Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- A pregnant Toronto psychiatrist issued her family an ultimatum: Get vaccinated, or you won’t be able to hold the baby. Other families, too, are seeing vaccine statuses cause rifts as reopening continues
- The vaccine statuses of Canadians returning from abroad are not being tracked by the federal government – leaving a data gap in the total number of vaccinated residents
- The Delta variant, first detected in India, has given the pandemic renewed vigour and prompted the British government to delay lifting all remaining restrictions on social contacts
In the last 7 days, 9,141 cases were reported, down 27 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 183 deaths announced, down 14 per cent over the same period. At least 1,306 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,361,174 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 11th 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 • Vaccine distribution plan • Four vaccines approved in Canada • Essential resources
Photo of the day
Coronavirus in Canada
- Starting tomorrow, British Columbia’s restrictions on indoor activities, gatherings and travel within the province will be relaxed. The province’s top doctor says the reopening is largely based on B.C. exceeding its minimum vaccine threshold markers.
- In Alberta, if the Calgary Stampede goes ahead, its planners say the event will take place with capacity cut in half and proof of vaccination or rapid testing necessary to enter some venues.
- Starting today, more people in Ontario were eligible to book an accelerated second dose of COVID-19 vaccine while those who received AstraZeneca can get the second shot after eight weeks.
In Ottawa, the federal government has not been tracking the number of residents who got a COVID-19 vaccine abroad, leaving a gap in understanding of vaccine coverage in Canada.
- The lack of federal tracking means provinces are left to “fill this gap,” said Tom McMillan, a spokesperson with Alberta Health. The province is working on a way to allow residents to update their health records easily, while Ontario lets individuals do so in COVaxON, the central vaccine data registry, by contacting their local public-health unit.
Family feuds: Tension and resentment are mounting between vaccinated and unvaccinated family members as more Canadians get the shot and gathering limits increase.
Coronavirus origins: Canadians want a “robust” and ongoing investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Patty Hajdu says.
Coronavirus around the world
- The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are very effective against hospitalization for COVID-19, even with only one dose, a new study in England suggests. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a month-long delay in lifting most of the country’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions, citing the rapid spread of the Delta variant.
- Novavax says its COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective, according to a U.S.-based clinical trial.
Coronavirus and business
Cash-flush consumers, lockdowns and ever-changing COVID-19 protocols have created an unprecedented slowdown of goods that is testing the global economy and its distribution networks.
- From Vancouver to Halifax, manufacturers, wholesalers and other companies are scrambling to secure container space on ships at exponential prices to get their goods to Canada.
Also today: The head of the World Trade Organization said that the trend of pandemic-related trade barriers is “going in the wrong direction.” The restrictions need to be removed, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, so that medical supplies and vaccines can be moved more quickly.
And: Indigenous entrepreneurs find new business opportunities with subscription boxes amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Globe opinion
- Ambarish Chandra: Canada must open its border to all vaccinated travellers
- Fiona McGlynn: Seeking greener pastures: The pandemic is spurring a millennial back-to-the-land movement
More reporting
- Running: After COVID-19 shut down racing for a year, Canadian Justyn Knight is running faster than ever
- Many Canadian airline customers are still awaiting refunds for flights cancelled amid pandemic
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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