Good evening, these are your coronavirus updates this evening,

       Top headlines:

       The BC Nurses’ Union, embroiled in an internal dispute over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the health care sector, has lost its leader Tyler Shandro is no longer Alberta’s Health Minister as COVID-19 hospitalizations threaten to collapse the province’s health system and force doctors to ration life-saving resources Ontario starts using vaccine passports Wednesday In the past seven days, 30,607 cases were reported, up 4 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 225 deaths announced, up 15 per cent over the same period. At least 2,262 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,512,844 others are considered recovered.

       Canada’s inoculation rate is 13th among countries with a population of one million or more people.

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       Sources: Canada data is compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data is from Johns Hopkins University.

       Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts ？ Tracking vaccine doses ？ Lockdown rules and reopening

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       People wait to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in a hospital in Mumbai on Sept. 21, 2021.

       AFP Contributor#AFP/AFP/Getty Images

       Coronavirus in Canada One of British Columbia’s largest health unions, embroiled in an internal dispute over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the health care sector, is facing a leadership crisis. Days after the BC Nurses’ Union, which has 48,000 members, came out against the province’s mandatory vaccine order, the union announced the abrupt departure of its top official. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has replaced Health Minister Tyler Shandro as the provincial government fights to contain a rapidly expanding COVID-19 crisis that has overrun hospitals. The Premier’s management of the pandemic has angered voters across the political spectrum, damaging his federal Conservative counterparts at the polls. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford issued a letter of congratulations to Justin Trudeau following Monday’s election as the province is set to introduce vaccine passports Wednesday. Ford said many have civil liberties concerns over the certification, but that the province needs to do everything possible to maintain progress against COVID-19. The province is reporting 574 new cases of COVID-19 today and eight more deaths linked to the virus. Quebec will “use whatever is necessary” to prevent people from protesting outside schools and hospitals, says Premier Fran？ois Legault. And, the coroner overseeing an inquest into long-term care deaths questioned Tuesday why more wasn’t done to help residents at Residence Herron, where dozens died. On election night, a challenging pandemic Voting Day wrapped up with reports of lengthy waits owing to fewer voting stations, but the event avoided major issues that were anticipated by Elections Canada.

       While there were about 1,178 fewer voting sites than the 2019 federal election because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a record-breaking estimated 6.8 million people voted ahead of time, either in advance polls or with mail-in ballots, taking some pressure off in-person polls. Lineups remained at some sites across the country as polls were set to close, but Elections Canada said people who were in line before closing time would be able to vote. PPC surge: The People’s Party of Canada increased its overall support this election by tapping into pandemic fatigue, and rejecting what party Leader Maxime Bernier described as “COVID hysteria.”

       COVID-19 vaccines: Johnson & Johnson says an extra dose of its one-shot vaccine – given two months or six months after the first shot – provides better protection against COVID-19.

       Coronavirus around the world In Australia, police in the locked-down city of Melbourne used pepper balls and rubber pellets to break up COVID-19 protests. Globe opinion André Picard: Postelection, what should the new government’s pandemic priorities be? Richard Gold and Joanne Liu: McGill must do more to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks on campus Kelly Cryderman: Alberta is rarely a wild card in elections. But on issues of COVID-19, climate change, the province loomed large this campaign More reporting As Canada’s live music industry is finally starting to come back to life, concertgoers weigh the risks Ask an expert: Can we ask staff who moved during the pandemic to take pay cuts if they’re now living in smaller, lower-cost communities? A Slovak bishop who met Pope Francis last week tests positive for COVID-19 George Holliday, who filmed Rodney King video, dies of COVID-19 Information centre Everything you need to know about Canada’s travel restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated people Waiting for a second dose? We answer your COVID-19 vaccine questions What is and isn’t ‘paid sick leave’ in Canada? A short primer Got a vaccine ‘hangover’? Here’s why Sources: Canada data are compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins University and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data are from Johns Hopkins.

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