COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Wednesday
CBC
*Quebec's Health Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends and public holidays. It will not be publishing daily COVID-19 data on Dec. 24, 25, and 26, as well as Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and 2.
The FSSS-CSN union is speaking out against Quebec's decision to allow some health-care workers infected with COVID-19 to report for work without isolating.
Réjean Leclerc, president of the union, says allowing employees who tested positive to treat patients is counterproductive.
"There are enough sick people in hospital and to add infected staff, even asymptomatic ones, increases the risks of contagion among employees and generating more absences," he told Radio-Canada's Tout un matin.
Health Minister Christian Dubé announced Tuesday that some health-care workers who test positive for the virus no longer need to isolate given the rising number of COVID-related absences. He said decisions would be made on a "case-by-case" basis.
More than 700 people are currently hospitalized with the disease. Over the last week, the province increased the number of available COVID beds, causing delays to other non-urgent medical procedures.
Dubé said the province is still learning about how severe the majority of Omicron variant cases will be, and urged all Quebecers to get vaccinated.
WATCH | Public health director gives examples of when COVID-positive employees can keep working:
The health minister also announced Quebec is widening the scope of its third-dose campaign.
Starting Jan. 4, people age 55-59 will be eligible to book appointments for a booster.
Currently, health-care workers in the private sector, childcare and school staff, public security workers, food inspectors, slaughterhouse staff and people 60 and older can book their appointment for a third dose online.
The goal is to vaccinate between two and three million people every month, and have administered third doses to every eligible Quebecer who wants one by March.
Dubé said that Ottawa had indicated it may be able to provide around 300 Red Cross members to assist with vaccinations.
CHSLD Marguerite-Rocheleau — a long-term care residence for seniors — is reporting a major outbreak among staff and employees.
Kayla DeMong fought tears as she described the dire conditions on the front lines, pleading for more help from the province as staff at the harm reduction site she leads try to keep up with the recent spike in overdoses.
A B.C. woman who has been detained by U.S. immigration officials for 11 days, after trying to enter the country, will be released on Friday, according to her father.
Toronto is doubling the number of automated speed cameras on city streets.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange is alleging the former CEO of Alberta Health Services was unwilling and unable to implement the government's plan to break up the health authority, became "infatuated" with her internal investigation into private surgical contracts and made "incendiary and inaccurate allegations about political intrigue and impropriety" before she was fired in January.
Hudson's Bay Company filed for creditor protection last week, saying it's struggling to pay landlords, vendors and employees — and it's a process that could lead to the sale or closure of Canada's oldest company.
Still sleepy from this week's time change?
RCMP say a man died while in police custody on Wednesday in downtown Yellowknife, and Alberta RCMP are investigating the incident.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal officials left an hours-long meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying they feel more positive about the Canada-U.S. trading relationship after weeks of bad blood and heated rhetoric.
The Alberta government wants to cut more than $400 million in the fees it pays to doctors, according to a confidential memo obtained by The Canadian Press.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says Canada's incoming prime minister needs to immediately and urgently negotiate a way to avoid China's planned tariffs on Canadian canola — even before an election call.
A judge has sentenced a 48-year-old man to life in prison for brutally stabbing his ex-wife and daughter to death in North York in 2022.
Ontario is seeing a massive surge in measles cases as an ongoing outbreak spreads in the province among mostly unvaccinated people.
Prince Edward Island's Affordable Housing Development Program fell short of its intended purpose, the province's Auditor General says.