The total number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the province increased by 23 on Tuesday to 1,317, the highest number recorded since late May. 194 of those were in intensive care, an increase of six over the previous day. The rise in hospitalizations came alongside2,508 new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of people infected to 215,358, 182,602 of whom have now recovered. The data also reported 62 new deaths, for a total of 8,441.
Multiple media reports suggested that Premier Francois Legault is preparing to announce new lockdown measures at a press conference at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, including the possibility of an extension to online learning and a curfew.
The Estrie region reported 132 new cases on Thursday, bringing the regional total to 8,524. A total of 55 out of the region’s 74 hospital beds dedicated to COVID care were occupied, as were nine out of a possible 25 intensive care beds
The region also reported two new deaths, one at the Argyll long term care centre and hospital in Sherbrooke and one at the Marie-Berthe-Couture Long term care facility in the Haute-Yamaska health network. These two brought the total number in the Estrie so far to 185.
There have been 1,438 healthcare workers vaccinated against the virus so far in the region out of a total of 32,763 doses administered across the province.
Detailed reporting on the COVID-19 situation by the local public health authority locally is expected to start back up again on January 6.
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