Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- Are case counts still the most important factor in determining whether to tighten pandemic restrictions in a highly vaccinated country?
- Toronto’s Pearson airport may be separating international passengers based on vaccine status
In the past seven days, 2,909 cases were reported, up 2 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 48 deaths announced, down 24 per cent over the same period. At least 380 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,395,070 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 7th 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
Volunteers keep physical distance as they watch surfing at the Tokyo Olympics today at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan.Francisco Seco/The Associated Press
Coronavirus in Canada
- Nova Scotia is reporting 22 cases of heart inflammation, mostly in men between 20 and 30, after mRNA vaccine doses.
- A Quebec lottery that aims to get 75 per cent of its eligible population fully immunized against COVID-19 by the end of August faced technical difficulties on its first day.
- Ontario is reporting 172 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths.
Canadian politicians and public-health officials have to decide what significance to assign to daily case counts this fall and winter. Canada’s infection tallies are the lowest they’ve been in a year, but they are expected to rise again as provincial governments ease restrictions.
- In Britain, which has lifted all restrictions despite a spike in case counts, the theory is that if most confirmed infections are in the unvaccinated young or in vaccinated people with mild or no symptoms, the faster-spreading Delta variant can run amok without overwhelming the health system.
Border control: Toronto Pearson International Airport says it may be splitting passengers coming from the U.S. or other international destinations into vaccinated and partially or non-vaccinated queues.
Governor-General installation ceremony: Canada’s next Governor-General Mary Simon will have a pared down installation ceremony on Monday owing to COVID-19.
Coronavirus in Tokyo
- Athletes must wear masks at all Tokyo Olympics venues, including medal ceremonies, the International Olympic Committee said.
- Golfers Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau were knocked out of the Olympic golf tournament Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19.
Coronavirus around the world
- Britain’s Health Minister said he had made “a poor choice of word,” after urging people to take a COVID-19 vaccine and not to “cower” from the virus.
- Americans who are immune compromised may need COVID-19 booster shots as the number of Delta variant cases rise, says U.S. top infectious-disease official Anthony Fauci.
- Russia sent a shipment of coronavirus aid to Cuba, including one million medical masks, the Defence Ministry said.
- China’s Sinopharm vaccine offers poor protection from COVID-19 among the elderly, according to a new study.
- More than 4,000 people rallied outside the parliament in Greece for a third time this month to oppose mandatory inoculations for health care workers.
Globe opinion
- Benjamin Leszcz: After the pandemic, let’s deal with our phone addictions. Here are three rules to follow
- Cathal Kelly: COVID-19 precautions at Olympics merely a ‘theatre of safety’ during Sunday’s swimming events
- The Editorial Board: Masks, vaccine passports and a lot more vaccinations: How Canada can avoid a punishing pandemic fourth wave
- John Ibbitson: Despite closed borders, Canada aims for record immigration
More reporting
- The number of short-term rental bookings have been increasing since hitting a low in February when Canada had a surge in COVID-19 cases
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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