Quebec’s Legault plans to announce changes to COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday

"I would like, if the situation permits, to be able to give some oxygen to retail stores", Legault wrote.

As a result of the situation in hospitals, Legault says it's "not realistic" to think that we'll be able to start catching up on the number of growing cases in the province.

Legault singled out the province's 8 p.m.to 5 a.m. curfew as a measure that is "working well", suggesting that it was likely to be among the rules that is extended when the announcement is made next week.

Farther west, Manitoba counted 166 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, as well as two more deaths.

The premier has credited the curfew with contributing to a significant drop in the average number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the province.

Legault added that the new more contagious variants of COVID-19, specifically in the United Kingdom continue to pose a threat, and maintained pressure on the federal government to put a stop to non-essential travel or enforce a supervised quarantine in hotels at a travelers' expense. Officials said 14 of those deaths took place in the previous 24 hours, and the rest happened earlier. Among those, the number of people in intensive care decreased by nine, for a total of 212.

Legault said he is consulting with health authorities and his deputy ministers and other experts before making the decision.

"Once I have all the information and everyone's advice, it's up to me to make the decisions", he wrote, adding any moves he makes are based on "what seems to be the best for the people of Quebec".

"How many vaccines will we receive in the coming weeks, the coming months?"

Legault said he believes the curfew has been successful in stopping would-be rule-breakers from gathering in private homes, although he later admitted there's "no direct proof" that the measure is more effective than the other actions his government has taken, such as closing non-essential businesses and telling people to work from home.

Alberta reported 383 cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, while the number of deaths climbed by 11.

The Health Department said 2,086 doses of vaccine were administered Friday for a total of 238,143.

Quebec has reported a total of 259,993 infections, 9,717 deaths linked to the virus and 235,516 recoveries from COVID-19.