Quebec recorded 52 new deaths attributable to COVID-19 on Wednesday as the health crisis continues across the country.
The death toll has reached 12,080 in the province, which has been hard hit by the pandemic and, more recently, the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Hospitalizations remained on the rise again with 135 new patients for a total of 2,877. Of them, 263 are in intensive care units, an increase of eight from the previous day.
In the past 24-hour period, 457 people were admitted and 322 were discharged from hospitals in the province.
READ MORE: Quebec to impose a tax on people who are unvaccinated from COVID-19
Meanwhile, 8,351 new coronavirus infections were reported in the last day — though health officials say that number is not representative of the situation in the province since official testing is limited to priority groups such as health-care workers. The most recent daily tally brings the total caseload to 766,927 while recoveries topped 657,000.
Quebec gave 42,557 tests at screening centres Monday, the most recent day for which that information is available.
When it comes to vaccination, the province doled out another 107,238 shots of the COVID-19 vaccine. To date, more than 15 million doses have been administered in Quebec.
As of Wednesday, anyone who is 35 and older is able to sign up for their third dose of the vaccine. With the latest changes, Quebecers who are over the age of 25 will also be able to do so starting Thursday and the eligibility will be expanded to all adults the following day.
Furthermore, the Health Ministry is recommending that any person who has received two doses and has contracted COVID-19, also get a third shot. They can do so after their symptoms end, the ministry said in a press release.
Health Minister Christian Dubé wrote on Twitter that around 7,000 vaccination appointments Tuesday, the same day the province announced a tax for the unvaccinated. He said that number is up from 5,000 appointments booked Monday.
Under the plan — which was scant on details — the government said it will impose a health contribution on those who refuse to be immunized. Premier François Legault said they are still working out the amount to be paid, but that it would be “significant.”
There will be an exception for those who have medical exemptions.
—with files from Global News’ Annabelle Olivier and The Canadian Press
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