Quebec adds more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases in largest single-day rise to date
CTV
Quebec recorded a single-day increase of over 10,000 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, the largest jump ever recorded.
According to the province's open data portal, slightly more than 10,000 new cases were added on Friday, eclipsing the previous record of 9,397 new cases reported one day earlier. Details on COVID-19-related hospitalizations and on vaccinations will be released next week. Quebec will not publish regular COVID-19 updates on its main page from Dec. 24-28 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 4.
Friday's update is a continuation of rapid coronavirus spread never before seen in Quebec, as the province's hospitals brace for what could be a spike in hospitalizations to come, depending on the severity of the disease.
It also marked the second-last day of permitted indoor gatherings above six as Quebecers prepare for tightened restrictions on Boxing Day. Bars, movie theatres, gyms and entertainment venues were abruptly ordered to close earlier this week, while restaurants were permitted to stay open at 50 per cent capacity with a strict 10 p.m. closing time.
On Christmas Eve, Premier Francois Legault took to social media to ask Quebecers to be careful, and to deliver an unambiguous warning of the threat posed by Omicron.