Coronavirus Update: Trudeau expects majority of Canadians to be vaccinated by Sept. next year

Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. Trudeau expects majority of Canadians to be vaccinated by September 2021
2. Ford calls anti-lockdown protesters outside his home “buffoons”
3. As New Brunswick exits, Nova Scotia says the Atlantic bubble was a success

In Canada, there have been at least 359,055 cases reported. In the last week 38,342 new cases were announced, 15 per cent more than the previous week. There have also been at least 286,500 recoveries and 11,894 deaths. Health officials have administered more than 12,645,249 tests.

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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 • Vaccines • Back to school guide • Essential resources

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Coronavirus in Canada

• In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford apologized to neighbours for the anti-lockdown protesters outside his house. The province reported a record 1,855 new COVID-19 infections – a 25 per cent increase in a day – and 20 new deaths today.
• New Brunswick formally left the Atlantic bubble today, meaning all visitors will need to register before entering the province, then isolate for 14 days. The province reported 12 new cases today.
• In Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil said the now-defunct Atlantic bubble was a “huge success” at keeping infections in the region low, and the mental health of the public up. The province reported nine new COVID-19 cases today.
• Stricter public health measures came into effect in Saskatchewan today, suspending group sports and capping indoor gatherings at 30 people. Also today, the province added a $100-million buffer to its mid-year financial forecast to account for COVID-19 spending, on top of existing funds. The province reported 329 new COVID-19 infections today, with four additional deaths.
• In Quebec, the hard-hit region of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean will be among the first area to receive rapid COVID-19 tests, health officials said today.

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wouldn’t say when the first COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in Canada, instead saying “what really matters” is that the government expects to have the majority of the population vaccinated by September next year.

• However, deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo today suggested that December may be a more realistic timeline. Yesterday, Dr. Njoo suggested that three million Canadians could get vaccinated by the end of March, with efforts ramping up from there.
• Uncertainty over the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines was not well-received by premiers, who will be responsible for carrying out mass immunizations. Premier Ford said he has many unanswered questions, but vowed to work with the federal government.

Also today: More than half of Canadian workers above the age of 18 don’t have access to paid sick leave, according to a recent report from Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer.

Coronavirus around the world

• Germany is preparing to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available next month. This week, the country passed 1-million COVID-19 infections.
• Britain asked its healthcare products regulator to assess AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for a rollout – even after the company said it may run another study to gauge efficacy following concerns raised over its trial data.
• In Australia, the city of Victoria, once the country’s COVID-19 hot spot, said today it has gone 28 days without detecting any new COVID-19 cases, and is reporting zero active cases. A lockdown of 100 days helped bring down the number of new infections from 700 new daily cases, and almost 8,000 active infections.

Coronavirus and business

On Monday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will deliver the federal government’s first full fiscal update in 18 months. Here’s what Canadians should expect.

Also today: All Canadian small business owners earned Report on Business Magazine’s title of CEO of the Year for the ingenuity and resilience they have shown during the pandemic.

And: Even as COVID-19 infections have surged in many parts of the country, shoppers across Canada formed long lineups at stores for Black Friday deals. However, retail analysts say the majority of this year’s Black Friday purchases are expected to be made online.

Globe opinion

• Robyn Urback: “There will be no patience for platitudes if Canada is left in a limbo while peer nations embark on the road back to normality. Mr. Trudeau made a life-and-death bet that vaccine nationalism won’t impede Canada’s battle against COVID-19. The odds don’t look good, and no doubt, there will be hell to pay if he’s wrong.”
• John Ibbitson: “In the spring, during the first wave of the pandemic, Ottawa was hit less severely than Toronto, a situation that is repeating itself in the second wave. Why is that?”
• Vincent Lam: “Although everyone is tired of COVID-19, Canadian citizens and leaders must understand that the situation is moving in the wrong direction. We are on the cusp of things becoming much worse. We need federal leadership now. The Emergencies Act should be invoked now.”
• Marcus Gee: Adamson BBQ’s owner Adam Skelly has the right to protest - but not break - COVID-19 rules.
• Noah Richler: Rural Nova Scotia, heart of the Atlantic Bubble that is now on life support, has been and remains a place of extraordinary COVID-19 privilege.
• Andrew Coyne: Canada’s at the back of the COVID-19 vaccine line. But it’s not because they aren’t made here.
• Stephen Bown: The Hudson’s Bay Company has survived for 350 years. Will it survive COVID-19?

More reporting

• Growth investing is needed as the pandemic wanes, says the former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge.
• An expert in China has lessons about optimizing air quality that could serve as a blueprint for redesigning and rebuilding cities around the world to make them less vulnerable to contagion.
• Suspected North Korean hackers have tried to break into the systems of British drug maker AstraZeneca in recent weeks.
• Amplify: “As I find myself regularly lecturing my parents on their lifestyle choices, I’m starting to realize yet another unforeseen effect of this pandemic – humanity’s capacity to point fingers, even at those we love. Or, perhaps, especially at those we love.”

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.

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