Coronavirus Update: EU travel rules could restrict many Africans and Canadians

Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. The European Union’s new vaccine passport excludes the Covishield vaccine (a common AstraZeneca brand) – which would block many Africans and Canadians from entry
2. Canada’s COVID-19 death toll could be more than twice as high as previously reported, according to a new analysis
3. Researchers are working to determine whether extra doses would be beneficial for those who are immunocompromised

In the past seven days, 4,401 cases were reported, down 24 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 120 deaths announced, down 31 per cent over the same period. At least 793 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,381,943 others are considered recovered.

Canada’s inoculation rate is 10th among countries with a population of one million or more people.

Sources: Canada data is compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data is from Johns Hopkins University.

Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts • Tracking vaccine doses • Lockdown rules and reopening • Vaccine distribution plan • Four vaccines approved in Canada • Essential resources

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Coronavirus in Canada

• Quebec’s public-sector workers will begin gradually returning to their offices in September, with a goal of having roughly 50 per cent of employees at the office several days per week by mid-October, the government said today. Meanwhile, health officials in the province reported 126 new cases of COVID-19.
• In Alberta, new figures show the province spent more than $5-billion on its COVID-19 response, with funds going to continuing care, hospitals, testing, vaccine distribution, personal protective equipment and aid for businesses and workers.
• Malls, hair salons and outdoor events reopened in Ontario today, a few days ahead of schedule due to strong vaccination rates and other public-health indicators.

Canada’s death toll from COVID-19 could be more than twice as high as previously reported, according to a new analysis of excess mortality rates.

• The analysis suggests the death toll outside of long-term care homes far exceeds official reports.
• It also calls on the federal and provincial governments to improve how they report deaths – currently, according to the researchers, a “slow, patchwork system” – so Canada can be better prepared for the next pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine: Third shots could become necessary for immunocompromised people, including the elderly and people with HIV, certain cancers and autoimmune disorders.

• Small studies from the U.S. and France hint at some benefits, but the scientific jury is still out on whether a third shot makes a significant difference for transplant recipients on anti-rejection drugs – the group that appears least likely to derive protection from COVID-19 vaccines.
• Researchers at Toronto’s University Health Network are hoping to provide some clarity with what is believed to be the world’s first randomized controlled trial offering third doses to transplant recipients. Results are expected in a few weeks.

For now, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is waiting for more evidence before it considers recommending third doses for any immunocompromised populations, said Mark Johnson, a spokesman for the Public Health Agency of Canada.

AstraZeneca: Health Canada is updating the label for the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Covishield COVID-19 vaccines to add capillary leak syndrome as a potential side effect.

Coronavirus around the world

• New COVID-19 vaccine rules set by the European Union do not include the AstraZeneca brand Covishield, which is the backbone of the COVAX program and the mostly widely used shot in Africa. The controversy over the EU’s COVID-19 vaccine passport excluding Covishield is another sign of growing concerns such documents will be used in a discriminatory manner by wealthy countries.
• In Russia, President Vladimir Putin told the country he received the domestically made Sputnik V COVID-19 shot, amid slow vaccine uptake in the country. Previously the Kremlin said Putin received two vaccine shots but did not provide additional details and did not release images of him getting them.
• France is expecting a fourth wave of the virus due to the Delta variant. The country is holding back on easing restrictions in areas where the variant case count is high.
• A stringent lockdown begins Thursday in Bangladesh, which is seeing rising infections and crowded hospitals across the country.
• With less than a month left until the opening of the summer Olympics, Japan is reportedly considering extending COVID-19 restrictions for another two weeks to a month.

Globe opinion

• Joan Baxter: What Atlantic Canada’s troubled COVID-19 travel bubble can teach us about the crisis to come

More reporting

• Rush hour was bad before COVID-19 – it could be worse as restrictions ease

Information centre

• How well do vaccines work? Here’s what you need to know.
• Rob Carrick’s 10-point checklist of things you should have done by now to protect or improve your money situation. Tips for minimizing damage to your credit score; how to manage retirement anxiety during difficult times; and things to think about if you’re considering home delivery.
• Here are the expectations for self-isolation; tips for managing anxiety and protecting your mental health; and what to do if you think you have the virus. Wash your hands. How to break a bad habit (like touching your face). Is flying safe?
• The best foods to eat to maintain an immune system-friendly diet; and how to keep a healthy diet while working from home; four eating tips when working from home; and five mistakes that might cause you to gain unwanted weight. Here are the essentials to stock up on and how to shop safely for groceries; the best pantry staples and how to stop stress-eating.
• Find answers to your coronavirus and employment questions.

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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