Good evening, here are the COVID-19 updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- In anticipation of Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, which could come by the end of the month, Toronto released its vaccine plan for children under 12
- Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s largely excluded critics of mandatory vaccination from his shadow cabinet, prompting strong reactions from both sides of his caucus
- The Saskatchewan government is proposing a law that would create buffer zones around hospitals against protesters
In the past seven days, 16,435 cases were reported, up 5 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 150 deaths announced, down 20 per cent over the same period. At least 1,746 people are being treated in hospitals.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 14th 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
Corporal Howie Currotte wears a mask while taking part in Remembrance Day ceremonies today in Montreal.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Coronavirus in Canada
- In anticipation of Health Canada’s approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 12, Toronto officials announced the city’s vaccine rollout for young people yesterday. Dubbed Team Toronto Kids, there will be vaccinations at large fixed-site clinics, in hospital and community-based clinics, at pediatric and family physician practices, in school, and at more than 450 pharmacies across the city. Ontario is reporting 642 new cases of COVID-19 today, the highest single-day increase since Oct. 9.
- A public inquest examining the impact of the pandemic’s first wave on Quebec’s long-term care centres heard yesterday that the province’s public-health institute had to wrestle with outdated software, delays in creating a testing program, and a misguided expectation that hospitals would be hit before elder-care homes. The province is reporting 663 new cases of COVID-19 today and four more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.
- Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is dismissing an opposition bid to have him formally censured in the Legislature for his handling of COVID-19′s fourth wave. The Premier called the move cynical political gamesmanship.
- Saskatchewan’s government is proposing a law that would create buffer zones around hospitals in response to many anti-vaccine protests that were held at health care centres across the province this year.
- COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Manitoba, prompting more public-health restrictions.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s shadow cabinet decisions, which were updated and announced this week, send a clear message to MPs who have been speaking out against mandatory vaccination, according to Conservative MP Kevin Waugh, who spoke with The Globe and Mail.
- Several high-profile Conservative MPs, who had made public comments critical of mandatory vaccination or the party’s position on the issue, were stripped of their critic roles when the updated list was made available Tuesday. They were also absent from a list of deputy shadow cabinet critics.
Coronavirus around the world
- Current COVID-19 hot spots in the United States offer sign of what could come this winter.
- With a work force thinned out by two years of closed borders, employers in Australia are offering bonuses and raises to attract employees.
Coronavirus and business
Despite audience growth in theatres, Cineplex reported a net loss of $33.6-million or 53 cents a share in the third quarter, compared with a net loss of $121.2-million or $1.91 in the prior year.
- Cineplex reported that 8.3 million people went to the movies at its theatres in the third quarter, compared to 1.6 million during the same period last year.
- In an attempt to lure people away from their living room TVs and into theatres, cinemas are offering upgrades on the moviegoing experience.
Also today: Drilling activity in the Canadian oil patch will return to prepandemic levels in 2022, according to a new industry forecast.
Globe opinion
- Editorial Board: The pandemic is, more than ever, a pandemic of the unvaccinated
More reporting
- Two more Ottawa Senators players were put into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol today, hours before the Senators were scheduled to play host to the Los Angeles Kings.
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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