COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know Friday

• Quebec reported 984new caseson Friday and 25 more deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been274,831confirmed cases and10,173people have died.
• There are 849 people in hospital (a decrease of 25), including 137in intensive care (a decrease of six).
• 4,432 doses ofvaccine were administered on Thursday. A total of 280,612doses have been administered since Dec. 14, accounting for 2.9per cent of the population.
• Businesses and other services are gradually reopening. Here's a list of what is open, and what is still closed.

By the end of next week, the province wants to be able to screen 100 per cent of positive COVID-19 tests in the Montreal region in order to better detect new, more transmissible strains of the virus.

As of now,only five labs in the provincecan screen specifically for a mutation shared by the coronavirus variants that were initially reported in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Overall case numbers have stabilized, and hospitalizations dipped below 900 for the first time in nearly two months, but there are concerns those numbers could spike again if the new variants are not detected quickly.

According to Quebec public health director Dr. Horacio Arruda, there were 48 presumptive or confirmed cases of the new, more contagious variants in Montreal as of Wednesday night.

If you have been feelingisolated, we'vecompiledsome ways to help cope as part ofa special CBC Quebec project calledOut of the Dark: Real Talk on Mental Health.

Out of the Dark: Small steps

4 years ago

Duration 1:00

It can be tough to know at what point struggling with sadness becomes more than you can bear on your own.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• Families of residents who died at CHSLD Herronare skeptical of the province's public inquiry.
• Finally reopening, museums look to give a boost to a weary public.
• The first report cards are in for Quebec students, and the results are worrisome.
• Quebec health minister orders external investigation into Manoir Liverpool residence.
• The pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on women.
• Should I wear a mask outdoors? Your COVID-19 questions answered
• Quebec signing more contracts with private clinics to help clear surgery waitlists.
• Cancer specialistsare bracing for patients suffering frommore advanced disease due to delays inscreening and diagnostic testingduring the pandemic.