Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
According to new data, Canada’s COVID Alert app did not meet expectations, despite its $20-million price tag Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is in self-isolation after a COVID-19 exposure Travel rules for fully vaccinated Canadians changed as of today. Here’s what you need to know In the past seven days, 3,592 cases were reported, down 20 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 130 deaths announced, down 14 per cent over the same period. At least 612 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,385,501 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 9th 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 ？ Vaccine distribution plan ？ Four vaccines approved in Canada ？ Essential resources
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Clowns pose for a photo after getting their shots of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign targeting people between ages 18 and 30 at the public University San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia, on Monday.
Juan Karita/The Associated Press
Coronavirus in Canada In Ontario, youth between 12 and 17 are now eligible to book an earlier, second COVID-19 vaccine dose. The province is reporting 170 new cases of COVID-19 today. The first person in Canada to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Gisele Lévesque of Quebec, has died. Manitoba has fully vaccinated 50 per cent of eligible residents, hitting a key milestone ahead of provincial targets. The federal government spent $20-million on the COVID Alert app designed to alert users to possible COVID-19 exposures – but data suggests it didn’t play a big role in slowing the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, quarantine hotels and mandatory testing are still necessary – but starting today, people who’ve had their shots can expect a more relaxed set of rules.
In some provinces, vaccination status also dictates whether travellers from other parts of Canada can skip self-isolation or not. Here’s what you need to know. COVID-19 travel: “It’s very freeing being able to get home to family without having to spend those two weeks alone,” said traveller Julia Dunn, after she landed at Toronto’s airport from the United States.
Coronavirus around the world British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions in two weeks. And, British royal Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, will not be attending an event to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of Britain’s National Health Service after a COVID-19 exposure. Spain is reinstating nightlife restrictions, only weeks after dropping them, as new coronavirus infections soar among unvaccinated young people. South Korea is in talks with Pfizer and Moderna to immediately produce up to one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which would help ease a tight global supply. Social media posts are urging people in Malaysia to hoist a white flag or cloth to signal they need immediate help amid the pandemic, “without having to beg or feel embarrassed.” Sydney, Australia, is battling an outbreak of the coronavirus that is attributed to the Delta variant, with authorities saying the next two days are “absolutely critical” in deciding whether to extend a stay-at-home order. Coronavirus and business The median CEO pay package at 100 of the largest Toronto Stock Exchange-listed Canadian companies rose in 2020, even amid the economic shocks of COVID-19.
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Compensation experts and major institutional investors felt the numbers appear to show companies exercised relative restraint. But to the millions of citizens who live their workday lives far from the executive suite, 2020 CEO payouts may look quite different. Also today: Wealth management giant Franklin Templeton Canada has voluntarily paid back money it collected from the federal government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program.
And: The Bank of Canada’s quarterly Business Outlook Survey found that companies are expecting capacity constraints as the economy rebounds from the pandemic.
Globe opinion André Picard: COVID-19 cases are down, but variants are still a concern. Is it time to drop the mask? Steve Lafleur: Red tape – not greedy companies – is the real cause of Canada’s housing crisis More reporting What does a ‘hard quarantine’ look like at Tokyo Olympics? First Person: This is what the world of dating has come to during our pandemic lockdown Information centre How well do vaccines work? Here’s what you need to know. Rob Carrick’s 10-point checklist of things you should have done by now to protect or improve your money situation. Tips for minimizing damage to your credit score; how to manage retirement anxiety during difficult times; and things to think about if you’re considering home delivery. Here are the expectations for self-isolation; tips for managing anxiety and protecting your mental health; and what to do if you think you have the virus. Wash your hands. How to break a bad habit (like touching your face). Is flying safe? The best foods to eat to maintain an immune system-friendly diet; and how to keep a healthy diet while working from home; four eating tips when working from home; and five mistakes that might cause you to gain unwanted weight. Here are the essentials to stock up on and how to shop safely for groceries; the best pantry staples and how to stop stress-eating. Find answers to your coronavirus and employment questions. 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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