Coronavirus Update: Canada plans to ease border restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers

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

Top headlines:

1. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t provide a timeline, but said Canadian border restrictions such as hotel quarantine requirements will eventually be eased for fully vaccinated travellers only
2. Canadian charity Mastercard Foundation is boosting Africa’s lagging COVID-19 vaccine campaign with a US$1.3-billion donation
3. An inquest is looking into the Yvon-Brunet nursing home in Montreal, where 73 residents died during the pandemic’s first wave

In the last 7 days, 12,199 cases were reported, down 31 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 225 deaths announced, down 7 per cent over the same period. At least 1,771 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,348,080 others are considered recovered.

Canada’s inoculation rate is 11th among countries with a population of one million or more people.

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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

• Ontario reported 469 new infections today – the lowest daily infection total for the province since Sept. 26. And: Why has Toronto’s Latin American community been hit so hard by COVID-19?
• In Quebec, an inquest looking into a 185-bed Montreal nursing home where 73 died heard that it took more than a week before lab results confirmed residents had contracted the novel coronavirus.
• New Brunswick said another 29,000 people need a COVID-19 shot to hit its target of having 75 per cent of the population vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine – a key milestone in the province’s reopening plan.

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the country plans to ease restrictions at the border for fully vaccinated travellers only.

• Steps to ease restrictions will be “science-based,” and only for those with two COVID-19 vaccine doses, the Primer Minister said, but did not provide a timeline for the change.
• Trudeau said he expects high interest from overseas travellers to visit Canada as those restrictions eventually ease because of vaccination uptake rates and case counts that are better than peer countries.

COVID-19 vaccine rollout: As of May, 47 per cent of survey respondents said the government was doing a very good job in the vaccine rollout, up significantly from January.

UV wands and lights: Health Canada will now regulate companies selling UV wands and lights claiming they can destroy COVID-19.

Children under 12: Pfizer will begin testing its COVID-19 vaccine in a larger group of children under age 12.

Coronavirus around the world

• In Japan, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said the committee may seek further vaccine donations to make the rescheduled Games as safe as possible. He emphasized there was no talk of further delays, however.
• The World Bank President says the bank does not support waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines.

Globe opinion

• Gary Mason: Jason Kenney continues to give in to his worst impulses
• Brooke Struck: To avoid a postpandemic spending spree, don’t make money decisions in a ‘hot’ state of mind
• Jeremy Farrar: Global vaccination must be the top priority at the G7 meeting
• J. Kelly Nestruck: Science may save us from the pandemic – but creativity could have made it less painful

More reporting

• Ontario government restores hope for a summer theatre season – but the dramatic suspense continues
• Minto Cup, Canada’s junior A lacrosse championship, cancelled for 2021 season
• During the pandemic: Is now the time to invest in an income property?
• Opinion: Find a ‘safe brave space’ that will help you flourish postpandemic
• Knee and hip replacement more than just ‘lifestyle’ surgeries

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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