Quebec recorded nine new deaths attributed to COVID-19 as the province saw patient numbers rise slightly Monday.
The number of pandemic hospitalizations stood at 1,077, an increase of three compared with the previous day. This comes after 43 patients were admitted while 40 were discharged.
Intensive care unit cases totalled 61, a drop of two in the past 24 hours.
The province also reported 670 new novel coronavirus cases, though the daily tally isn’t an accurate representation of the situation since PCR screening is limited to certain groups.
Officials say 9,178 tests were given Saturday, the most recent day for which that information is available.
Quebecers also continued to declare the results of their rapid tests, with 333 added in the latest roundup. Of those results, 265 were positive for the virus.
The province administered 4,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the last day, for more than 18.5 million shots to date.
The latest numbers come as the province did not update its COVID-19 dashboard over the weekend. Between Friday and Sunday hospitalizations dropped by 52 and ICU cases by two, with 19 new deaths reported.
Quebec’s caseload reached 937,247 as of Monday. The province has reported 14,182 deaths linked to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.
Recoveries from the disease, meanwhile, topped 910,000.
Montreal police boost patrols as COVID measures ease
In Montreal, police have increased surveillance in bars and will do so again in the coming days after the province lifted more health restrictions.
The Quebec government has phased out its COVID-19 vaccine passport system and nixed capacity restrictions for businesses as of last Saturday. Businesses can also operate on their regular schedules.
Visits will be carried out in bars and restaurants in the city’s Ville-Marie and Plateau-Mont-Royal boroughs.
Montreal police say the boost in patrol will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night later this week.
“The increased police presence also aims to ensure a safe climate for bar staff and customers, who can now celebrate and gather in greater numbers in these places,” the police department said in a statement Monday.
—with files from The Canadian Press