Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Friday
Ontario reports 4,505 new cases, hospitalizations stand at 2,287 including 818 in ICU
The latest:
- NACI says Canadians over 30 should be offered AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.
- Modelling data suggests lockdowns have helped slow COVID-19 spread in Canada.
- B.C. restricts non-essential travel within three regional zones.
- Doctor urges more vaccines to prevent Brampton, Ont., from becoming 'a hotspot forever.'
- Ontario reports 4,505 new cases, those who are pregnant moved to 'highest risk' category in vaccine rollout.
- 'More people are catching on': Travellers use U.S.-Canada land border to avoid quarantine hotels.
- Why some experts say Quebec's plan to give different vaccine as 2nd dose is safe and necessary.
- Halifax area enters 4-week lockdown to contain surge in COVID-19 cases.
- More than 11 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given in Canada so far. Get the latest updates from your region on the CBC News vaccine tracker.
Canada's fight against COVID-19 saw a handful of provinces enact steps Friday to limit the movement of people, as Ottawa announced it had secured vaccine supplies for tens of millions of booster shots that will be needed in the years to come.
Out west, the British Columbia government moved to restrict non-essential travel between three regional health zones within the province, effective immediately.
"These measures, most importantly, can save lives. And it's in the best interest of all British Columbians to follow them," Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said Friday, a day in which the province reported 1,001 new COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths.
"There will be consequences for not following [them]."
Meanwhile, in Atlantic Canada, Halifax and surrounding municipalities were under the first day of a series of restrictions aimed at curbing COVID-19 transmission, with Nova Scotians being urged to avoid all non-essential travel.
In neighbouring New Brunswick, the provincial government was moving to bring in additional restrictions for leisure travellers and people who travel for work such as truckers and commuters.
Late Friday, Prince Edward Island announced new travel restrictions amid rising COVID-19 case counts in Atlantic Canada.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada has secured 35 million booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 2022, and another 30 million for 2023.
The announcement came Friday as Canada's top public health doctor said there are signs the epidemic is easing, although average COVID-19 case counts have more than doubled over the past month.
- From The Canadian Press and CBC News, last updated at 7:15 p.m. ET
What's happening across Canada
As of 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Canada had reported 1,164,587 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 86,355 considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 23,883.
Ontario reported 4,505 new cases and 34 new deaths on Friday. There are 2,287 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 818 in ICU.
WATCH | Vaccines arrive in Ontario workplaces:
Public Health Ontario reported Friday that 36 cases of the B1617 variant first identified in India, had been detected in the province.
On Friday, Ontario also saw its second case of a rare blood clotting condition after a man in his 60s received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Hamilton.
In Quebec, health officials reported 1,043 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 15 additional deaths.
The province is wading into uncharted territory as it plans to give some long-term care residents a different COVID-19 vaccine — in this case, Pfizer-BioNTech — for their second shot because of a shortage of the Moderna vaccine they first received.
WATCH | Quebec seniors and vaccines:
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia reported 44 new cases on Friday, while New Brunswick reported 16 new cases and Newfoundland and Labrador one new case. Officials in P.E.I. had not reported any new cases as of Friday evening.
Nunavut reported nine new cases on Friday. Two new cases were reported in both Yukon and Northwest Territories.
In the Prairie provinces, Manitoba reported 181 new cases Friday and two additional deaths. Saskatchewan reported 245 new cases and one additional death.
WATCH | Alberta confirms 1st case of B1617 variant:
Alberta reported 1,690 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and five new deaths.
- From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 8:15 p.m. ET
What's happening around the world
As of Friday evening, more than 145.2 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University's case tracking tool. The reported global death toll stood at more than three million.
In the Asia-Pacific region, India reported the world's highest daily tally of coronavirus cases for a second day on Friday, surpassing 330,000 new cases, while deaths in the past 24 hours also jumped to a high of 2,263. Officials across northern and western India warned most hospitals were full and running out of oxygen.
Japan declared a third state of emergency for Tokyo and three western prefectures on Friday amid skepticism it will be enough to curb a rapid coronavirus resurgence ahead of the Olympics in July. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced the emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from April 25 through May 11.
Thailand reported a daily record for new COVID-19 cases — 2,070, bringing the country's total Friday to 50,183. At the beginning of March, Thailand had 26,031 cases with double-digit daily increases, but a new outbreak sent the numbers skyrocketing.
In Europe, Hungary will allow outdoor terraces at restaurants and bars to open Saturday and is planning further openings next week, even as the COVID-19 death rate in the country remains among the highest in the world.
The number of people who have received at least a first dose of a vaccine in Hungary surpassed 3.5 million Friday, a threshold earlier set by the government for when outdoor seating areas could reopen.
Also Friday, the European Commission said it was nearing completion of a deal with Pfizer for 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be delivered over the next two years.
In Africa, South Africa remains the hardest hit by COVID-19 among countries on the continent, with more than 1.5 million reported cases and more than 53,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
WATCH | From side-effects to pregnancy, your vaccine questions answered:
In the Americas, U.S. health officials have lifted an 11-day pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccinations following a recommendation by an expert panel.
Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the benefits of the single-dose COVID-19 shot outweigh a rare risk of blood clots. Panel members said it's critical that younger women be told about that risk so they can decide if they'd rather choose another vaccine.
Also Friday, Brazil recorded 2,914 new coronavirus deaths, and 69,105 new cases of coronavirus. A study published by a government biomedical institute indicated that younger Brazilians are increasingly being affected by COVID-19..
In the Middle East, Israel and Bahrain say they have reached an agreement to recognize each other's coronavirus vaccination certificates, allowing travellers between the countries to forgo quarantine and other restrictions.
- From The Associated Press, Reuters and CBC News, last updated at 8:15 p.m. ET
With files from The Canadian Press, The Associated Press and Reuters
