COVID-19 live updates: Quebec reports 858 new cases, 16 deaths as hospitalizations drop

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Updated throughout the day on Thursday, Feb. 25. Questions/comments: ariga@postmedia.com

Top updates

11:30 a.m.

New, accurate saliva test could be easy-to-use ‘game changer,’ Canadian scientists say

Toronto scientists say they’ve developed a new, saliva-based test for the COVID-19 virus whose precision and ease of use could make it a “game changer” in combating the pandemic.

Read our full story.

11:25 a.m.

Legault’s popcorn funding is the kernel of dissent for Quebec teachers’ protest

Furious over a Legault government decision to subsidize Quebec cinemas for unsold popcorn during next week’s spring break while funding can’t be found for an understaffed and overworked education system, unionized teachers today took their message to the National Assembly, handing out popcorn as they did so.

Read our full story.

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11:20 a.m.

Red zones: masks mandatory in elementary schools after March break

As we reported yesterday, masks will be mandatory in all elementary school classrooms in red zones as of March 8.

Here’s what the government says about the changes:

In Greater Montreal, “pediatric masks are currently being delivered to school service centres, school boards and private educational institutions. As of March 8, pediatric masks will replace face coverings for all Elementary 1 to 6 students.

“For other territories located in a red zone, as of March 8, 2021, all Elementary 1 to 6 students will be required to wear a face-covering at all times until pediatric masks have been delivered to their respective educational institution. School service centres, school boards and private schools will start receiving pediatric masks the week of March 15. Thereafter, they will gradually become available.

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“Educational institutions are responsible for distributing pediatric and procedural masks at the elementary level.

“In orange zones, face coverings remain mandatory at all times for Elementary 5 and 6 students until the respective educational institution has received the pediatric masks intended for these students. As soon as pediatric masks are available, Elementary 5 and 6 students must wear them instead of face coverings.

“In addition, face coverings are mandatory for Elementary 1 to 4 students in common areas, when circulating in the school and when using school transportation. Face coverings are not mandatory outdoors, however. Elementary 1 to 4 students are therefore not required to wear a face-covering in the schoolyard and when circulating outside the school.

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“At the preschool level, wearing a face-covering is not required.”

11:10 a.m.

Update on Quebec’s vaccination campaign

11:05 a.m.

Updated charts: Quebec cases, deaths

11:05 a.m.

Quebec reports 858 new cases, 16 deaths as hospitalizations drop

Quebec has recorded 858 new cases of COVID-19, the provincial government announced this morning.

In addition, 16 new deaths were reported, including five over the previous 24 hours.

Among the other deaths, nine occurred between Feb. 18 and 23, and two occurred before Feb. 18.

One death previously attributed to the pandemic has been removed from the death toll after further tests revealed it was not related to COVID-19.

Some other key statistics from Quebec’s latest COVID-19 update, published this morning:

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, Quebec has reported 285,330 cases and 10,361 deaths linked to COVID-19. A total of 266,879 people who have contracted the disease have since recovered.

10:10 a.m.

Quebec has administered 74% of its vaccine doses, behind six other provinces

This is a screengrab from this morning, from the COVID-19 Vaccination Tracker:

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10 a.m.

Vaccine plan hinders Montreal seniors with mobility issues, groups say

The province is leaving thousands of seniors with mobility issues in the lurch by not providing them with a viable way to get to mass vaccination sites, local community groups say.

Read our full story, by Jason Magder.

10 a.m.

COVID-19 vaccine registration has begun for people 85 and older

Registration for COVID-19 vaccine appointments is now open for people age 85 years and older in Quebec.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, Quebecers who were born in 1936 or earlier are eligible to book appointments online or by telephone for their first vaccine dose.

Read our full story, by Jesse Feith.

9:30 a.m.

Vaccine hesitancy declining among Quebec health-care workers, researchers say

From The Canadian Press:

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Health experts say vaccine hesitancy appears to be dropping among health-care workers in Quebec. “There’s been a dramatic change,” Dr. Melissa Genereux, public health professor at Universite de Sherbrooke, said in an interview Wednesday.

Quebec health boards are making a concerted effort to encourage workers to get vaccinated by launching information campaigns and creating programs aimed at turning vaccinated workers into role models for their colleagues.

Those efforts seem to be working.

Genereux said 76 per cent of Quebec health-care workers who responded to a survey between Feb. 5 and 16 said they had received a dose of vaccine or planned to get one. That’s up from 57 per cent in November, she said.

“In November, health-care workers were less inclined to receive the vaccine when compared to any other adults in Quebec, so this was quite disturbing,” said Genereux, who is also a medical adviser to the public health authority in Quebec’s Estrie region.

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More than 10,000 Quebec adults participated in the survey, which was part of a two-year research project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, results of which have not yet been published.

Seeing colleagues get vaccinated with no major side effects — and witnessing the number of new COVID-19 cases decline as the vaccination campaign continues — has helped change attitudes, Genereux said. She also credits educational efforts by the Health Department and regional public officials.

9:15 a.m.

How to get COVID-19 vaccinations in Montreal

Local health authorities have set up mass vaccination sites across Montreal. Here are the nuts and bolts of getting vaccinated, including addresses.

Read our full story, by Katherine Wilton.

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9:15 a.m.

Vaccine FAQ: What you need to know about the COVID-19 shot

Is the vaccine safe? Once vaccinated, can I disregard public health measures? Is vaccination mandatory?

Read our full story, by Jason Magder.

9:15 a.m.

Here’s where Montrealers can get tested today

Montrealers can be screened at test centres across the island.

You can check screening clinic wait times here.

8:45 a.m.

The situation across Canada

Here’s the rate of case growth per 100,000 people over the past seven days, via the federal government’s latest epidemiology update.

8:30 a.m.

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ariga@postmedia.com

Read my previous live blogs here.