COVID-19: Quebec adds 42 deaths, but hospitalizations fall

Quebec reported 42 new deaths related to the novel coronavirus on Friday as the number of pandemic-related hospitalizations continued to decline.

Health officials say 200 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized and 296 have been discharged, down 96 from the previous day.

Of the 2,541 patients, 184 are in intensive care, down seven from Thursday.

There have been 3,400 new confirmed cases, bringing the total since the health crisis began to 875,429.

About 30,530 PCR tests have been performed at screening facilities, with high priority groups such as healthcare workers still having access.

Meanwhile 55,984 self-declared rapid tests were registered on the government website, of which 42,627 tested positive.

Vaccination work continues, with 44,230 doses given in the last 24 hours. Immunization campaigns in schools are also on the rise due to lower vaccination rates among young people than in the rest of the population 12 years of age and older.

To date, the virus has claimed the lives of 13,420 people in Quebec.