Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Dec. 20
Quebec brings in new restrictions, as Ontario and Sask. expand access to COVID-19 vaccine booster doses
The latest:
- Quebec shuts down schools, bars, gyms and more as COVID-19 case counts soar.
- Booster eligibility expands to 18+ across Ontario as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Joly tests positive for COVID-19.
- A new COVID benefit is now in effect, but no one can access it.
- Where provinces and territories stand on travel restrictions as Omicron concerns rise.
- B.C.'s new public health restrictions come into effect.
- European Medicines Agency grants conditional authorization of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for people 18 and older
Tougher public health measures took effect in Quebec on Monday as the province announced a new single-day record of 4,571 new COVID-19 infections, while Ontario and Saskatchewan expanded access to third doses of vaccine.
As of 5 p.m. ET, Quebec was shutting down schools, bars, gyms and casinos. Restaurants must reduce capacity to 50 per cent, while working from home is being made mandatory again for all non-essential workers.
"The situation is critical. The explosion of cases is overwhelming," said Quebec Health Minister Chirstian Dubé in a news conference, appearing from home.
In neighbouring Ontario, people 18 and older are able to book a COVID-19 vaccine booster through the provincial portal as of Monday, as long as it has been at least three months since getting the second shot.
The province announced last Wednesday that it was expanding eligibility in an effort to bolster defences against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Pharmacies were able to start offering the boosters to younger adults on Friday, but now Ontarians can make appointments through the province's or a local public health unit's website.
Health officials in Ontario on Monday reported 3,784 new cases and no additional deaths. The update came as some struggled to book booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In Ottawa, for example, the local public health unit announced early Monday that all available booster appointments were already booked.
The change in booster availability comes after the province tightened up restrictions. As of Sunday, restaurants, retailers, gyms and other indoor settings in Ontario are only allowed to open at 50 per cent capacity. Indoor social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people, while outdoor gatherings can only have 25.
- Quebec begins gradual distribution of 6.3 million rapid tests Monday
- Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante tests positive for COVID-19
- Surge in COVID-19 tests across Ontario delaying other medical test results
- Ottawa retirement home company restricts visitors over rapid test shortage, Omicron fears
Saskatchewan also opened booster shots Monday to eligible residents over the age of 18 and is reducing the time required between second and third doses to three months from five.
-From The Canadian Press and CBC News, last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET
What's happening across Canada
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia reported 485 new COVID-19 cases on Monday — the highest daily total the province has seen during the pandemic.
New Brunswick health officials reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, while Newfoundland and Labrador had 27 new cases.
Health officials in Prince Edward Island reported 21 new cases on Monday.
- 'The timing couldn't be worse': impact from latest spike in COVID-19 cases felt throughout N.L.
- 2 Atlantic provinces commit to open borders, but 1 tightens up amid COVID-19 wave
In the North, health officials in the Northwest Territories on Sunday reported the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the territory, but no further cases were announced Monday. There were 29 new cases in Yukon on Monday. Nunavut has not yet reported its numbers.
In the Prairies, Saskatchewan reported 59 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The province is also expanding access to boosters as of Monday, with everyone aged 18 and up allowed to book provided their second dose was at least three months ago.
Health officials in Manitoba reported 809 new cases since Friday, including 276 Saturday, 333 Sunday and 200 today.
Alberta reported 1,925 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, with about half the new Omicron cases in Calgary.
- Saskatchewan premier reflects on pandemic choices in a challenging year
- Some elective surgeries in Winnipeg to be postponed for urgent, emergency procedures
- 75% of eligible population in Saskatchewan have full vaccine doses
In British Columbia, health officials reported 2,550 new cases in the province since Friday, including 911 on Saturday, 832 on Sunday and 807 today. The province will announce plans to expand access to rapid tests tomorrow.
-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 5:30 p.m. ET
What's happening around the world
As of Monday evening, more than 275.4 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus database. The reported death toll worldwide stood at more than 5.3 million, according to the case-tracking tool.
Omicron is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S., accounting for 73 per cent of new infections last week, federal health officials said Monday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in Omicron's share of infections in only one week.
It's responsible for an estimated 90 per cent of new infections in the New York area, the Southeast, the industrial Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.
Elsewhere in the Americas, Cuba has vaccinated more of its citizens against COVID-19 than most of the world's largest and richest nations, a milestone that will make the poor, communist-run country a test case as the Omicron variant begins to circle the globe. The Caribbean island has vaccinated more than 90 per cent of its population with at least one dose, and 83 per cent of the population has two doses.
Peru detected its first cases of Omicron, as in the United States, senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker said they both tested positive for COVID-19 and were experiencing mild symptoms.
In Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is back at work after a period of self-isolation following a positive COVID-19 test, local media reported.
In the Asia-Pacific region, new COVID-19 cases in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, surged past 3,000 on Tuesday for the first time, adding pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to speed the rollout of booster shots.
Australia's advisory group on immunization is reportedly considering changing the definition of "fully vaccinated" to mean those who have had a booster shot in addition to two vaccine doses.
Meanwhile, New Zealand delayed its planned reopening of its international border because of the sweeping spread of Omicron around the world on Tuesday, as several other countries reimposed social distancing measures.
A cluster of coronavirus infections linked to a U.S. military base in Japan has grown to at least 180, Japan's government said on Monday, raising fears over the spread of the virus in the community.
In Europe, the European Union's drugs regulator gave the green light Monday to a fifth COVID-19 vaccine for use in the 27-nation bloc, granting conditional marketing authorization to the two-dose vaccine made by U.S. biotech company Novavax.
The European Medicines Agency decision to grant conditional marketing authorization for the vaccine for people aged 18 and over, which must be confirmed by the EU's executive commission, comes as many European nations are battling surges in infections and amid concerns about the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Novavax says it currently is testing how its shots will hold up against the Omicron variant, and like other manufacturers has begun formulating an updated version to better match that variant in case it's eventually needed.
Meanwhile, the Queen has decided not to gather the royal family for Christmas at the royal Sandringham estate in eastern England, amid concerns about the fast-spreading omicron variant.
The royal palace said Monday that the 95-year-old queen will spend the holidays at Windsor Castle, where she has spent most of her time during the pandemic. Family members will visit, with precautions in place.
- Israel to ban travel to U.S., Canada over Omicron variant.
In the Middle East, Iran has confirmed its first case of Omicron, while authorities urged Iranians to get their booster doses in the Middle East's worst-hit country.
Meanwhile, Kuwait has mandated that everyone who has been vaccinated against the coronavirus at least nine months ago receive a booster shot. The Gulf Arab state said that booster shots will become compulsory starting Jan. 2 as the Omicron variant courses across the region. Kuwait detected its first Omicron case earlier this month.
The tiny sheikhdom has seen cases gradually trend upward this week after hitting record lows of under 50 infections a day. The government also urged all citizens and residents to avoid travel.
-From Reuters, The Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 10:20 p.m. ET
With files from Reuters, The Associated Press and CBC News
