The number of people in need of intensive care, however, should increase over the same period, but is not expected to put significant pressure on the health system, the Institut National d ‘Excellence en sante et en services sociaux said in its latest report.
Many patients with COVID-19 are treated for other reasons, the institute said: “This figure could represent just over half of normal beds and about a third of intensive care beds.”
The week ending March 25 represented for the first time since the peak of the Omicron wave in mid-January when COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in the province.
The latest predictions come as a separate health institute confirmed on Wednesday that Quebec is indeed on the sixth wave of COVID-19, as previously predicted by some experts.
The National Institut de sante publique du Quebec has informed public health officials, who are monitoring the situation and have no other measures in place, the health ministry said on its Twitter account.
Omicron subtype BA.2 is increasingly prevalent, accounting for up to two-thirds of positive cases in the province.  The institute said that while it is more contagious, the virulence and resistance of BA.2 to vaccines is similar to that of Omicron.
Quebec Prime Minister François Lego said earlier this week that a “moderate increase in cases and hospitalizations” was expected over the next two weeks, but said no new public health orders were expected.  The last major restriction in force – the mandate for the whole province – is still scheduled to be lifted by mid-April.
Legault is one of the few senior government officials to test positive for COVID-19 since last week.  On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Genevieve Gilbol announced that she tested positive for COVID-19.  Nine members of the legislature have since tested positive, including seven members of the ruling Coalition Avenir Quebec party.
Quebec, meanwhile, reported eight more deaths attributed to COVID-19 on Wednesday and an increase of 47 patients in hospital with the disease.  The Ministry of Health reported that there were 1,200 people treated with COVID-19 after 148 patients were admitted in the last 24 hours and 101 were discharged.  There were 60 patients enrolled in intensive care, a drop of three.
Health officials reported 3,067 new cases confirmed by PCR and just over 17 percent of the tests performed were positive.
They said 8,849 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were given on Tuesday.  Fifty-three percent of people aged five and over in Quebec have received a third dose of the vaccine, and the county has launched a fourth-dose aid campaign for some high-risk groups, such as those aged 80 and over.
The government also announced Wednesday that some pandemic-related bonuses for healthcare staff will be extended by one month through mid-May due to the growing number of infections and illness-related illnesses.  The province has paid more than $ 5.3 billion in bonuses and other financial measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Canadian Press report was first published on March 30, 2022.