MONTREAL — Quebec's education minister says the province is cancelling ministerial exams for high school students and will put out a call for qualified teaching personnel and education students to join a new tutoring program to be launched in the coming weeks.

Jean-Francois Roberge told a news conference today the return to class in the fall was a success overall but that more resources are needed to help teachers, parents and students.

The measures he's announcing include allowing teachers to delay issuing first report cards, providing computers or tablets to students who need them and additional resources for learning and mental health.

Primary students will now have to wear masks in halls and common areas and those in Grades 5 and 6 will have to wear them in class. High school students, who also have to wear masks in class, will be provided two surgical masks a day.

Roberge said the results of tests of the ventilation systems in a sample of schools have been reassuring, with an average air quality that falls within provincial standards.

The Quebec government announced new measures this week to curb rising infections but chose to reopen primary schools as scheduled Jan. 11 and high schools a week later.

Quebec is reporting 2,588 new COVID-19 infections and 45 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, including 14 that occurred in the past 24 hours.

Health Minister Christian Dube said hospitalizations increased by 23, to 1,403, and 207 people were in intensive care, a rise of five.

Dube says the province administered 13,971 doses of vaccine Thursday, for a total of 62,602.

Quebec has reported a total of 223,106 COVID-19 infections and 8,606 deaths linked to the virus.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan 8, 2021.

The Canadian Press