Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- More Canadians are being treated for COVID-19 in intensive-care units than at any other time in the pandemic as the highly contagious variants take hold
- The United States is putting the brakes on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following reports of blood clots
- The federal government is taking an equity stake in Air Canada as part of a multibillion-dollar pandemic rescue plan
In the last 7 days, 57,670 cases were reported, up 30 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 251 deaths announced, up 17 per cent over the same period. At least 3,529 people are being treated in hospitals and 976,883 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 25th among 84 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 • Vaccine distribution plan • Four vaccines approved in Canada • Essential resources
Photo of the day
A subway train conductor looks down the platform at a New York City subway station on April 13, 2021 in New York City. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that more than two million people rode the train last Thursday, the highest daily number since the coronavirus pandemic struck New York.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Coronavirus in Canada
- COVID-19 vaccine clinics for residents aged 18 and older will begin to be deployed in Ontario hot spots, Premier Doug Ford detailed today.
- Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says businesses affected by COVID-19 shutdowns will soon be able to apply for more aid. And, this summer’s Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been cancelled due to the pandemic.
- A woman in Quebec has experienced blood clots associated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and she is now recovering. More than two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the province. And, lockdown orders in three regions are being extended for another week. A new coroner’s inquiry into deaths in the province’s long-term care and retirement homes during the first wave of the pandemic details chaos, inadequate care plans, residents who weren’t bathed for weeks and were administered expired medications.
In Ottawa, Health Canada responded to the U.S.’s move to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine following reports of blood clots, and asked the drug maker for more information.
- The move comes as Canada reported its first case of a blood clot linked to AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in a woman in Quebec, who is now recovering.
Atlantic travel bubble: It was introduced last summer as a way for the Atlantic provinces to allow residents to travel freely between the four provinces without having to isolate for 14 days. But, the region’s premiers are now suggesting that the April 19 reopening date is unlikely.
Coronavirus around the world
- Britain announced Tuesday that all adults over the age of 50 have been offered a vaccine, two days ahead of schedule, allowing the government to ease lockdown measures.
- The World Health Organization is urging countries to suspend the sale of live wild mammals in food markets following a WHO-led mission to Wuhan, China, to investigate the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics ran through a mostly empty Osaka city park in Japan, illustrating the risks of trying to hold the postponed Games during a pandemic.
- India said it will fast-track emergency approvals for COVID-19 vaccines authorized by Western countries and Japan as cases in the country rise rapidly.
Coronavirus and business
The government announced a multibillion-dollar pandemic rescue plan for Air Canada that will see Ottawa take an equity stake in the country’s largest airliner.
- Under the rescue package, Air Canada will not be able to use the money to buy back its own shares, and executive compensation will be capped at $1-million. It also requires Air Canada to immediately restore key regional routes and current orders for 33 Airbus A220 aircraft produced in Montreal.
- Air Canada shares fell sharply on Tuesday on fears that its market value would be diluted because of the Canadian government’s deal.
Also today: Canada’s oil sands are entering their busiest season for annual maintenance, which would normally see thousands of extra workers on location. But union officials say many members are reluctant to travel as a third wave of COVID-19 surges across the country.
And: Sales at French luxury goods group Louis Vuitton bounced back far more quickly than expected in early 2021 as Chinese and U.S. shoppers made the most of an easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Globe opinion
- Konrad Yakabuski: If Air Canada’s business recovers quickly after the pandemic, Ottawa could make a nifty profit by selling its shares, which it is purchasing at a discount to the current market price.
- Gary Mason: Who is still listening to Dr. Tam? Having lived with this health emergency for more than a year now, Canadians have tragically tuned out.
- Robyn Urback: During the pandemic, Ontario’s government has made a habit of cordoning off train tracks only after massive accidents, seemingly never learning.
More reporting
- Some office workers are using tech to create virtual workspaces, not just for meetings
- CHL cancels the 2021 Memorial Cup due to COVID-19 restrictions
- When workers’ comp claims for COVID-19 fall through the cracks, the costs often land on sick employees and taxpayers
- What does Air Canada’s deal with Ottawa mean for taxpayers?
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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