MONTREAL — The Quebec government is reporting 1,014 new cases of COVID-19 today as well as nine additional deaths due to the pandemic, including six in the last 24 hours.

Hospitalizations declined for a fourth straight day, down by eight to 654. 

Of those, 165 patients are in intensive care, which is 16 fewer than the day before.

The province administered another 63,763 doses of vaccine on Saturday, and has currently given at least one dose to almost 33 per cent of the population.

Health Minister Christian Dube wrote on Twitter that the situation remains fragile but there’s hope on the horizon. 

He reminded Quebecers that the province will open up vaccines to the general population at the end of May, and encouraged them to keep up protective public health efforts in the coming weeks. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2021

The Canadian Press