Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Thursday
CBC
The latest:
Quebec seems to have reached a peak in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but the province "can't afford" to lift any more measures aimed at slowing the spread of infections, Premier François Legault said Thursday.
"Today, finally, we had a net decrease of hospitalizations, so 14 fewer people in hospital … [and] for the time being, things seem to be stabilizing at around 3,400 hospitalizations," he told reporters.
However, Legault noted that Quebec is still missing about 12,000 employees in its health-care network, who are absent due to COVID-19, so people in the province should "stand in solidarity," continue to follow measures, "stay prudent" and "think about hospital staff."
"I understand we are all tired, but lives are at stake," Legault said. "I'm currently under a lot of pressure to remove measures, but my duty is to be responsible, to protect the lives of Quebecers."
Quebec on Thursday reported 3,411 hospitalizations, with 285 people in intensive care. The province's COVID-19 situation report, which is updated daily, showed 98 additional deaths. The province also reported 6,528 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
In neighbouring Ontario, Premier Doug Ford on Thursday announced a phased approach to lifting restrictions.
Among the changes, restaurant dining rooms, gyms, cinemas, museums and zoos — which have been closed since early this month — will be allowed to reopen at 50 per cent capacity on Jan. 31.
Ford said there will be 21 days between each reopening step, noting that pauses are a possibility if health indicators aren't trending the right way.
"If trends remain stable or improve, Ontario will move to the next step on Feb. 21, and then March 14," he said.
The provincial COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday showed hospitalizations at 4,061, with 594 people in intensive care. The province also reported an additional 75 deaths, though health officials noted the number reflected a data catch-up.
Ontario also reported 7,757 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
In Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney on Thursday said the province would only consider relaxing COVID-19 restrictions further if there is a "sustained decline" in pressure on hospitals, which "would follow a sustained decline in new cases, of course."
"I think we can reasonably expect to see 1,500 or more COVID patients in non-ICU beds when we reach the hospitalization peak a little later in January," Kenney said at a news briefing.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.