Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Dec. 8
British PM tightens restrictions due to threat posed by omicron variant
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- Track how many people have been given a vaccine across Canada.
- Have a coronavirus question or news tip for CBC News? Email: COVID@cbc.ca
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tighter restrictions Wednesday to stem the spread of the omicron variant, urging people in England to again work from home and mandating COVID-19 passes for entrance into nightclubs and large events.
Johnson said it was time to impose stricter measures to prevent a spike of hospitalizations and deaths as the new coronavirus variant spreads rapidly in the community.
"It has become increasingly clear that omicron is growing much faster than the previous delta variant and is spreading rapidly all around the world," he said. "Most worryingly, there is evidence that the doubling time of omicron could currently be between two and three days."
Johnson said that 568 cases of the omicron variant have been confirmed across the U.K., and "the true number is certain to be much higher."
He said while there wasn't yet comprehensive data on how dangerous omicron is, rising hospitalization rates in South Africa, where the variant was first detected, suggest it has the potential to cause harm.
Scientists at the U.K. Health Security Agency said they expected the omicron variant to become the dominant strain in Britain in the next two to four weeks. The agency said so far most cases were located in London and southeast England.
The tighter restrictions will buy the government time to put booster jabs into more arms. Officials have set the target of offering booster shots to all adults by the end of January.
Johnson said beginning next Monday, people should work from home if possible. Starting on Friday, the legal requirement to wear a face mask will be widened to most indoor public places in England, including cinemas. Next week, having a COVID-19 pass showing that a person has had both vaccine doses will be mandatory to enter nightclubs and places with large crowds.
The British government reported another 51,342 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, with 161 more people dying. Overall Britain has seen over 146,000 deaths in the pandemic, the second-worst death toll in Europe after Russia.
-From The Associated Press, Reuters and CBC News, last updated at 7 p.m. ET
What's happening across Canada
- 5 new COVID-19 cases reported in Newfoundland and Labrador since Monday.
- New Brunswick reports 111 new cases; Nova Scotia reports 34.
- Prince Edward Island reports 6 new cases.
- Quebec increases limit for indoor holiday gatherings, extends 3rd dose eligibility.
- Ontario reports 1,009 new COVID-19 cases as elementary school-linked outbreaks reach new high.
- Manitoba reports 178 new cases and 3 more deaths; Saskatchewan reports 48 new cases and 2 deaths.
- Alberta reports 388 new cases and 4 deaths, as B.C. reports 379 new cases and 6 additional deaths.
- Yukon reports 5 new cases, as 2 cases of omicron variant detected.
- 1 new case reported in Nunavut; another reported in Northwest Territories.
What's happening around the world
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 267.7 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University, which maintains an online database of global cases. The reported global death toll stood at more than 5.2 million.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Wednesday that governments need to reassess national responses to COVID-19 and speed up vaccination programs to tackle the omicron variant, though it is too early to say how well existing shots will protect against it.
The variant's global spread suggests it could have a major impact on the pandemic, and the time to contain it is now before more omicron patients are hospitalized, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
"We call on all countries to increase surveillance, testing and sequencing," he told a media briefing. "Any complacency now will cost lives."
Also Wednesday, it was reported that United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is isolating after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. A UN spokesperson said Wednesday that Guterres has shown no symptoms and tested negative for the virus Tuesday afternoon.
In Europe, France's Ile-de-France region — with the capital Paris at its centre — said all hospitals are activating an emergency plan due to the strained COVID-19 situation. The plan includes stepping up the number of ICU beds and, if necessary, rescheduling treatments to free up capacities.
Meanwhile, European Union health ministers discussed measures to try to halt the spread of the omicron variant, with the Netherlands calling for negative tests for incoming travellers from outside the bloc and France urging tests even for those arriving from EU states.
Poland and several other countries in central and eastern Europe are battling their latest surges of coronavirus cases and deaths while continuing to record much lower vaccination rates than in western Europe.
In Russia, more than 1,200 people with COVID-19 died every day throughout most of November and for several days in December, and the daily death toll remains over 1,100. Ukraine, which is recording hundreds of virus deaths a day, is emerging from its deadliest period of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate in Poland — while lower than it was in the spring — recently hit more than 500 deaths per day and still has not peaked. Intensive care units are full, and doctors report that more children require hospitalization, including some who went through COVID-19 without symptoms but then suffered strokes.
The situation has created a dilemma for Poland's government, which has urged citizens to get vaccinated but clearly worries about alienating voters who oppose vaccine mandates or any restrictions on economic life.
In the Americas, the number of Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 200 million Wednesday amid a dispiriting holiday-season spike in cases and hospitalizations that has hit even New England, one of the most highly inoculated corners of the country.
Brazil will require that unvaccinated travellers entering the country go on a five-day quarantine followed by a COVID-19 test, after its president said he opposed the use of a vaccine passport.
In Africa, South Africa reported nearly 20,000 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, a record since the omicron variant was detected, and 36 new COVID-related deaths. It was not immediately clear how many of the infections were caused by omicron, given only a fraction of samples are sequenced, but experts believe it's driving South Africa's fourth wave of infections.
A weekly epidemiological report published Tuesday by WHO said that in the Middle East, the most cases reported last week were in:
- Jordan, with 32,108 reported cases.
- Iran, with 26,255 reported cases.
- Lebanon, with 10,406 reported cases.
In the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea will consider expanding home treatment of COVID-19 patients, as both new daily infections and severe cases hit record highs, putting hospital capacity under strain.
-From Reuters, The Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 6 p.m. ET
With files from The Associated Press and CBC News
