1) Montreal crossed another grim milestone in the pandemic Friday, with authorities confirming the city now has cases of all three of the more transmissible #COVID19 variants of concern. So what does this mean for the city? Please click on my column below. montrealgazette.com/news/local-new…
2) As Dr. @MatthewOughton told me this afternoon, Montreal finds itself in a paradox at this point in time: facing a proliferation of the B.1.1.7 variant that was first detected in England, yet recording a drop in #COVID19 cases and hospitalizations since last month.
3) As the chart below reveals, 14 regions across Quebec are now grappling with presumptive variant cases, up from 13 from the day before. These cases will turn out to be any of the three variants: B.1.1.7; B.1.351 (originating in South Africa) or P.1 (sweeping Brazil). 
4) In all likelihood, most of the 1,847 presumptive variant cases will be genetically sequenced as B.1.1.7, followed by a cluster of B.1.351 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The B.1.1.7 strain is at least 50% more transmissible and 30% more lethal. B.1.351 is more resistant to vaccines.
5) Montreal was the epicentre of the #pandemic during the first and second waves, and it’s also now the hot spot for variants, with a combined total of 1,082 confirmed and presumptive cases. Given the greater transmissibility of B.1.1.7, Montreal should not relax restrictions.
6) Yet on Monday, after-school sports will resume in the red zone of Montreal, and gyms will be able to reopen on March 26, plus spas and indoor hotel pools over the next few weeks. On Friday, the city posted 360 #COVID19 cases, up from 341 the day before. See the chart below.
7) Ontario has thus far recorded nearly four times as many confirmed and presumptive variant cases than Montreal. Is it a coincidence that Ontario is now observing an uptick in #COVID19 infections? Please take a look at the chart below.
8) At present, just 7.6% of Quebec's population has been administered mostly first doses of the vaccines against #COVID19. In light of this fact, perhaps the government should reconsider loosening restrictions in the coming days. End of thread. Please limit your social contacts.
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