Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on May 26
Canada's 7-day average of new infections continues to drop, as Alberta details reopening plan
The latest:
- Canada reports 2,564 new cases, as 7-day average continues to decline.
- Manitoban with COVID-19 dies after attempt at transport out of province for care.
- Alberta announces three-stage plan to ease restrictions.
- Federal health agency wasn't ready for pandemic equipment demand, auditor finds.
- Ontario logs 1,095 new cases, key measures continue to decline.
- 75% of First Nations and Inuit adults have had 1st vaccine dose.
- Auditor general grading Ottawa's performance on PPE, pandemic response in Indigenous communities.
- Should parents have choice to keep their child in the same grade after 2nd disrupted school year?
Alberta could see all public health restrictions lifted by early July, as Premier Jason Kenney announced a three-stage plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions tied directly to vaccination and hospitalization numbers.
The province is the latest to look toward reopening as Canada's seven-day average of new COVID-19 infections continues to decline. The provinces and territories reported a total of 2,564 new cases on Wednesday, putting the seven-day average at 3,670, down from 3,911 the previous day.
However, the hopeful signs are tempered by the ongoing situation in Manitoba, which is struggling under a third wave that has overwhelmed its hospital system. On Wednesday, health officials confirmed that a Manitoban with COVID-19 died this week after an attempt was made to transport the patient out of the province to receive care.
At Alberta's COVID-19 update on Wednesday, Kenney said the province's "open for summer" plan is possible because Albertans have reined in a surge in cases that prompted the government to bring in tougher public health orders in early May. At the time, the province had the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in North America.
"Three weeks ago, we asked Albertans to stop the spike," Kenney said. "The diligence and sacrifices of Albertans hasn't just stopped the spike but crushed it."
Stage 1 requires that 50 per cent of Albertans aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine and that COVID-19 hospitalizations are below 800 and declining. Both of those thresholds have already been met, Kenney said.
That means that starting on Friday, places of worship will be allowed to open with a 15 per cent capacity limit. The rest of Stage 1 would kick in starting on June 1 and allow outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people and restaurant patios to reopen, as well as personal and wellness services.
Stage 2 would begin two weeks after 60 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one dose of the vaccine and COVID-19 hospitalizations are below 500 and declining.
Stage 3 would begin two weeks after 70 per cent of eligible Albertans have had at least one dose of vaccine. That stage will not be tied to hospitalization numbers.
"We are optimistic that we'll enter Stage 3 by early July," Kenney said. "Events like K-Days and Calgary Stampede can proceed at that point with full participation."
The province reported 390 new cases and six new deaths on Wednesday. There were 548 patients being treated in hospital for the illness, including 157 in the ICU.
'Normal social contact'
Alberta's announcement comes a day after officials in British Columbia presented their own reopening plan as vaccination rates increase and case counts and hospitalizations decline.
B.C.'s restart plan moves through several phases with a goal of returning to "normal social contact" in early September.
"The way we do that is we make sure our vaccination rates continue to go up," Premier John Horgan said at a briefing about the plan, noting that "going forward and slamming back again is not what we want to do."
Health officials in British Columbia reported 250 new cases of COVID-19 and three related deaths on Wednesday.
In Step 1, British Columbians are seeing a range of changes, including expanded gathering sizes and "low intensity" indoor fitness. (You can see all of the changes and estimated timelines for restriction changes in B.C. here.)
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the province will be monitoring case counts, clusters and outbreaks.
"It is a plan to go forward," Henry said of the phased approach, noting that the province may need to slow down at some point if there are challenges or "concerning" signs. But she said she remained confident that B.C. could push ahead.
"I don't see a situation where we're going backwards unless things change very dramatically," she said.
- From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 8 p.m. ET
What's happening across Canada
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As of 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Canada had reported 1,368,106 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 44,785 considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 25,361. More than 21.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered so far across the country, according to CBC's vaccine tracker.
In Atlantic Canada on Wednesday, Nova Scotia reported 37 new cases of COVID-19, while Newfoundland and Labrador reported four new cases and New Brunswick reported 10 new cases. Health officials in Prince Edward Island did not announce any new cases.
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Quebec on Wednesday reported 308 new cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths. The update came a day after Premier François Legault said he anticipates the 10 remaining regions still under a code-red health order will be moved to orange by June 7.
Ontario on Wednesday reported 1,095 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths. Hospitalizations stood at 1,073, with 672 people in ICU due to COVID-related illness.
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Across the North, Nunavut reported seven new cases of COVID-19, while the Northwest Territories and Yukon, which lifted a slew of restrictions this week, reported no new cases.
In the Prairies, Manitoba reported 312 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There are 318 people hospitalized due to the illness, including 74 in ICU.
That doesn't include at least 18 critically ill COVID-19 patients transferred to hospitals in Ontario as Manitoba struggles to create room in its strained ICUs. Saskatchewan was also set to take over the care of one intensive-care patient from Manitoba on Wednesday, with more to potentially follow in the next few days. On the vaccination front, the province announced Wednesday it has expanded eligibility for second doses.
In Saskatchewan, health officials reported 151 new cases and one new death on Wednesday.
- From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 8 p.m. ET
What's happening around the world
As of Wednesday evening, more than 168.1 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported around the world, according to a compilation of cases from Johns Hopkins University. The reported global death toll stood at more than 3.4 million.
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates said vaccinations against COVID-19 will be mandatory for people attending all "live events" beginning June 6.
In the Americas, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that vaccinated young people from the ages of 12 to 17 will have a chance to win a full scholarship to public universities and colleges in New York. The state will raffle off 50 scholarships, which would cover four years of tuition, room and board, books and supplies.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Pakistan is offering vaccines to its entire adult population in hopes of boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates, with only five per cent of the population inoculated so far. Pakistan has reported a steady decline in infections and fatalities from COVID-19 in recent days, but the vaccination response has been sluggish. The only shots given are three Chinese-made vaccines.
Malaysia reported 7,478 new cases, its highest daily rise in infections since the start of the pandemic.
South Korean officials say they plan to allow people to drop their masks beginning in July if they have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, as they mull incentives to promote inoculation.
In Africa, South African athletes due to participate in this year's Tokyo Olympics will receive shots during a vaccination rollout that has so far prioritized the elderly and front-line workers.
In Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former chief aide, Dominic Cummings, has lashed out at the government he once served, saying people died "in horrific circumstances" during the coronavirus pandemic because of its failed response.
Belgium has suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for people under age 41 following the death of a person who had received the shot. The government said the woman died last week after developing "serious thrombosis and reduced blood platelets" and is asking for urgent advice from the European Medicines Agency before it will consider lifting the suspension.
France will impose a mandatory quarantine on visitors from Britain to prevent the spread of a virus variant first detected in India. Government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said the new measure will be similar to limits imposed in Germany on people travelling from the U.K.
A lawyer for the European Union asked a Brussels court to impose a large fine on AstraZeneca for its delays in delivering COVID-19 vaccines to the bloc.
- From Reuters and the Associated Press, last updated at 8 p.m. ET
With files from The Canadian Press, Reuters and The Associated Press
