Good evening, here are the COVID-19 updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- More than 800 Air Canada employees have been suspended without pay for not getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- Airports at eight mid-sized cities in Canada can reopen their runways to international flights starting Nov. 30, the Transport Minister says
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously supported broad use of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 today. Shots could potentially go into young arms as soon as tomorrow
In the past seven days, 15,983 cases were reported, down 5 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 216 deaths announced, down 9 per cent over the same period. At least 1,948 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,667,813 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 12th 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
Photo of the day
Caio Fonseca, who said his father died from complications related to COVID-19, cries and hugs his mother Roseli Fonsceca during a protest against the way the government handled the nation's response to the pandemic, organized by the "Widows of COVID" group on the Day of the Dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.Bruna Prado/The Associated Press
Coronavirus in Canada
- Quebec will permit dancing and karaoke again as it loosens COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, customers will be allowed to mingle and authorities won’t require bar and restaurant owners to keep a customer registry – though proof of vaccination is still required. The province is also ending an advisory that encouraged people to work from home during the pandemic.
- Ontario is reporting 331 new COVID-19 cases today and seven deaths. The province says 136 people are in intensive care with COVID-related critical illness, including 84 people on ventilators.
- Four of the five recent deaths linked to COVID-19 in British Columbia have occurred in the Northern Health region while one of the deceased lived in the Interior.
Ottawa will ease international flight restrictions beginning Nov. 30 – after flights were restricted for most of the year as part of the government’s efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said airports at eight mid-sized cities can reopen their runways to planes from across the border as of Nov. 30: Victoria, Abbotsford and Kelowna in British Columbia; St. John’s in Newfoundland; Waterloo and Hamilton in Ontario; Saskatoon and Regina in Saskatchewan.
Coronavirus around the world
- The U.S. is waiting for CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to sign off vaccinating kids aged 5 to 11 before the United States can begin administering the vaccine to children in the age group.
- In China, the government has told families to keep daily necessities in stock in case of emergencies, after COVID-19 outbreaks and unusually heavy rains raised supply concerns.
Coronavirus and business
Air Canada has suspended more than 800 employees without pay for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- The airline says more than 96 per cent of workers are fully vaccinated, and employees who do not get vaccinated face unpaid leave and possible termination.
- WestJet Airlines Ltd. made a similar announcement on Monday, saying nearly 300 employees are suspended for not getting both COVID-19 immunizations.
Also today: Moving to a small town for cheaper housing? Prepare to pay more to get around, for insurance and repairs.
And: Pfizer expects at least $65-billion in sales from its COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 and 2022.
Plus: Banking regulator expected to lift pandemic restrictions on dividend increases, analysts say
Globe opinion
- Aled Edwards and Max Morgan: Canada must develop an open and equitable pharmaceutical ecosystem for the next pandemic
- Rita Trichur: Inflation fears? Ottawa should bring back Canada Savings Bonds and reward consumers who conserve COVID-19 savings
More reporting
- Reopening the land border is putting new and enticing U.S. diversions within range of Canadian road-trippers
- Airlines reopen airport lounges with new perks, more walk-ins
Information centre
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s travel restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated people
- Waiting for a second dose? We answer your COVID-19 vaccine questions
- 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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Abigale Subdhan