Good evening, these are the top coronavirus headlines tonight:
Top headlines:
- The possible applications for mRNA vaccines are only now being recognized, as they finally were approved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meet the people and the possibilities behind the science.
- Today marked the day Canada passed 40,000 deaths from COVID-19, and as André Picard notes, it is now the third leading cause of death in Canada, after only cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- North Korea reported one death and hundreds of thousands with symptoms in the country’s first confirmed outbreak of the pandemic.
In the past seven days, there were 486 deaths from COVID-19 nationally. At least 5,670 people are being treated in hospitals and 363 are in the ICU.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 15th 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
COVID-19 updates from Canada and the world
- Quebec reported 30 new COVID-19 deaths, and a decrease in hospitalizations as the province’s public mask mandate is set to lift this weekend. In Ontario, there were 18 deaths from the virus and also fewer hospitalizations and ICU patients.
- Yukon has expanded second COVID-19 booster to residents aged 50 and older, while Newfoundland and Labrador has plans to drop its mask mandate in schools starting May 24.
- A Canadian warship that was due to participate in a major training exercise and two overseas missions in the Pacific has been docked due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
- In the U.S., Joe Biden may need to claw back funding for COVID-19 if Congress refuses to approve it.
- In China, Shanghai aims to defeat COVID-19 over next week as Beijing hunkers down.
- State media in North Korea confirmed one person has died from COVID-19 and hundreds of thousands have shown fever symptoms.
Pandemic recovery
- The mRNA vaccines developed against COVID-19 have been hailed as a medical revolution. But the technology has decades of research behind it, and now that its efficacy has been seen during the pandemic, scientists hope to use the science for other illnesses.
- For investors who want to bet on a grocery delivery stock, there’s one option that goes beyond supermarkets and is already expanding in Canada.
- Canadian households have amassed billions in excess savings during the pandemic. Where they spend that cash – and how quickly – carries big implications for the economy
Globe opinion
André Picard: Canada reaches a grim milestone – 40,000 COVID-19 deaths
Adam Gopnik: With a million COVID deaths, America dives deep into a strange cult of self-sacrifice
More reading
Leah Hennel’s Alone Together: A Pandemic Photo Essay takes readers through the devastation and joy of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Calgary-based photojournalist Leah Hennel had unique access during the pandemic, as a contract photographer for Alberta Health Services. Her new book is out now.Leah Hennel
Information centre
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s travel rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated people
- When will COVID-19 be endemic? The four factors that will shape the virus’s future
- Wastewater is filling the COVID-19 data gap
Thank you for subscribing to our Coronavirus Update Newsletter. As the pandemic eases, we plan to wind this down and eventually cease sending, but have many other newsletters to keep you informed, including Globe Climate, Carrick on Money and Breaking News.
Reach out to us: audience@globeandmail.com
Caora McKenna