Good evening, here are the COVID-19 stories you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
Bookings for immunizations jump in Alberta after COVID-19 vaccine passport introduced Britain to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers from select list of countries, including Canada In the past seven days, 31,093 cases were reported, up 16 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 200 deaths announced, up 32 per cent over the same period. At least 2,091 people are being treated in hospitals.
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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Freight terminal workers check over containers carrying a shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination as it arrives in Sydney, Australia on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.
Bianca De Marchi/The Associated Press
Coronavirus in Canada In Alberta, bookings for immunization against COVID-19 have nearly tripled after the province announced a vaccine passport. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said 25,000 vaccine appointments were recorded by Thursday evening – a jump of about 166 per cent from two days prior. The province’s state of public health emergency and the return of a number of COVID-19 restrictions was met with a range of responses, including confusion and exhaustion. In Prince Edward Island, a COVID-19 outbreak at a Charlottetown elementary school has led to the closure of a second school. In Ontario, Waterloo’s top doctor said a child under age 10 died from COVID-19 in the region. Meanwhile, the province reported 795 new cases and five deaths from the COVID-19 on Friday. Canada’s federal election is unfolding amid the pandemic, when Canadians are reporting higher rates of anxiety and depression and a fourth wave looms over exhausted doctors and burned-out health care workers. As a result, mental-health care is garnering more attention than usual in the election campaign.
The three main national parties are variously promising money, tax credits and policy changes aimed at correcting chronic inequities in the system. “The pandemic hit, and really exposed the gaps in our system,” says Sarah Kennell, the national director of public policy for the Canadian Mental Health Association. “If we are not going to talk about this now, then when?” Coronavirus around the world In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the easing of international travel restrictions, but only for fully vaccinated travellers from a select list of countries, including Canada. It’s the latest signal that the government plans to rely heavily on vaccines to manage the pandemic, after Johnson ditched plans to introduce vaccine passports. Globe opinion Editorial board: Alberta tried to wish away the pandemic. That made it so much worse Kelly Cryderman: All roads in Alberta’s latest COVID crisis lead back to Premier Jason Kenney Alika Lafontaine: A summer of hubris has led Canada’s health systems to the verge of collapse More reporting Shares of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna cool over COVID-19 booster shot doubt Style: The COVID-19 pandemic has cut us off from the joy of casual shopping 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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