1) Premier François Legault suggested Tuesday the government’s #pandemic restrictions “seem to be working.” A day later, however, there are signs in Montreal and across the province that the situation is worsening. In this thread, I will go into detail about this deterioration.

2) Hospitalizations due to #COVID19 climbed by 22 to 716 in Quebec. The chart below shows that Quebecers in their 40s to 60s are being admitted to hospital much more than those in their 80s and 90s. Since April 1, hospitalizations have ratcheted up by 229.

3) ICUs in the Outaouais and Capitale-Nationale are overloaded with #COVID19 patients. In Montreal, the McGill University Health Centre is grappling with a severe shortage of respiratory therapists. Please click on my story below in the @mtlgazette. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/analysis-theres-a-shortage-of-respiratory-therapists-at-the-muhc

4) During the third wave of the #pandemic, more people in their 30s are being admitted to intensive care than during the second wave, as the chart below makes clear. Younger patients tend to stay in the ICU longer than those in their 80s.

5) In addition to rising hospitalizations, active #COVID19 cases are continuing to climb in schools. The chart below shows that a total of 10,127 classrooms have been shuttered across the province, up by 323 (!) in a day. Closed schools inched up by three to 459.

6) Meanwhile, the number of #COVID19 outbreaks in Montreal rose by 11 to 277 since last week. Of that number, clusters in which the more transmissible variants were detected jumped by 23 to 146. Please see the chart below.

7) Outbreaks in workplaces in Montreal increased by three to 121 since last week. It’s a bit of mystery to know that clusters ramped up by 13 in a category known as “other.” Public health officials need to explain the context of those clusters.

8) Active #COVID19 cases increased by 11 to 210 in eldercare homes. There are six outbreaks deemed critical in long-term care centres and private seniors’ residences in Chaudière-Appalaches, Outaouais and Capitale-Nationale. This, despite the partial vaccination of the elders.

9) Quebec added 847 more variant #COVID19 cases to a cumulative total of 24,360. The chart below shows Capitale-Nationale posting the greatest number of variant cases on Wednesday, and that region’s rate is a staggering 744.5 per 100,000 residents.

10) Quebec has now genetically sequenced five different types of variants. The latest is the B.1.617 variant that originated in India. Please click on the exclusive by my colleague @ReneBruemmer for more details about this disturbing case. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-confirms-first-case-of-b-1617-variant-in-the-haute-mauricie-region

11) All of these disparate trends underscore the extent to which the third wave remains a lethal threat in Quebec despite the progress in vaccinations, with 32.67% of Montreal’s population partially vaccinated as of Tuesday. End of thread. Please limit your social contacts.