Health Minister Christian Dubé indicated on Friday evening that the number of people infected with COVID-19 and hospitalized in Quebec has tripled in the past month.

Indeed, the number of patients admitted to the hospital with the coronavirus rose from about 300 three weeks ago to 881, as of Wednesday, September 6.

"I don't want to alarm the public, because this is no laughing matter, what we have witnessed over the past three years [of the pandemic]," he made sure to say at a press conference, on the sidelines of the announcement to convert about a hundred temporary vaccination centers into permanent ones.

He added: "The individuals who have been admitted are not necessarily due to COVID-19, but once admitted, their infection is discovered."

According to him, we could rise to around 2000 to 3000 COVID-19 cases in hospitals this fall, but this will not lead to an increase in intensive care admissions, which remain stable currently, thanks to vaccination.

Among the 881 hospital admissions as of Wednesday, September 6, 19 people were admitted to intensive care.

Dubé did not want to venture predictions about the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19 this fall, but he said he would ensure that the health network is prepared.

The minister's goal starting in October is 10,000 vaccinations daily, while up to 150,000 people were vaccinated daily during the pandemic.

The National Director of Public Health, Luc Boileau, will be responsible for issuing recommendations later.

Additionally, from August 2 to September 2, 2359 COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the total to 1,360,615 cases, according to public health reports.