Good evening, here are the COVID-19 stories you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- The City of Ottawa declared a state of emergency over the trucker convoy.
- Quebec reported 22 more deaths from COVID-19.
- Ontario reports 56 more deaths from COVID-19.
Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts • Tracking vaccine doses
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Photo of the day
A person wears a surgical mask that has been cut out, as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID-19 measures in Ottawa on Feb. 6.
LARS HAGBERG/Reuters
Coronavirus in Canada
- In Quebec, COVID-19 hospitalizations remain high but continue to slowly decline, with 2,411 people are in hospital today, a decline of 36 from the day before. The province also reported 22 more deaths from COVID-19. Meanwhile, as the province’s theatres and concert halls prepare to reopen, industry says it will be a long road back to normalcy for the sector.
- Ontario reports 56 more deaths from COVID-19 and 486 patients in intensive care. There were 2,887 new COVID-19 cases reported, but Public Health Ontario has said the true number is likely higher because of changes to the province’s testing policy that limit access for many residents.
In Ottawa, protesters outnumber the police and control the situation, Mayor Jim Watson said on Sunday, and declared a state of emergency to give the city more flexibility to deal with continuing protests that have overwhelmed local resources.
- Protesters have paralyzed downtown Ottawa for the past nine days, with some participants waving Confederate or Nazi flags and some saying they wanted to dissolve Canada’s government.
- In a brief news release, the City of Ottawa says the decision reflects the “serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents” from protesters encamped through much of the downtown core.
Coronavirus around the world
- Russia reported a record daily COVID-19 count, with 180,071 new infections – about 2,800 cases more than the previous day. Despite the high number of infections, President Vladimir Putin said the country is not planning more lockdowns or restrictions.
More reporting
- For a sport built around closeness, COVID-19 robs Olympic curlers of beloved social culture
Information centre
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s travel restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated people
- Where do I book a COVID-19 booster or a vaccine appointment for my kids? Latest rules by province
- What is and isn't 'paid sick leave' in Canada? A short primer
- Got a vaccine 'hangover'? Here's why
Sources: Canada data are compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins University and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data are from Johns Hopkins.
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