Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Jan. 3
Provinces announce new measures as Omicron fuels rise in cases, hospitalization
The latest:
- What does the test positivity rate mean?
- How will pandemic end? Omicron clouds forecasts for endgame, experts say.
- Omicron's transmissibility is driving calls for better masks.
- Lack of PCR tests should not impact long-term disability benefits for those with long COVID.
- Ontario moves school online, pauses non-urgent procedures as part of new COVID-19 measures.
- As provinces limit PCR testing, should Canadians be able to report rapid test results?
- U.S. FDA backs Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot for 12- to 15-year-olds.
Provinces are putting new measures in place to deal with an Omicron-fuelled rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across Canada.
Ontario joined a number of jurisdictions that already announced a postponed return to in-person classroom learning, declaring the delay on Monday, along with a slew of new restrictions that puts the province back into a "modified Step 2" of pandemic recovery.
Premier Doug Ford said during a Monday news conference that virtual learning will replace in-person classes until Jan. 17. The news backtracked on an announcement made last week that in-person classes would resume this Wednesday.
Ontario said 1,232 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, including 248 patients in intensive care units, which boosts the seven-day average to 210.
The province also reported 13,578 new COVID-19 cases, though experts have said the restricted eligibility for PCR testing that Ontario announced last week means that number is likely much higher.
Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labrador will be moving to a modified Alert Level 4 as the province reported 519 new cases on Monday — setting a new single-day record for the seventh straight day.
Under the modified Alert Level 4, which comes into effect at midnight and will be reassessed Jan. 17, informal gatherings are limited to 10 people, which Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald has referred to as a "tight 10." She said the goal of reducing the number of contacts a person has is to limit the spread of the virus.
Burials, weddings, funerals and religious gatherings are limited to 50 people or 25 per cent capacity, whichever is lower. Businesses — including gyms, dance studios and arenas — will follow the same rules.
Retail stores, including in malls, can remain open at reduced capacity, while restaurants can remain open at 50 per cent capacity, as long as distancing between tables can be maintained. Tables are limited to six people, and buffets are prohibited.
What's happening across Canada
With testing capacity strained, experts say true case counts are likely far higher than reported. Hospitalization data at the regional level is also evolving, with several provinces saying they will begin to report more precise data that separates the number of people in hospital because of COVID-19 from those in hospital for another medical issue who also happen to test positive for COVID-19.
In British Columbia, health officials announced 9,332 new cases over the past three days, but did not include information about active cases, hospitalizations or deaths.
B.C.'s supreme and provincial courts said Sunday that almost all in-person appearances are postponed.
Pacific Coastal Airlines — an operator that serves smaller communities throughout the province's West Coast and Interior — has suspended operations for two days due to Omicron cases at its operational control centre at the South Terminal of the Vancouver International Airport.
In the Prairies, Alberta's isolation period for COVID-19 cases dropped from 10 days to five on Monday, while some care homes in Manitoba said they're facing "the most challenging time yet" amid outbreaks and staff shortages. Manitoba on Monday reported 1,711 new cases — another record high — and six additional deaths.
In Saskatchewan, schools are scheduled to reopen on Monday and Tuesday, despite concerns from parents and educators over Omicron safety.
Federal Minister for Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair said on Monday that members of the Canadian Armed Forces will be deployed to Quebec to speed up vaccination efforts. Quebec's booster program is set to expand on Tuesday to those 18 and older.
Up to 300 military personnel will be participating, but only a few are medical staff. The vast majority will be assisting with planning and logistical tasks related to the vaccination campaign, such as welcoming people to vaccination centres and disinfecting surfaces. The Canadian Armed Forces said they will focus on Montreal area for the time being. Quebec on Monday reported 15,293 new cases.
In the Atlantic region, Nova Scotia reported 1,020 new infections on Monday. The province has opened eligibility for a third booster to anyone 30 years old and up. Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer, said he was cautiously encouraged by Nova Scotia's low hospitalization rate but warned that things could change quickly.
"Right now we can't justify a stricter lockdown, but nor can we justify throwing the doors wide open," Strang said, adding that Nova Scotians could "accept a fair degree of spread" in order to continue seeing small groups of family and friends and attend school.
New Brunswick reported 2,548 new infections on Monday, which encompass the weekend's case counts and reflect three days of record highs. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said teams have been "working diligently" to put a plan in place to protect the health-care system as more than 500 employees are off work and isolating because of COVID-19.
Prince Edward Island reported 161 new cases on Monday. Health P.E.I. has laid out recommendations for any Islanders who test positive for the virus using a rapid test, with the first directive being to self-isolate.
In the North, Nunavut reported 11 new cases on Monday, while in the Northwest Territories, all territorial court proceedings have been delayed until mid-February after a surge in COVID-19 cases. Yukon reported 158 new cases on Monday.
In northern Quebec several Cree communities are struggling with a serious surge in cases and community transmission for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay reported 519 cases on Monday.
What's happening around the world
As of Monday night, roughly 292.4 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker. The reported global death toll stood at more than 5.4 million.
In Europe, the Italian government has set prices for the more protective Ffp2 masks at .75 euro cents ($1.08 Cdn) apiece now that they are required to access public transport, museums, cinemas and many other indoor activities.
A senior Portuguese health official said almost 90 per cent of COVID-19 patients in intensive care have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday new measures are not needed to fight the Omicron variant which is "plainly milder" than earlier forms of the coronavirus, despite the over 157,000 new infections in the country.
In the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea said it has confirmed its first death related to the Omicron variant.
India says it vaccinated more than 3.8 million teens aged between 15 and 18 years on Monday, as the country expanded inoculation efforts to protect its large adolescent population ahead of a looming wave of coronavirus infections.
Australia said the milder impact of Omicron meant the country could push ahead with plans to reopen the economy, even as new infections hit a record of more than 37,000 and the number of people hospitalized rose.
In the Americas, top federal health officials in the United States are looking to add a negative test along with its five-day isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who catch the coronavirus, the White House's top medical adviser said on Sunday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now considering including the negative test as part of its guidance after getting significant "pushback" on its updated recommendations last week.
Meanwhile, some school systems around the U.S. extended their holiday break Monday or switched back to online instruction because of the explosion in COVID-19 cases, while others pressed ahead with in-person classes.
New York City, home of the nation's largest school system, reopened classrooms to roughly 1 million students with a stockpile of take-home COVID-19 test kits and plans to double the number of random tests done in schools.
On Monday, the U.S. expanded COVID-19 boosters as it confronts the Omicron surge, with the Food and Drug Administration allowing booster Pfizer-BioNTech shots for children as young as 12.
In Africa, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi is in mandatory self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 in routine testing.
President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and his wife, Isaura, have also tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating, the president's office said on Monday.
In the Middle East, Israel said on Monday it will admit foreigners with presumed COVID-19 immunity from countries deemed medium-risk next week, partially reversing a ban imposed in late November in response to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, the country has expanded its second booster campaign to people over the age of 60.
With files from CBC News, The Associated Press and Reuters