Coronavirus Update: Ontario pauses reopening plans after increase in COVID-19 cases

Good evening, here are the COVID-19 updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

Ontario pauses reopening plans for at least a month after increase in COVID-19 cases
In anticipation of Health Canada approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children age 5-11, Alberta and Manitoba say they will not subject kids in that age group to vaccine passports
When it arrives in the province next week, British Columbia to offer single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers first

In the past seven days, 17,411 cases were reported, up 11 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 153 deaths announced, down 29 per cent over the same period. At least 1,751 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

A woman holds up a protest sign as she joins others at a vigil for teachers challenging NYC's COVID-19 vaccine mandate at Foley Square today in New York City. People gathered to join NYC teachers and lead plaintiff Michael Kane who are challenging NYC's coronavirus vaccine mandate and are due back in court today. Roughly 90 percent of teachers and 95 percent of principals are have been vaccinated since the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate went into place.Michael M Santiago/GettyImages/Getty Images

Coronavirus in Canada

Alberta and Manitoba will not subject children under 12 to their vaccine passport systems once those young people are eligible to receive the COVID-19 shot, according to the two provinces. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, says the active cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 continue to decline in the province.
In British Columbia, where public-sector workers will have to be vaccinated, parents and some board members are frustrated that teachers do not have to be vaccinated. The B.C. government has left the decision up to each school board. And, the province’s unvaccinated health care workers will be given the first opportunity to receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, says the province’s top doctor.
Ontario is keeping remaining capacity limits in place for at least another 28 days as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s top doctor. The province is reporting 454 new cases of COVID-19 today and nine new deaths related to the virus.
Quebec is reporting 672 new cases of COVID-19 today and one more death attributed to the novel coronavirus.

Virtual parent-teacher interviews: For the second year in a row, many school boards require parent-teacher conferences to take place virtually – a COVID-19 safety measure, according to administrators

School board officials say they are being especially cautious because they don’t want to risk exposing their staff to the virus, which would in turn disrupt schooling.
But it’s become a source of confusion for some parents, who wonder why the choice between in-person or online is not available if they are vaccinated.

Coronavirus around the world

Bolivia calls on Canada to waive patent and export COVID-19 vaccines

Coronavirus and business

As airlines are grappling with $651-billion in debt, up $220-billion since the COVID-19 crisis began, high oil prices are threatening their financial recoveries.

High oil prices could delay efforts by airlines to restore balance sheets weakened by the pandemic, but the lifeline of bookings made well in advance is picking up as markets reopen.
Labour shortages are also a concern and represent a real risk for the first time in decades, according to Willie Walsh, director-general of the International Air Transport Association.

Also today: The number of insolvencies in Canada in the third quarter was up compared with the same quarter last year as the number of consumers unable to pay their bills edged higher.

Globe opinion

Robyn Urback: We should try to understand the paradox of the vaccine-hesitant health care worker
Editorial Board: For Ontario, a few small steps today can prevent a big fourth pandemic wave tomorrow

More reporting

Defenceman Josh Brown becomes sixth Ottawa Senators player to enter NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

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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