weekend.

The province unveiled a list of companies holding immunization sites on Saturday and Sunday, where recipients can get either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine without an appointment.

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Saputo is offering doses of the Pfizer vaccine from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Montreal’s north end.

The other clinics are located in the Montérégie, Eastern Townships and Quebec City areas.

Montreal mayor gets second dose

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante received her booster shot of the vaccine Friday morning.

With summer underway and the city gradually reopening from the pandemic, she also urged young adults to book their shots.

She said normalcy is coming, but that “there is still some way to go” and vaccinations are needed to get there.

“Many young people have yet to get vaccinated, and I encourage them to go as soon as possible,” she wrote on Twitter. “We are counting on you to make COVID-19 end this summer.”

— with files from The Canadian Press