Quebec is reporting 1,628 new COVID-19 infections on Monday and three deaths linked to the virus.
To date, the province has recorded 467,609 infections, 441,747 recoveries, bringing the number of active cases to 14,251.
Pandemic-related hospitalizations increased by six in the last day to 268 with 30 new patients admitted and 24 discharged. Of those in hospital, 73 are in intensive care for an increase of five.
Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Quebec Premier François Legault said the number of hospitalizations remains relatively low.
“We’re about four times lower, proportionately speaking, to what we are seeing in the United States and Europe,” he said. “But we have to stay prudent.”
Legault said that what is happening in Ontario, with a rise in new cases linked to Omicron, is being followed closely.
“There’s no reason to think it can’t happen here,” he said. “So we can’t take it lightly.”
Legault said he would be meeting with public health authorities later Monday evening for a briefing and that a public update with Health Minister Christian Dubé is scheduled for Tuesday.
According to the latest data provided by Quebec’s public health institute, people who are not vaccinated are 15,1 times at greater risk of being hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19, than those who are adequately vaccinated.
Quebec’s vaccination efforts continue, with third dose booster shots available for people aged 70 and over, people having received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, pregnant women, people with chronic health issues that put them at greater risk and those living in remote communities.
Children between the ages of five and 11 are also being prioritized with vaccination campaigns underway in schools and mass vaccination centres.
So far, 272,246 kids in that age group have received their first dose and another 52,256 have booked appointments bringing the percentage of the population having received at least one shot to 83.3 per cent.
Legault credited the high vaccination rates in the province for the low number of hospitalizations.
Since the beginning of the health crisis, the province has reported 11,611 deaths attributable to the virus.