Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- A handful of Quebec protesters who defied a new, provincewide curfew were slapped with fines Saturday evening as case counts continued to surge
- Long-term care advocates were joined by two federal party leaders at a Toronto rally in support of more protection for seniors
- Food banks in Canada say the pandemic has underscored the need to ensure that such agencies are included in emergency plans and prioritized
In the last seven days, 56,474 cases were reported, up 12% from the previous seven days. There were 1,085 deaths announced, up 20% over the same period. At least 4,434 people are being treated in hospitals and 558,772 others are considered recovered.
About 73 per cent of the 436,830 doses of vaccine distributed to provinces have been administered. That’s 0.8 doses for every 100 people in Canada.
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 reopening • Canada’s vaccine distribution plan • Developing/approved vaccines • Pfizer’s vaccine, explained • Essential resources
Photo of the day
Protesters stand outside the St. George long-term care home in Toronto today during a rally to demand that operator Sienna Senior Living invest more on resident care and staff safety amid the COVID-19 outbreak.CHRIS HELGREN/Reuters
Coronavirus in Canada
- In-class learning will resume on Monday in Northern Ontario. Meanwhile, the province set yet another single-day high for new diagnoses, with 3,945 new infections reported over the past 24 hours.
- One the first night of Quebec’s 8 p.m. ET curfew, small protests emerged in about 20 locations, but overall, police noted “excellent co-operation from the public.”
- A recent case involving a Nunavut woman who flew to Winnipeg to deliver her child and died of COVID-19 is drawing attention to the risks associated with travelling out of province to give birth.
In Ottawa, a new study found two-thirds of Canadians are keen to get the vaccine, but another 15 per cent are unwilling and 20 per cent are unsure.
- Some of the hesitancy is coming from a surprising workplace, according to a separate survey.
Top questions, answered: What are the implications of changing a vaccine dose schedule, and can different shots be combined? Here are the latest issues health experts have had to tackle.
Coronavirus around the world
- Iran has banned vaccine imports from the United States and Britain, calling them “untrustworthy” and added that foreign companies will not be allowed to test COVID-19 vaccines on Iranians.
- In Germany, citizens are growing increasingly frustrated by the slow rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine its scientists helped develop.
- Spain will send convoys carrying COVID-19 vaccines and food supplies to areas paralyzed by a snowstorm – the country’s heaviest snowfall in decades.
Coronavirus and business
Canada’s 1.14 million small businesses have faced challenges amid the pandemic. Here’s how restrictions have prompted many to embrace e-commerce and expedite a transition to online sales.
- Small-business owners have had to revamp products and menu items to ensure they don’t arrive damaged or cold and soggy upon delivery.
- Others have toyed with virtual reality to offer digital fittings for apparel and many have dabbled in coding, social media and online payment systems.
Also today: Can employers require mandatory vaccination for their staff? As the rollout ramps up, we asked lawyers to parse through what’s at stake when employees are asked to get vaccinated.
Globe opinion
- Juliet Guichon and Eduardo Franco: Millions of people will be vaccinated in the next nine months. After vaccination, some will have a heart attack or stroke, some will win the lottery, others will fall in love. Those who are vaccine-hesitant will try to infer that the vaccines were a cause of those subsequent events.
- Marcus Gee: Good can indeed come from this pandemic struggle, but only if we work in unison to build a better world.
- Lisa Kerr: At a time of extraordinary and widespread anxiety about our health and economic well-being, Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole is offering a promise that vaccinating prisoners will come last.
More reporting
- These days, as it looks as though we will be spending the season at home, here’s eight ways to make the most of it
- First Nations across Canada have begun to receive doses of COVID-19 vaccines as Indigenous leaders encourage people to roll up their sleeves
Information centre
- When will a COVID-19 vaccine be available in Canada? How well do they 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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