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

• Quebec reported 676new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and six new deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 418,508confirmed casesand11,437people have died.
• There are 301people in hospital (an increase of three),including 79in intensive care(an increase of three).
• The province has administered13,069,050doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 12,761in the last 24 hours.
• 90 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 85per cent hasreceived two doses.

Note:Quebec'sHealth Ministry does not publish the number of vaccines administered on weekends and public holidays.

Quebec is requiring people to show proof of vaccination before they can enter numerous health network facilities starting today.

People aged 13 and older will need a vaccine passport to enter places such as hospitals, long-term care homes, clinics, rehabilitation centres and seniors residences.

The health order applies to caregivers, companions and visitors, but it includes several exceptions, notably that a passport won't be required to receive services or care.

The new rule was supposed to come into force the same time as the vaccine mandate deadline for health-care workers, but the health minister announce earlier this week that deadline would be delayed by one month.

Restrictions loosened for bars, restaurants

The province is scaling back public health restrictions on bars and restaurants starting Nov. 1, allowing them to reach full capacity and halving the two-metre distance rule.

Normal operating hours will also be allowed, meaning bars can once again stay open until 3 a.m. Under the current rules, bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol until 1 a.m.and bars must close by2 a.m.

The ban on dancing, standing and singing will remain in effect, and thevaccination passport will still be required.Wearing masks will continue to be required when moving around the establishment.

If the distance of one metre cannot be achieved between tables, a barrier must be in place.

There will still be a cap on the number of people allowed at one table 10 people from three different households.

U.S. land borders to reopen Nov. 8

The United States is set to reopen its borders tofully vaccinated travellers starting Nov. 8, and willapply to those travelling by air, land or passenger ferry.

Air travellers will needto show proof of vaccination on arrival to the U.S., butwillstill need toshow a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel prior to boarding their flight. The same policy applies for air travellers coming to Canada from the U.S.

Non-essential travellers crossing at a land border will be required to show proof of vaccination or attest to their vaccination status upon request by a border agent, but unlike air travellersthere will be no requirement for them to show a negative COVID-19 test.

By January, essential travellers crossing at a land border will also be required to be fully vaccinated.

The Canada-U.S. borderhas been closed for non-essential travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.Canada opened its border to U.S. travellers in early August.

Eastern Townships health authority cutting additional services

TheCIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUSsaid on Friday that it expects to be short at least 1,700staff membersonce the province's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for health-care workerskicks in next month.

The health authority had about 1,000 vacant positions to fill before the vaccine mandate was announced. Another approximately 1,000 health care workers have yet to get their vaccines.

As a result of the staffing shortage,the health authority is already starting to shut down some of its services immediately.

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