Quebec is reporting more than 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since the pandemic began, as well as dozens of new deaths.

But the province's Public Health Institute says the figure is inflated by a number of cases identified the day before that were not captured in Friday's case count.

Quebec is reporting 2,031 new infections today and 48 additional deaths.

Eleven of the deaths occurred in the last 24 hours, while the rest happened earlier or at an unknown date.

Hospitalizations declined by seven to 754, with 96 people in intensive care, which is one fewer than a day prior.

Montreal reported the most new cases, with 630, while Quebec City was second-highest with 304.

Quebec has reported a total of 149,908 cases and 7,231 deaths since the pandemic began.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec 5, 2020

The Canadian Press