Good evening, here are the COVID-19 updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- Cases of COVID-19 are surging in rural parts of Canada, bringing infection rates to levels many smaller communities have not experienced so far during the pandemic
- COVID-19′s fourth wave in Western Canada left these people’s surgeries in limbo. Here’s what they stand to lose
- Health Canada receives Moderna’s submission to approve its COVID-19 vaccine for kids
In the past seven days, 17,065 cases were reported, up 1 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 188 deaths announced, up 18 per cent over the same period. At least 1,724 people are being treated in hospitals.
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 • Lockdown rules and reopening
Photo of the day
Elementary students attend the first day of physical classes at Longos Elementary School, yesterday, in Alaminos, Philippines. After almost two years since schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines resumed limited face-to-face classes in 100 schools across the country on Nov. 15.Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Coronavirus in Canada
- Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.’s infection and hospitalization rates have kept surging higher, leading hospitals to cancel elective procedures – but many patients say there’s nothing optional about the treatments they’re waiting for. Here are some of the people in Western Canada whose medical care has been put on hold.
- The Saskatchewan government says it will be offering a limited supply of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at clinics in the province beginning tomorrow.
- As of today, people aged 80 and up in Quebec are eligible to book appointments for third doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The province reported 517 new cases of COVID-19 today and two more deaths attributed to the virus.
- Pharmacies in Ontario will soon be able to start offering COVID-19 tests for symptomatic people. Currently, pharmacies can only do COVID-19 tests for people without symptoms, who haven’t been in contact with someone with COVID-19, and aren’t part of an outbreak investigation. The province is reporting 481 COVID-19 cases and one new death attributed to the virus today.
COVID-19′s new shift toward more isolated regions in Canada has doctors sounding the alarm.
- Experts say a number of factors are contributing to the surging COVID-19 case counts in rural areas: people who remain unvaccinated and fewer people immune from prior infections because of a smaller number of cases in those remote areas.
- Rural and remote areas may be hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest hospital, leaving some experts concerned that smaller centres will struggle to cope with an influx of patients.
Moderna’s vaccine for kids: Moderna has made its submission to Health Canada to authorize use of its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged six to 11.
Coronavirus around the world
- Some Christmas markets in Germany will only serve traditional mulled wine to vaccinated people
- In the Netherlands, the government’s plan to drop the ’corona pass’ for unvaccinated people is facing political pushback
Coronavirus and business
Amid soaring prices, retired Canadians are staying in their homes. Ninety-six per cent of Ontario seniors over age 55 currently plan to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, according to a September poll by Campaign Research.
- One reason they’re staying? Many retirees have watched with panic as long-term care residents bore the brunt of the pandemic, with thousands dying and many forced to isolate for months.
- Others can’t move because the cost of new dwellings are not much less than the homes they’re in, and they don’t want to leave their neighbourhoods where they have access to friends or health care providers.
Also today: Despite halting immigration last year due to COVID-19, the Liberal government is on track to meet its goal of bringing in 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021. But skilled immigrant women continue to face increased barriers in finding employment, and the pandemic has only made it more difficult.
Globe opinion
- David McLaughlin: Every minister of every cabinet across Canada must be vaccinated
More reporting
- Pfizer will allow generic manufacturers to supply its experimental antiviral COVID-19 pill to 95 low- and middle-income countries, which covers around 53 per cent of the world’s population.
- The NHL and the Ottawa Senators have postponed the team’s next three games because of a continuing COVID-19 outbreak.
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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