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

Top headlines:

  1. G7 leaders and the UN Security Council will discuss fair access to vaccines this week
  2. COVID-19 cases are dropping in many parts of the world, including Canada, according to the World Health Organization
  3. New York is suing Amazon over COVID-19 safety protocols

In the last 7 days, 20,192 cases were reported, down 17 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 431 deaths announced, down 34 per cent over the same period. At least 2,362 people are being treated in hospitals and 779,766 others are considered recovered.

About 86 per cent of the 1,538,860 doses of vaccine distributed to provinces have been administered. That’s 3.5 doses for every 100 people in Canada.

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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 Lockdown rules and reopeningCanada’s vaccine distribution planDeveloping/approved vaccinesPfizer’s vaccine, explained Essential resources


Photo of the day

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A parishioner receives ashes on her head during Ash Wednesday, as part of new protocols during the pandemic in Mexico City, Mexico on February 17.EDGARD GARRIDO/Reuters


Coronavirus in Canada


In Canada, coronavirus cases are falling; new infections plunged from 57,519 in the week beginning Jan. 4 to 20,776 in the past week – a 64-per-cent drop.

  • Canada’s drop in coronavirus cases is similar to a global decrease in cases recently. Observers say there are many possible reasons: Stronger public-health measures, stricter adherence to the rules borne out of fear of faster-spreading variants, and the natural seasonality of coronaviruses could all be responsible for the drop.

Indigenous priority: The provinces should prioritize Indigenous people in their COVID-19 vaccination programs, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said.

COVID-19 vaccines: Health Canada is not yet ready to make a decision about approving the AstraZeneca vaccine.


Coronavirus around the world


Coronavirus and business

New York is suing Amazon over worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The lawsuit alleges that Amazon failed to disinfect facilities when infected workers had been present; didn’t contact workers when they were exposed to the virus; and made employees work so much that they didn’t have time to disinfect their workstations or stay socially distant.
  • The pandemic has exposed how Amazon, the U.S.’s second-largest private employer, treats its workers who pack and ship orders.

Also today: The response to COVID-19 has driven a $24-trillion increase in global debt, a new study from the Institute of International Finance shows.

And: Retail sales figures in the United States rose sharply in January, after households received additional pandemic relief money from the government.


Globe opinion

  • Editorial: During a press conference, Ontario’s chief pandemic science advisor left no doubt that Premier Doug Ford’s plan to lift the province’s stay-at-home order and reopen many businesses flies in the face of evidence and experience. The move is premature, and it risks setting off a third wave.
  • Bram Rochwerg: We need to prepare people for vaccine unfairness. Once the vaccines start to get out there, some people who have had their shots will start visiting their friends. Others who are lower down the line will have to watch and wait.
  • Darren Gilmour: The Royal Society of Canada’s task force on COVID-19 mobilizes a diverse group of experts across Canada to strengthen public dialogue and to provide peer-reviewed evidence and recommendations for decision-makers.

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