Quebec shutting down schools, bars, gyms as COVID-19 cases soar Modelling predictions by Quebec’s health institute (INSPQ) released earlier in the day and based on various scenarios, show that Quebec’s health-care network could easily be overwhelmed in the next few weeks.The institute says that while the transmission of the Omicron variant could be reduced through a combination of strong public support to public health measures, a faster rollout of third doses of COVID-19 vaccines, screening and isolation, there are no guarantees.Given the uncertainty regarding the severity of Omicron, the INSPQ said hospital capacity overrun is a possibility even with the measures announced on Dec.