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covid-19 montreal

Quebec's Free COVID Tests Won't Be Free Much Longer — Here Are The Exceptions

Quebec's program to provide free COVID-19 tests at participating pharmacies will continue — but not everyone gets access. The distribution of free tests will continue through March 31, 2024, only for those people considered high-risk, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) announced on Monday, March 26.

Since September 2021, over 131 million tests were distributed by the MSSS, 42 million of which were distributed by pharmacies.

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covid-19

XBB.1.5 Is Yet Another New COVID-19 Subvariant — Here's Everything You Need To Know

As of January 4, 2022, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed that it is aware of 21 XBB.1.5 subvariant cases in Canada.

The newest COVID-19 subvariant known as the XBB.1.5 is the "most transmissible subvariant that's been detected yet," according to epidemiologist Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's (WHO) COVID-19 technical lead.

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covid-19 canada

Canada Will Temporarily Require A Negative COVID-19 Test For Travellers Arriving From China

On October 1, 2022, COVID-19 testing requirements, quarantine and isolation rules, and the mandatory use of the ArriveCan app for travellers were axed entirely by the Government of Canada. However, one COVID-19 travel rule is now making a comeback for travellers from China.

The federal government released a statement on Saturday announcing a temporary rule requiring travellers arriving on flights originating from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao to provide a negative COVID-19 test before entering Canada.

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Quebec Has A New Mask Recommendation — What You Need To Know

As the winter chill brought Montreal's first snowfall of the season, Quebec's government officials have clarified the role of masking in preventing respiratory illness during the colder months. Though masking is not mandatory outside of hospitals, it has been formally recommended in public places as of a November 16 press conference.

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covid-19 quebec

Should You Get Another COVID-19 Booster Shot? Here's What You Need To Know

We get it, alright? Everyone is sick (ha ha) of COVID-19, restrictions, masks, vaccinations and listening to at-risk people's concerns for their lives. But unfortunately, the pandemic hasn't relaxed along with our commitment to safe practices. In fact, it's been happily giving short and long COVID to Canadians, and one way officials say we can keep protecting ourselves — besides good hygiene — is by staying up to date on booster shots.

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covid-19 quebec

Christian Dubé Warned Of Another COVID-19 Wave & Says We Need To Get Even More Vaxxed

In his first press conference appearance in many weeks, Health Minister Christian Dubé firmly recommended that Quebecers get up-to-date vaccinations as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise, again. The new bivalent Pfizer vaccine is just one of the options available, and Dubé, alongside Dr. Luc Boileau, confirmed that all available vaccines seem as effective as each other.

Although hospitalizations are high, Dubé emphasized that the growth in cases isn't exponential, and stated a goal of 200,000 vaccinations per week. Currently, the average is closer to 100,000, and that number hasn't reached Dubé's goal since last summer.

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A Former Quebec Vaccine Clinic Employee Is Facing Charges For Allegedly Faking Vax Passports

Minister of Public Security Geneviève Guilbault revealed in January that Quebec's anti-corruption agency (UPAC) had 150 investigations in progress for cases of fraudulent vaccine passports.

Guilbault stated that many were linked to internal corruption, and they've cracked down on one (now former) COVID-19 vaccine clinic employee who has been charged with breach of trust and production of false vaccine evidence.

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covid-19 quebec

Quebec Is Launching Another COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign — Here's What You Need To Know

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Premier Francois Legault, Health Minister Christian Dubé, Public Health Director Dr. Luc Boileau and Comité sur l'immunisation du Québec (CIQ) President Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh announced the launch of a new vaccination campaign ahead of the fall.

Rather than focusing on the number of doses each person has received, the new advice is to ensure that you seek out a booster five months after your previous vaccination.

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covid-19 quebec

Boileau Explained Why Quebec Won't Bring Back Mask Rules — Even As Osheaga Arrives

Amid sustained high case numbers brought on by the seventh wave of COVID-19, Quebec Public Health Director Dr. Luc Boileau reiterated his belief that a renewed mask mandate is not necessary to stem the current tide of infections — especially since, according to the director, we've just about passed the peak of the latest wave without one.

"We don't see the pertinence of reintroducing mandatory mask-wearing," Boileau told reporters during a July 29 press conference. "We've gotten through most of the wave. We're probably at the plateau. We were able to get here without imposing new measures."

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covid-19 quebec

More Quebecers Have Died From COVID-19 So Far In 2022 Than In The Entirety Of 2021

Masks may be less and less common among Montrealers as of late, but the reasons for wearing them aren't going anywhere. In fact, they're actively getting worse, despite loosening public health guidelines. On July 12, 2021, Quebec reported 60 new COVID-19 cases. On the same date a year later, the province announced 2,164 new cases.

COVID-related hospitalizations, meanwhile, have dipped below 1,000 only twice this year — pressure on the hospital systems remains intense.

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canada travel restrictions

7 Countries With Travel Warnings Issued By The Government of Canada

Although Canada's travel restrictions have become less severe, that doesn't mean Canadians can just up and go wherever they please — at least not for right now.

The Government of Canada has issued an array of travel warnings for Canadians to follow, alerting them of various destinations that travellers should avoid completely or exercise a high degree of caution when visiting.

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covid 19 quebec

The COVID-19 Quebec Mask Mandate Is Over – Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Since July 2020, the Quebec government has made masks across the province mandatory in all public places. Well, nearly two years later, the COVID-19 Quebec mask mandate has officially been dropped.

While it was originally meant to be lifted in mid-April, the mask mandate in Quebec was extended following a bump in cases during the virus' sixth wave.

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