Quebec Premier François Legault says the province’s infection rate would be declining instead of remaining stable if it weren’t for the residents of the Saguenay region north of Quebec City and the Launadiere region north of Montreal.
“I want to ask citizens of those areas to pay attention,” Legault said during his afternoon press conference.
The Saguenay reported 105 COVID-19 cases on Sunday and another 48 cases Monday, the last day for which regional breakdowns are available. In the Lanaudiere region, authorities reported 140 cases on Sunday and 99 cases Monday.
Quebec reported a total of 871 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday and 34 more deaths on Tuesday, including five that occurred in the previous 24 hours.
Health officials said that the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose by 27 to 526, and 85 people were in intensive care, a rise of four.
Quebec has reported a total of 108,889 COVID-19 cases and 6,317 deaths linked to the virus so far.
Tuesday brought a report of 32 new cases to the Estrie Region and one new hospitalization. The public health department also reported eight new outbreaks under surveillance.
Quebec reports 34 more deaths
Record Staff with The Canadian Press