• Convoy organizer Tamara Lich as been denied bail and remains in custody. On Tuesday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Julie Bourgeois said she was not convinced Lich would go home, stay there and stop her alleged counselling of the convoy protesters. The justice also said Lich is potentially facing a lengthy prison sentence.
  • Meanwhile a bail hearing is underway for Pat King another prominent convoy organizer. He faces four charges of mischief and obstruction. Kerry Komix, a retired Alberta bus driver who has worked with children with special needs, says she will put up $50,000 — half the value of her home — and act as a surety for King. She told the court she joined King and others to travel to Ottawa for the so-called Freedom Convoy, which became a three-week occupation of downtown Ottawa. The judge has reserved decision on whether to grant King bail.
  • Downtown businesses are beginning to reopen following the ending of the blockade of the downtown core. Police have reduced the secured zone to an area bounded by Laurier St. W., Wellington Street, Bronson Avenue and the Rideau Canal.
  • Councillors are now musing about the future of Wellington Street as a place where vehicles can travel. There is discussion of making it a pedestrian zone under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Precinct.
  • Senators are now debating the invoking of the Emergencies Act. Debate is expected to last three days.
  • The government continues to watch several sites outside the city where trucker protesters have gathered.
  • Ontario intends to offer financial support for businesses affected by recent protests against COVID-19 measures, the province’s finance minister said Tuesday as legislators debated the government’s handling of the lengthy demonstrations.
  • Ontario reports 1,212+ new cases for a total of 1,090,101+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,288 deaths. There were 214+ new cases in Toronto, 89+ in Peel Region, 67+ in York, 41+ in Hamilton and 67+ in Windsor-Essex. There were 1,038+ in hospital. There were 319 in intensive care, 202 on a ventilator. There have been 1,057,829 cases resolved, up 1,997.
  • So far, there have been 31,528,557+ vaccinations delivered in Ontario, 11,969,223+ with two doses.
  • The province had completed 15,365 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 23,007,497. There are 4,483 pending.
  • There were 129 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 639 resident cases, 408 staff. So far, 4,446 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health reported 104 new cases for a total of 61,955+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 752. There were 857 active cases and there have been 60,346 cases resolved. There are 13 in hospital, four in ICU. There are 24+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,322,756 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,846 with one dose of vaccine; 848,284 residents who have received a second dose and 515,626 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec is reporting 913,901+ confirmed cases, up 1,438. So far, 13,886 people have died. There are 1,742 people in hospital including 107 in intensive care. The province completed 17,158 PCR tests on Feb. 20. So far, 18,643,938 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there were 34,939+ cases in total. There have been 283 deaths. There were 702 active cases and 33,954 recoveries. There were 31 in hospital, four in intensive care. There have been 836,812 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Students will no longer be required to wear a face mask while sitting in class as of March 7, Quebec’s Ministry of Education announced Tuesday. Masks will still need to be worn in common areas, such as hallways, and on school buses. Pre-school students will also only be required to wear the face mask during transportation to and from school.
  • In Canada, there were 3,243,953+ cases with 36,046 deaths. There were 121,528+ active cases and there have been 3,086,379 resolved cases.
  • New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds four-in-five Canadians are changing their food purchases because of rising prices. Three-in-five (62 per cent) are eating out less and one-quarter are drinking less alcohol. Forty-six per cent they are switching to cheaper brands, 35 per cent are cutting back on meat and 21 per cent are buying less fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • Worldwide there have been 427,005,566+ cases, 5,900,961+ deaths and 10,402,797,570+ vaccine doses have been administered.

COVID-19 by the numbers

Note: The following graphics show cases reported by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Numbers may lag behind local reports.

Click here for more COVID-19 graphics

Feb. 21

Happy Family Day

  • MPs have voted to maintain the invoking of the Emergencies Act. The Liberals and the NDP were in favour with the Tories and Bloc Québécois opposed. The act will remain in force until mid-March at the latest.
  • In a morning media conference, the prime minister said the Emergencies Act was still needed for a limited time despite an end to the blockades at border crossings and in Ottawa. The finance minister said the intent of the freezing of bank accounts, which is part of the act, was targeted at leaders and organizers of the convoy. Reports suggest 206 private bank and corporate accounts have been frozen. Some $3 million has been frozen in a payment processing account and more than 200 Bitcoin addresses have been discovered. The RCMP says only the addresses of organizers and leaders of the convoy were provided to banks.
  • Trudeau also said there were signs some truckers were regrouping outside the capital and might try to restart the action that brought downtown Ottawa to a halt.
  • OC Transpo is offering free rides to commuters on 15 bus routes serving downtown Ottawa. All Para Transpo trips to or from Rideau-Vanier and Somerset wards are also free. 
  • Randy Hillier, the Independent MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, is under fire for urging people to call the Ottawa Police 911 line to register their concerns about the blockade. Hillier has been a vocal advocate of the convoy blockade and has been expelled from the Ontario Conservative party for his outbursts in the past. He already faces charges for attending an Aylmer, Ontario church service during lockdown and for his actions at an anti-vaccine protest in Kemptville. There are now calls for his being charged for actions during the blockade.
  • The CAS says no children were taken into care because their parents were arrested during the protest.
  • Police say checkpoints and fencing in downtown will remain to ensure protesters don’t return. The cleanup of the streets is continuing. So far there have been 195+ arrests, 400 charges laid and 59 vehicles towed. Police also say downtown businesses can safely reopen. Police have reduced the size of the secured area. It now includes Somerset Street West to Parliament Hill and from Bronson Avenue to the Rideau Canal. The ByWard Market area is no longer in the Secured Area.
  • Here come the scammers: The city of Ottawa tweeted this today: “If you have received a text message from someone posing as The City of Ottawa regarding compensation for the convoy protests, do not reply. This is a scam. The City will never communicate about financial information through text message.”
  • Ontario is not reporting new COVID numbers today because of the holiday. On Sunday, the province reported 1,966+ new cases for a total of 1,087,484+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,264 deaths. There were 261+ new cases in Toronto, 174+ in Peel Region, 71+ in York, 62+ in Hamilton and 77+ in Windsor-Essex. There were 1,056+ in hospital. There were 324 in intensive care, 208 on a ventilator. There have been 1,053,918 cases resolved, up 2,671.
  • So far, there have been 31,500,915+ vaccinations delivered in Ontario, 11,963,565+ with two doses.
  • The province had completed 16,752 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,983,208. There are 2,992 pending.
  • There were 141 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 691 resident cases, 502 staff. So far, 4,441 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health reported 138 new cases for a total of 61,753+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 748. There were 943 active cases and there have been 60,062 cases resolved. There are 11 in hospital, two in ICU. There are 27+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,315,635 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,496 with one dose of vaccine; 846,478 residents who have received a second dose and 510,661 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec is reporting 912,463+ confirmed cases, up 1,064. So far, 13,856 people have died. There are 1,776 people in hospital including 119 in intensive care. The province completed 15,521 PCR tests on Feb. 19. So far, 18,628,821 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there were 34,785+ cases in total. There have been 283 deaths. There were 838 active cases and 33,664 recoveries. There were 39 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 836,155 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Public health restrictions are being lifted in Quebec Monday. All retail establishments can opening at 100 per cent capacity. Theatres can be up to 50 per cent capacity. The 500-person limit for large-scale venues has been removed. Recreational businesses such as bowling alleys, arcades and other recreational centres can reopen. The vaccine passport is not needed to go to church or attend a funeral.
  • In Canada, there were 3,227,289+ cases with 35,923 deaths. There were 128,695+ active cases and there have been 3,062,671 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 423,459,186+ cases, 5,883,361+ deaths and 10,349,332,334+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Australia has now opened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers.

Feb 20

  • Downtown Ottawa remains in lockdown today as police to assemble to limit activity by remaining protesters. City workers are at work cleaning up the streets including Wellington Street in front of Parliament.
  • Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell says the investigation into the three-week occupation of downtown Ottawa will continue for “months to come.” Police have images of protesters who were involved in the illegal protest and will be pursuing their identification and pressing charges. Police now say 191 arrests have been made and 57 vehicles towed. So far 103 of those arrested have been charged mostly with mischief or obstruction. Some of those charged have refused to about by a court order to stay away from downtown Ottawa and remain in custody.
  • Bell also said invoking of Emergencies Act was key to the successful police action that cleared Wellington Street and beyond.
  • Police say that protesters were assaulting officers with weapons prompting the use of non-lethal ARWEN weapons to stop the violent actions.
  • The Ontario Special Investigations Unit is investigating two incidents involving police. One involves a police horse knocking down a woman and another involved the discharge of a crowd control weapon.
  • In the House of Commons, MPs continue to debate the invoking of the Emergencies Act. A vote is expected Monday evening.
  • Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said the Alberta government on Feb. 5 asked for federal help in ending the Coutts, Alberta blockade as it had exceeded their capacity to manage the situation. Blair says the government responded to Alberta’s request. he said Ontario made a similar request. Alberta said it made the request because the local RCMP remain under federal auspices and that the request was for equipment, not a law that suspends civil liberties.
  • Ontario reported 1,966+ new cases for a total of 1,087,484+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,264 deaths, up 19 today. There are 261+ new cases in Toronto, 174+ in Peel Region, 71+ in York, 62+ in Hamilton and 77+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,056+ in hospital. There are 324 in intensive care, 208 on a ventilator. There have been 1,053,918 cases resolved, up 2,671.
  • So far, there have been 31,500,915 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are  11,963,565 with two doses.
  • The province completed 16,752 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,983,208. There are 2,992 pending.
  • There are 141 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 691 resident cases, 502 staff. So far, 4,441 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 138 new cases for a total of 61,753+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 748, up one. There are 943 active cases and there have been 60,062 cases resolved. There are 11 in hospital, two in ICU. There are 27+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,315,635 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,496 with one dose of vaccine; 846,478 residents who have received a second dose and 510,661 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec does not report numbers on the weekend. On Friday there were 908,466+ confirmed cases. So far, 13,835 people have died. There were 1,834 people in hospital including 119 in intensive care. The province completed 22,720 PCR tests on Feb. 16. So far, 18,579,148 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there were 34,785+ cases in total. There have been 283 deaths. There were 838 active cases and 33,664 recoveries. There were 39 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 834,503 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Canada, there were 3,227,289+ cases with 35,923 deaths. There were 128,695+ active cases and there have been 3,062,671 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 423,459,186+ cases, 5,883,361+ deaths and 10,349,332,334+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for COVID-19. The triple-vaccinated monarch is said to be experiencing mild symptoms and continuing with her duties. Her son and heir Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had tested positive earlier.

Feb. 19

  • Police have pushed protesters back off of Wellington Street and down onto O’Connor Street and now down Bank Street. Officers are wielding batons and wearing helmets. Despite information on social media, Ottawa Police say that tear gas has not been used against protesters. They say that a protester discharged a smoke device.
  • Police have arrested protesters wearing body armour, carrying smoke grenades and fireworks. So far today, over the past two days police have made 170 arrests. Police say 53 vehicles have been towed with 22 licences seized. Eleven commercial vehicle operation registrations have been suspended.
  • In a media conference Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell would not commit to a timeline for the end of the police action. “We will continue with our mission until it is complete.”
  • Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says he will ask the city solicitor to investigate the seizure and sale of towed vehicles that had occupied Wellington Street as a means of recouping some of the costs associated with the occupation.
  • Ottawa Police said earlier in the day that “protesters continue to be aggressive and assaultive on officers. …”
  • Police did use pepper spray sporadically on protesters gathered at the intersection of Bank and Wellington streets.
  • Police also said that children were brought by parents to the protest front lines.
  • For the first time members of the Calgary Police Force have seen in place on the police line moving the protesters down Bank Street.
  • The weather continues to be cold and blustery affecting the conditions in which police and protesters found themselves.
  • Meanwhile, inside the House of Commons, MPs are debating the invoking of the Emergencies Act.
  • Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province will challenge the invoking of the act in court.
  • The federal government has announced up to a $20 million investment to provide “non-repayable contributions” to Ottawa businesses who have suffered losses during the three-week blockade. Individual affected businesses are eligible for up to $10,000 each. Some estimates say the Rideau Centre, which remains closed, has lost $30 million and counting. The Retail Council of Canada estimated the first seven days of the closure cost the Centre $19.7 million in lost revenue.
  • In the Ottawa courthouse, the judge has reserved her decision in the application for bail by convoy organizer Tamara Lich, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, who is facing criminal charges. The judge will rule Tuesday. Pat King, of Red Deer, Alberta,another convoy organizer, is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
  • Meanwhile, the Coventry Road camp, which has acted as a logistics centre and supply depot, where there is a large number of protesters including children, appears to be beginning to break down. Media reports suggest they will move to a farm possibly near Russell, Ontario.
  • In Quebec City a large protest is underwayfor the second weekend this month. Trucks, tractors and semis made their appearance on the streets near the National Assembly despite cold weather and a snowstorm. They were allowed to blow their horns during two blocks of time but not continuously as part of a deal negotiated with police. Even though one organizer had said they planned to jam up Quebec, they followed the rules, parking their trucks in designated areas. They are all expected to leave by Sunday evening as happened the last time such a protest took place Feb. 5-6. Four arrests have been made so far.
  • RCMP said access to the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C., was closed again Saturday as another large convoy protest was in the area. The access was closed by border services and police.
  • Saskatchewan’s only 24-hour border crossing with the U.S. is a site of anti-mandate protests this weekend.
  • An occupation continues in front of the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg. Occupiers there are insisting on a conversation with the prime minister.
  • Hundreds of demonstrators and vehicles clogged the streets of downtown Edmonton Saturday, protesting COVID-19 pandemic restrictions for a fourth consecutive weekend. A convoy, as well as a march and rally, occurred in Edmonton simultaneously Saturday afternoon, converging on the Alberta Legislature Grounds. Edmonton Police Service estimated about 600 people were at the legislature; 680 vehicles were in the convoy.
  • In COVID news: Ontario reported 2,244+ new cases for a total of 1,085,518+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,247 deaths, up 14 today. There are 306+ new cases in Toronto, 187+ in Peel Region, 94+ in York, 81+ in Hamilton and 59+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,191 in hospital. There are 329 in intensive care, 216 on a ventilator. There have been 1,051,247 cases resolved, up 2,623.
  • So far, there have been 31,467,215 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are  11,955,214 with two doses.
  • The province completed 14,174 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,966,456. There are 8,427 pending.
  • There are 141 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 691 resident cases, 502 staff. So far, 4,442 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 173 new cases for a total of 61,615+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 747, up one. There are 941 active cases and there have been 59,927 cases resolved. There are 10 in hospital, two in ICU. There are 29+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,315,635 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,496 with one dose of vaccine; 846,478 residents who have received a second dose and 510,661 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 908,466+ confirmed cases, up 1,837+ today. So far, 13,835 people have died. There are 1,834 people in hospital including 119 in intensive care. The province completed 22,720 PCR tests on Feb. 16. So far, 18,579,148 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,785+ cases in total, up 64. There have been 283 deaths. There are 838 active cases and 33,664 recoveries. There are 39 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 834,503 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,227,289+ cases with 35,923 deaths. There are 128,695+ active cases and there have been 3,062,671 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 422,228,209+ cases, 5,877,088+ deaths and 10,340,093,270+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 18

  • Ottawa Police — joined by officers from Vancouver, Quebec (SQ in riot gear), Durham Region, Toronto, Peel Region, York Region, Sudbury, OPP and the RCMP — are clearing protesters. Police have advanced up Rideau Street to an area near the National War Memorial and the Chateau Laurier.
  • Ottawa police say protesters are assaulting officers, have attempted to remove officer’s weapons.
  • In a bid to create separation between protesters and police, mounted officers rode horses through the front lines. One person, who was arrested, attempted to hurt an animal by using a bicycle in an attempt to trip the horse, police added.
  • Police said they have made more than 100 arrests as they push protesters up towards the main protest zone on Wellington Street.
  • Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell told a media briefing that police could not have implemented the action today without the support of the Emergencies Act, the provincial state of emergency and the city’s state of emergency.
  • Earlier at 2:21 p.m. Ottawa police said they had made 21 arrests and 21 vehicles have been towed. Nicholas Street is clear with operations mostly completed on the area around Rideau and Sussex.
  • Police are headed, eventually to the main occupation zone on Wellington where protesters are dug in.
  • This morning Ottawa Police issued a warning on Twitter saying: “There is a large police presence on Nicholas Street, protesters are being advised to leave immediately. Some protesters are surrendering and are being arrested. We ask protesters to remain peaceful and lawful.” Ten arrests have been made and counting …
  • Police also warned media to stay away … “All media who are attending the area, please keep a distance and stay out of police operations for your safety. Anyone found within areas undergoing enforcement may be subject to arrest. There will be a media availability later today at 474 Elgin Street.”
  • Police say that the city’s 911 system has once again been besieged by calls meant to confuse and distract them. The last time this happened, many of the calls were from the U.S.
  • Chris Barber, a 46-year-old from Swift Current, Sask., was released on $100,000 bail today after appearing in court on charges of counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order, and counselling to obstruct police. 
  • Tamara Lich, a 49-year-old from Medicine Hat, Alta., faces a charge of counselling to commit mischief. She is back in court Saturday.
  • Police have also arrested Pat King, a known white supremacist, who has been involved in the planning of the convoy, despite the fact that other leaders have disavowed him. King will face criminal charges including, according to media reports, mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to obstruct a police officer and counselling to disobey a court order.
  • And police have arrested Daniel Bulford, who is an adviser for the “Taking Back Our Freedom” group and is a former RCMP officer associated with the “Mounties for Freedom” group.
  • Benjamin Dichter, also known as BJ Dichter, is a truck driver and podcaster who describes himself as vice-president of the Ottawa convoy has left the city and is heading home after telling protesters to hold the line. 
  • Police also say that protestors have put children between police operations and the unlawful protest site. “The children will be brought to a place of safety.”
  • Mischief concerns the interference with another person’s property. Most typically this involves property damage such as vandalism. Section 430 of the Criminal Code describes several forms of mischief from damaging of property, mischief involving the interference with the use of property, mischief involving the interference with electronic data and mischief causing danger to life. The penalties depending on severity of the crime. It can lead to a life sentence if it endangers someone’s life. And … “every one who counsels another person to commit an indictable offence is, if the offence is not committed, guilty of an indictable offence and liable to the same punishment to which a person who attempts to commit that offence is liable.”
  • Parliament is not sitting today as the police action ramps up. Debate on the Emergencies Act is expected to resume Saturday. Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen chose to blame the prime minister for the actions today in a tweet calling for a return to debate on Saturday.
  • In COVID news: Ontario reported 2,337+ new cases for a total of 1,083,274+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,237 deaths, up 30 today. There are 306+ new cases in Toronto, 187+ in Peel Region, 94+ in York, 81+ in Hamilton and 59+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,281 in hospital. There are 352 in intensive care, 221 on a ventilator. There have been 1,048,624 cases resolved, up 2,939.
  • So far, there have been 31,424,288 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are  11,944,792 with two doses.
  • The province completed 17,758 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,952,282. There are 6,147 pending.
  • There are 141 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 691 resident cases, 502 staff. So far, 4,444 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 192 new cases for a total of 61,442+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 746, up three. There are 995 active cases and there have been 59,731 cases resolved. There are nine in hospital, one in ICU. There are 29+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,315,635 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,496 with one dose of vaccine; 846,478 residents who have received a second dose and 510,661 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 908,466+ confirmed cases, up 1,837+ today. So far, 13,835 people have died. There are 1,834 people in hospital including 119 in intensive care. The province completed 22,720 PCR tests on Feb. 16. So far, 18,579,148 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,721+ cases in total, up 76. There have been 283 deaths. There are 913 active cases and 33,645 recoveries. There are 46 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 834,503 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,227,289+ cases with 35,923 deaths. There are 128,695+ active cases and there have been 3,062,671 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 420,299,365+ cases, 5,865,864+ deaths and 10,315,682,353+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 17

  • The prime minister told the House of Commons invoking the controversial Emergencies Act was done “for the good of all Canadians” beginning debate on his government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to quell the protest in Ottawa and beyond. The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois say they will oppose the use of the act and the NDP says it will consider the reasons but is cautiously supporting it. The Senate will also debate the bill and vote on it before it comes into full force.
  • Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday financial institutions have moved quickly to freeze the accounts of people linked to the demonstrations in Ottawa.
  • In Ottawa, police are ramping up their presence and are putting up fencing around the Wellington Street protest area. They are telling truckers to leave the city by Friday. Essential workers only will be allowed in the downtown “red” zone. The Sûreté du Québec is sending officers to Ottawa to support other officers in clearing the protest. The SQ has set up a command centre in Gatineau.
  • In a press conference, acting Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell says that action is “imminent” to end the occupation of downtown Ottawa. Bell would not offer details on how the action will proceed. However he said police have created a no go zone from Bronson Avenue to the Rideau Canal and from Wellington to the Queensway with about 100 checkpoints.
  • Soon after one of the protest organizers Chris Barber, the fully vaccinated truck from Swift Current, Sask., was arrested on Albert Street. Later in the evening another organizer Tamara Lich was arrested. Both are expected to face charges of mischief and counselling to commit mischief.
  • In another development Ontario Superior Court Justice Calum MacLeod has frozen the bank accounts and digital “wallets” of convoy leaders believed to hold more than $1 million in bitcoin and cryptocurrency after an extraordinary secret hearing.
  • Matthew Torigian tells the Ottawa Police Service he’s stepping back from the contract he signed that was issued by former Ottawa Police Services Board chair Coun. Diane Deans.
  • Eli El Chantiry has been voted in as the new chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board.
  • A class-action lawsuit launched by Ottawa residents against protesters in the city’s downtown now includes an expanded area to include Sandy Hill and ByWard Market residents. The team behind the original court action is adding businesses and workers as plaintiffs because they reported lost income, expanding total damages sought from $9.8 million to $306 million, and including a larger geographical area that extends to Somerset Street and the ByWard Market. 
  • The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is suing the federal government over the invoking of the Emergencies Act. The CCLA says the conditions have not been met for the invocation.
  • Because of the winter storm and security concerns, the O-train won’t stop in stations from Tunney’s Pasture to Hurdman on Friday, OC Transpo says.
  • In Montreal, city council is expressing concern that members of the police force are sporting a symbol that appears to support anti-vaccine mandate protesters at protest rallies. The badges feature a black and white Canadian flag with a horizontal blue line through it. It is similar to one now being used by U.S. police officers and present at white supremacist rallies south of the border.
  • In Quebec City, a new order from the city gives police the power to control traffic, parking and street closures in the city. A second order reinstates a ban on outdoor cooking and consuming alcohol in parks and in public spaces. The city’s mayor said the second order would be revisited this summer.
  • Two-thirds of Canadians support the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act and believe it’s time to clear out Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa, even if people get hurt in the process, reveals a new poll. A slim majority of Canadians (54 per cent) say they are “ashamed” of how politicians have let the protests get out of hand, according to data collected by Maru Public Opinion.
  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 2,327+ new cases today for a total of 1,080,937+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,204 deaths, up 36 today. There are 312+ new cases in Toronto, 134+ in Peel Region, 88+ in York, 82+ in Hamilton and 106+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,342 in hospital. There are 356 in intensive care, 229 on a ventilator. There have been 1,045,685 cases resolved, up 3,204.
  • So far, there have been 31,360,818 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are  11,925,063 with two doses.
  • The province completed 18,462 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,934,524. There are 7,013 pending.
  • There are 155 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 756 resident cases, 547 staff. So far, 4,446 residents have died.
  • Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says the province is reviewing directives for the need for vaccination policies across various sectors, including colleges, universities and healthcare settings, and that his goal is to lift them by the start of the next month.
  • Ontario schools will offer a remote learning option next school year.
  • Ontario capacity restrictions on restaurants, bars, retail businesses, cinemas and gyms are lifting. Limits at sports arenas, concert venues and theatres are now 50 per cent. Social gathering limits are up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Organized public events are capped at 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 178 new cases for a total of 61,250+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 743, up two. There are 996 active cases and there have been 59,511 cases resolved. There are 12 in hospital, one in ICU. There are 30+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,312,708 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,232 with one dose of vaccine; 845,593 residents who have received a second dose and 508,883 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 906,629+ confirmed cases. So far, 13,790 people have died. There are 1,995 people in hospital including 129 in intensive care. The province completed 23,053 PCR tests on Feb. 15. So far, 18,541,414 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,645+ cases in total, up 77. There have been 283 deaths. There are 914 active cases and 33,448 recoveries. There are 62 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 833,204 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec will no longer require people who live in long-term care homes and other kinds of seniors’ residences to isolate for 10 days if another resident or a staff member on their floor tests positive for COVID-19. 
  • In Canada, there have been 3,217,184+ cases with 35,787 deaths. There are 132,594+ active cases and there have been 3,048,803 resolved cases.
  • Health Canada has approved the use of the Novavax vaccine against COVID-19 for Canadians 18 and up. It is a protein-based vaccine against COVID-19 is the first of its kind in Canada. The vaccine requires two doses given three weeks apart.
  • Worldwide there have been 418,235,287+ cases, 5,853,246+ deaths and 10,257,109,696+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 16

  • Police are establishing “no-go” zones in the city’s downtown core to control unruly crowds associated with the anti-vaccine mandate convoy protest. People who defy orders to leave will face fines or jail time, or both.
  • This morning Ottawa Police distributed paper warnings to those still occupying downtown. People were told they risked arrest and charges by staying. People are also urged to take children away from the area. Police issued a second warning later in the day warning of penalties of up to five years in prison.
  • The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa is urging parents involved with the demonstrations to make alternate care arrangements “should they become unable to care for their children following potential police action.”
  • An injunction ordering “Freedom Convoy” truckers to stop blowing their air horns has been extended for 60 days. Ontario Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean said the protesters’ right to be heard doesn’t trump the public’s right to peace and safety. Earlier this week the City of Ottawa obtained its own injunction enforcing noise and idling bylaws. 
  • Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said this afternoon about half the trucks idling on residential streets have now left — about 75. Many more remain in place.
  • Eli El Chantiry, the former chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board, says former police chief Peter Sloly didn’t receive the support he needed from political overseers and councillors before he quit as police chief on Tuesday. The Ottawa Citizen has more.
  • At an emergency meeting of Ottawa City Council, it was announced that Matthew Torigian has been hired as interim police chief for the rest of 2022. Torigian is the former chief of the Waterloo Region force and a provincial deputy minister.
  • Council then voted to remove Coun. Diane Deans from her role as chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board. Coun. Jeff Leiper will replace Coun. Rawlson King who resigned. Coun. Carol Ann Meehan resigned her position on the board in solidarity with King. Civilian member Sandy Smallwood also resigned from the board, replaced by Suzanne Valiquette.
  • A new fundraising website launched for the trucker convoy protest was down one day after starting. CTV has more.
  • Police have stopped a convoy of seven trucks attempting to re-occupy the route to the Ambassador Bridge.
  • Meanwhile the blockade at Emerson, Manitoba has ended without charges being laid.
  • A truck and trailer holding about 2,000 guns have been recovered in Peel Region and is now headed by to Peterborough where it had been stolen. Police say the theft was not targeted but, instead, a crime of opportunity.
  • The federal government will table the bill authorizing the Emergencies Act where it will be debated and voted up by the Commons and the Senate. Justice Minister David Lametti says he hopes the emergency orders will expire before the 30-day limit. Police in Windsor intercepted a convoy of seven trucks from reforming the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. The Conservatives oppose the bill and so does the Bloc Québécois. The NDP says it will give it close scrutiny but seems inclined to vote for the legislation.
  • The federal government has directed banks and other financial institutions to stop doing business with people associated with the anti-vaccine mandate convoy occupying the nation’s capital. According to the regulations published late Tuesday, financial institutions are required to monitor and halt all transactions that funnel money to demonstrators — a measure designed to cut off funding to a well-financed protest that has taken over large swaths of Ottawa’s downtown core.
  • The director of communications for Ontario’s Solicitor General, Marion Isabeau-Ringuette, is out of a job after she was tied to a $100 donation supporting the convoy blockading Ottawa streets.
  • At Emerson, Manitoba, protesters ended their blockade of one of the biggest crossings in Canada. RCMP said no charges were laid and the blockade ended peacefully.
  • Four have now been charged with conspiracy to murder RCMP officers after the seizure of a cache of weapons, ammunition, body armour and high-powered magazines in three trailers at the Coutts, Alberta, border blockade.
  • Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino told a media conference that there are links between the arrests and a seizure of weapons at Coutts and members of the Convoy leadership in Ottawa.
  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 2,532+ new cases today for a total of 1,078,610+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,167 deaths, up 46 today. There are 350+ new cases in Toronto, 185+ in Peel Region, 144+ in York, 70+ in Hamilton and 79+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,403 in hospital. There are 364 in intensive care, 232 on a ventilator. There have been 1,042,481 cases resolved, up 3,537.
  • So far, there have been 31,360,818 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are  11,925,063 with two doses.
  • The province completed 19,839 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,916,062. There are 7,013 pending.
  • There are 174 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 964 resident cases, 706 staff. So far, 4,436 residents have died.
  • Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office says from 2018 to 2021 the average hydro ratepayer’s bill increased by 4.3 per cent and will continue to increase by two per cent each year. The FAO report says that from 2020 to 2040, nine different energy and electricity subsidy programs will cost the province a total of $118.1 billion.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 201 new cases for a total of 61,072+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 741, up four. There are 1,037 active cases and there have been 59,294 cases resolved. There are 20 in hospital, two in ICU. There are 31+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,312,708 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,232 with one dose of vaccine; 845,593 residents who have received a second dose and 508,883 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 904,574+ confirmed cases, up 2,328+ today. So far, 13,790 people have died. There are 1,995 people in hospital including 129 in intensive care. The province completed 23,053 PCR tests on Feb. 14. So far, 18,541,414 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,645+ cases in total, up 77. There have been 283 deaths. There are 914 active cases and 33,448 recoveries. There are 62 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 833,204 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec has lifted the vaccine passport requirement on liquor stores and large retailers.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,209,168+ cases with 35,679 deaths. There are 134,024+ active cases and there have been 3,039,465 resolved cases.
  • Statistics Canada says inflation was 5.1 per cent in January a number not seen since September 1991. That’s up from a 4.8 per cent in December 2021. Excluding gasoline, prices rose 4.3 per cent. The agency says supply chains woes and consumer energy prices remain elevated. On a monthly basis, inflation rose 0.9 per cent in January, the largest increase since January 2017.
  • The average home in Canada cost a record $748,450 in January, according to new data released by the Canadian Real Estate Association.
  • Worldwide there have been 415,769,578+ cases, 5,839,809+ deaths and 10,257,109,696+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 15

  • Peter Sloly has resigned as Ottawa’s Police Chief. The Ottawa Police Services Board chair Coun. Diane Deans announced the embattled, much criticized, Sloly would be leaving his post immediately. Deputy Chief Steve Bell will be interim chief. Police Board chair, Deans says a new police command structure will soon be in place.
  • Bell will jointly run a policing command centre with members of the Ontario Provincial Police and the RCMP which is now up and running. Protest response has cost the City of Ottawa $14.1 million, which includes the cost of the Ottawa Police Service, and the OPP, as well as city services. 
  • CBC is reporting allegations of bullying and volatile behaviour by Sloly which, sources say, has reportedly damaged relations with senior leadership and has compromised the force’s ability to cope with the truck occupation.
  • Some trucks have moved out of residential areas in Ottawa to Wellington Street . Others are staying. The occupation is now in Day 19. Overnight there are 150 protesters on the streets with 360 vehicles left in the city.
  • The federal government is announcing the end of the need for a pre-arrival PCR COVID-19 test for travellers landing in Canadian airports. Travellers will have to show a proof of a negative rapid antigen test. Random testing will continue but travellers will not have to quarantine. Children will no longer have to quarantine.
  • The border crossing at Emerson, Manitoba has been opened to private vehicles. Commercial traffic is still blocked. However RCMP says this blockade is expected to end Wednesday.
  • Access to the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C., has opened Monday following a volatile weekend of protests that have resulted in a total of 16 arrests.
  • RCMP say the Coutts, Alberta border crossing is now open the vehicles. This comes after 12 individuals were arrested and a cache of weapons and ammunition were seized by police.
  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 1,593+ new cases today for a total of 1,076,078+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,120 deaths, up 19 today. There are 223+ new cases in Toronto, 129+ in Peel Region, 63+ in York, 58+ in Hamilton and 80+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,550+ in hospital. There are 384 in intensive care, 243 on a ventilator. There have been 1,038,944 cases resolved, up 2,730.
  • So far, there have been 31,329,083 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,914,979 with two doses.
  • The province completed 12,961 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,896,223. There are 7,446 pending.
  • There are 234 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,042 resident cases, 1,119 staff. So far, 4,425 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 153 new cases for a total of 60,871+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 737, up one. There are 1,124 active cases and there have been 59,010 cases resolved. There are 23 in hospital, one in ICU. There are 36+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,310,344 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,072 with one dose of vaccine; 844,707 residents who have received a second dose and 507,565 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 902,246+ confirmed cases, up 1,973+ today. So far, 13,766 people have died. There are 2,052 people in hospital including 132 in intensive care. The province completed 16,943  tests on Feb. 13. So far, 18,515,208 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,502+ cases in total, up 197. There have been 281 deaths. There are 960 active cases and 33,261 recoveries. There are 62 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 832,357 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec is joining other provinces and removing vaccine passports. The Quebec passport will end March 14, dependent on caseloads at that time.
  • British Columbia is lifting restrictions on social gatherings and events. The province will review other restrictions in coming weeks but vaccine cards and mask mandates remain for the time being.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,203,134+ cases with 35,580 deaths. There are 137,802+ active cases and there have been 3,029,752 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 413,746,208+ cases, 5,827,947+ deaths and 10,255,909,319+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 14

Happy Valentine’s Day.

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will use the Emergencies Act to enforce the end of blockades. He is not calling in the military at this point. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Quebec Premier Francois Legault, Manitoba’s Janet Stehanson and New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs all say the move is not necessary. Premier Doug Ford says he supports the move. This comes as the convoy protest in Ottawa stretches into its third week. The legislation defines a national emergency as a temporary “urgent and critical situation” that “seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it.” It is in force for 30 days and must be endorsed by Parliament within scene days although it takes effect immediately.
  • A survey from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute shows that, after more than two weeks of unrest, Canadians are more likely to oppose measures sought by protesters. More than two-in-five now say Canadians say the protests have made them more inclined to support restrictions related to masking indoors (44 per cent) and vaccination requirements to cross the Canada-U.S. border (44 per cent). Nearly three-quarters of Canadians (72 per cent) say the time has come for protesters to “go home, they have made their point.”
  • Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson brokered a deal on Sunday with protesters to begin moving trucks from downtown neighbourhoods. The trucks were expected to begin moving today but with the declaration of the Emergencies Act that is in doubt.
  • Ontario Provincial Police have launched an internal investigation into the conduct of an officer after a video taken during a traffic stop surfaced on social media where he says he supports “100 per cent” the convoy protest in Ottawa.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced this morning the the provincial requirement for the use of a vaccine passport will end March 1. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. All capacity limits in restaurants, bars, cinemas and gyms will be lifted Thursday. The mask mandate will remain. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said proof of vaccination, which was first implemented in the province in September, has “served its purpose.”
  • The Ambassador Bridge is finally open and traffic is running freely after a week of closure.
  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 1,765+ new cases today for a total of 1,074,485+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,101 deaths, up eight today. There are 380+ new cases in Toronto, 192+ in Peel Region, 161+ in York, 111+ in Hamilton and 124+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,369+ in hospital. There are 394 in intensive care, 243 on a ventilator. There have been 1,036,214 cases resolved, up 2,619.
  • So far, there have been 31,199,694 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,873,612 with two doses.
  • The province completed 9,962 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of22,883,262. There are 3,018 pending.
  • There are 243 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,385 resident cases, 1,119 staff. So far, 4,425 residents have died.
  • Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy will release Ontario’s third-quarter finances today and discuss the province’s economic and fiscal outlook.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 138 new cases for a total of 60,718+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 736. There are 1,260 active cases and there have been 58,722 cases resolved. There are 29 in hospital, four in ICU. There are 45+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,310,344 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 958,072 with one dose of vaccine; 844,707 residents who have received a second dose and 507,565 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 900,273+ confirmed cases, up 1,431+ today. So far, 13,710 people have died. There are 2,095 people in hospital including 136 in intensive care. The province completed 17,286  tests on Feb. 12. So far, 18,494,469 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,305+ cases in total, up 98. There have been 281 deaths. There are 1,124 active cases and 32,900 recoveries. There are 62 in hospital, seven in intensive care. There have been 831,764 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec is loosening more restrictions today. Gyms, fitness centres and spas can resume operations at 50 per cent capacity. As well, indoor sports and recreational activities can resume, including extracurricular activities at colleges and universities, with a maximum of 25 participants per group. The maximum capacity for outdoor events is now 5,000 people, while sports competitions and tournaments remain banned until Feb. 28.
  • RCMP in Alberta say they have uncovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in three trailers, along with body armour, a machete and high capacity magazines, inside the convoy blockade at the Coutts border crossing. Police say a small group was prepared to use these weapons to prevent a police takeover of the blockade. RCMP say they have arrested and detained 11 people. On Sunday, a large farm tractor and a semi truck, both involved in the blockade attempted to ram a police vehicle.
  • Premier Jason Kenney says that the RCMP will now begin to move forward to clear the blockade. He said the province has obtained the necessary equipment to move the large vehicles blocking the highway.
  • In Alberta, mask requirements have been dropped for students in schools.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,192,309+ cases with 35,470 deaths. There are 152,349+ active cases and there have been 3,004,490 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 412,134,811+ cases, 5,817,819+ deaths and 10,215,020,767+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has tested positive for COVID-19. Her husband Prince Charles is recovering for his second bout with the virus.

Feb. 11

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a public address this afternoon that the blockades will end. He would not say when or how, but he insisted that the end will be as peaceful as possible.
  • He said in a conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden he told the American leader that foreign money is coming into Canada and fuelling this wave of protests. Trudeau said Canadian banks are monitoring financial activities that are connected to the blockades.
  • The PM also said that use of the armed forces would only be as a last resort and is “not being seriously contemplated at this time.”
  • The White House says Trudeau promised quick action to resolve the blockades.
  • The federal government is preparing to remove mandatory PCR testing for fully vaccinated Canadians who travel outside Canada. The final word will be delivered next week.
  • Earlier today, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency and has indicated that his government will take action to end the blockades and punish those who break the law, including fines of $100,000 and a year in jail for anyone who impedes critical infrastructure. He said, as well, this will become permanent. People with vehicles who refuse to move face the loss of their driver’s licences and commercial driving licences.
  • The premier did say that the province will be able to soon lift all restrictions earlier, including the vaccine passport system. No dates given.
  • A Superior Court Justice has granted an injunction against the blockade of the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor. It begins at 7 p.m. So far, protesters are not moving.
  • A planned protest at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ont., has police, border services, public health and politicians watching closely, fearing it could endanger people or further business woes. Social media posts show people opposed to continued pandemic mandates have plans to bring transport trucks and crowds of people to the border crossing that connects southern Ontario to Buffalo.
  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 2,907+ new cases today for a total of 1,067,511+ cases. The province has seen a total of 12,040 deaths, up 50 today. There are 380+ new cases in Toronto, 192+ in Peel Region, 161+ in York, 111+ in Hamilton and 124+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,829 in hospital. There are 435 in intensive care, 279 on a ventilator. There have been 1,027,117 cases resolved, up 3,697.
  • So far, there have been 31,199,694 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,873,612 with two doses.
  • The province completed 20,936 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,840,317. There are 7,594 pending.
  • There are 255 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,513 resident cases, 1,146 staff. So far, 4,414 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 186 new cases for a total of 60,312+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 732, up three today. There are 1,452 active cases and there have been 58,128 cases resolved. There are 31 in hospital, four in ICU. There are 55+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,305,657 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 957,611 with one dose of vaccine; 842,530 residents who have received a second dose and 505,516 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly says a third weekend of protest could bring a renewed wave of people and vehicles to Ottawa. A convoy of vehicles, including some trucks, rolled into town on Thursday evening.
  • City solicitor David White says the municipality is seeking its own injunction against “flagrant and repeated violations” of its bylaws. The injunction would “supplement” orders included in the provincial state of emergency.
  • Federal Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says a third contingent of RCMP officers is coming to help the Ottawa Police manage the blockade now entering its third weekend.
  • The Shepherds of Good Hope has about $750,000 in donations after some of its staff and residents reported being harassed on the first weekend as the truck convoy protesting COVID-19 mandates entered the city.
  • Quebec has now seen 894,613+ confirmed cases, up 2,662+ today. So far, 13,656 people have died. There are 2,214 people in hospital including 164 in intensive care. The province completed 23,935  tests on Feb. 9. So far, 18,418,314 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,207+ cases in total, up 116. There have been 281 deaths. There are 1,165 active cases and 32,761 recoveries. There are 58 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 829,063 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Manitoba is lifting the requirement of vaccine cards will be eliminated March 1. By March 15, mask requirements and all other COVID-19 restrictions will be removed.
  • On Monday, Alberta is lifting mask mandates for students in class.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,170,649+ cases with 35,231 deaths. There are 146,680+ active cases and there have been 2,988,738 resolved cases.
  • The federal government is preparing to remove mandatory PCR testing for fully vaccinated Canadians who travel outside Canada, media reports suggest.
  • Worldwide there have been 406,511,822+ cases, 5,792,487+ deaths and 10,164,029,440+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 10

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 3,201+ new cases today for a total of 1,064,604+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,988 deaths, up 44 today. There are 482+ new cases in Toronto, 283+ in Peel Region, 143+ in York, 139+ in Hamilton and 103+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,897+ in hospital. There are 445+ in intensive care, 283+ on a ventilator. There have been 1,023,420 cases resolved, up 4,143.
  • So far, there have been 31,153,087 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,860,148 with two doses.
  • The province completed 22,417 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,819,381. There are 9,103 pending.
  • There are 257 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,576 resident cases, 1,220 staff. So far, 4,399 residents have died.
  • Several car plants have reduced production or closed because of the ongoing blockade of the Ambassador Bridge.
  • The city of Windsor, Ontario, is seeking a court injunction to end the protest that has blocked freight traffic on the Ambassador Bridge for nearly 72 hours, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with demonstrators.
  • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the blockade is having a significant impact on the people of her state. “Our communities and automotive, manufacturing and agriculture businesses are feeling the effects. It’s hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable. … It is imperative that Canadian local, provincial, and national governments de-escalate this economic blockade. They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic so we can continue growing our economy, supporting good-paying jobs and lowering costs for families.”
  • One Michigan Democrat, Elissa Slotkin, says the blockade shows it is time to bring auto manufacturing jobs to Michigan.
  • Walmart has retracted a policy that previously required customers in Ontario to make an online order of at least $35 to receive a ‘free’ rapid test kit after Premier Doug Ford condemned the policy on social media.
  • Ontario has asked the Superior Court to stop anyone using funds raised through the American site GoSendMe.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 166 new cases for a total of 60,126+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 729, up six today. There are 1,516 active cases and there have been 57,881 cases resolved. There are 35 in hospital, five in ICU. There are 70+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,301,847 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 957,149 with one dose of vaccine; 841,554 residents who have received a second dose and 503,144 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • A convoy of vehicles impeded traffic at the Ottawa airport four a few hours this morning.
  • The Rideau Centre has lost some $30 million in revenue because it has remained closed as a result of the continuing blockade now in its 14th day.
  • Ottawa Police say that the 911 emergency service, along with its main phone number, has been deluged by prank calls prompting a warning that this breaks the law.
  • Quebec has now seen 891,951+ confirmed cases, up 2,894+ today. So far, 13,617 people have died. There are 2,312 people in hospital including 173 in intensive care. The province completed 27,360  tests on Feb. 8. So far, 18,385,626 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 34,091+ cases in total, up 136. There have been 279 deaths. There are 1,148 active cases and 32,664 recoveries. There are 44 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 827,038 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec health officials say that almost half of Quebecers have had COVID-19. Of that, Quebec’s interim director of public health, Dr. Luc Boileau, says at least two million and perhaps as many as 2.5 million Quebecers have been infected by the Omicron variant.
  • Another border crossing is now blockaded by protesters. This one is at Emerson, Manitoba. It is the second largest crossing west of Ontario.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,148,878+ cases with 34,969 deaths. There are 159,002+ active cases and there have been 2,954,907 resolved cases.
  • Another Liberal MP from Quebec, Yves Robillard, who represents the Marc-Aurèle-Fortin riding in Laval, told the Hill Times in an interview that Lightbound “said exactly what a lot of us think” and mentioned that there are more MPs in the caucus “who’ve just had enough.”
  • Interim Federal Conservative leader Candice Bergen now says, in a statement in the House of Commons, that it is time for the blockades to end. This was part of a debate on a motion to reveal a plan to lift federal vaccine mandates.
  • Almost two-thirds of Canadians oppose the Ottawa protest against COVID-19 measures, with more than four in 10 saying they strongly consider the demonstration a selfish display. But almost 30 per cent of Canadians surveyed by Leger disagreed with that characterization of the demonstration against COVID-19 measures that has seen hundreds of large trucks create gridlock and incessant noise in the national capital. In addition, 44 per cent of those polled said they sympathized with the frustrations being voiced by the protesters.
  • A fundraising effort for the trucker convoy occupying Ottawa streets and making demands of the Canadian government has hit more than US$8 million, with an analysis by CTV News showing that donations appear to be pouring in from south of the border.
  • Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon has tested positive for COVID-19.
  • The Calgary-based airline WestJet wants mandatory molecular test requirements for fully vaccinated international travellers to end with a return to periodic testing at airports, as well as an end to quarantine for travellers who have to wait for results. The airline is again cancelling 20 per cent of flights in March after cutting flights in January and February.
  • All health-care professionals in B.C. must be vaccinated by March 24 — or be deregistered by their licensing body.
  • Worldwide there have been 403,911,482+ cases, 5,780,320+ deaths and 10,139,953,900+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In Beijing: Ottawa speedskater Isabelle Weidemann has won her second medal, taking silver in the 5,000 metres. This was the fourth medal won today with Eliot Grondin’s silver medal in snowboard cross; skier Jack Crawford’s bronze in men’s alpine combined and another bronze in mixed team aerials, giving Canada 12 medals so far.
  • Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time.
  • The annual inflation rate in the U.S. is now 7.5 per cent up from 6.8 per cent in January.
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials believe a similar movement could be headed to the states around Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 13, that could run from California to Washington DC.  

Feb. 9

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 3,162+ new cases today for a total of 1,061,403+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,944 deaths, up 65 today. There are 482+ new cases in Toronto, 283+ in Peel Region, 143+ in York, 139+ in Hamilton and 103+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,059+ in hospital. There are 449+ in intensive care, 275+ on a ventilator. There have been 1,019,277 cases resolved, up 4,992.
  • So far, there have been 31,105,664 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,847,856 with two doses.
  • The province completed 22,906 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,796,964. There are 9,152 pending.
  • There are 265 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,673 resident cases, 1,317 staff. So far, 4,385 residents have died.
  • Ontario is rolling out free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at grocery stores, pharmacies and other settings.
  • The province is also extending the deadline to renew health cards to Sept. 30 from Feb. 28.
  • For the third day in a row, little traffic is getting through to the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, because of ongoing protests against pandemic restrictions.  Highway 402 near Sarnia, seen as an alternate route to the U.S., has been closed to traffic because convoy protestors are blocking a section of highway leading to a second major border crossing with the United States. The OPP says a section of highway 402 westbound that heads to the Bluewater Bridge border crossing, is closed Wednesday morning due to ‘freedom convoy’ demonstrations in the area. 
  • Windsor police say they need more officers to help manage the blockade.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 211 new cases for a total of 59,960+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 723, up three today. There are 1,635 active cases and there have been 57,602 cases resolved. There are 48 in hospital, seven in ICU. There are 70+ outbreaks. So far, in Ottawa, 2,301,847 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 957,149 with one dose of vaccine; 841,554 residents who have received a second dose and 503,144 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Ottawa police are warning protesters who continue to block downtown streets that it’s time to move along and let traffic flow or face possible arrest and criminal charges. “It is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property,” police said in a news release issued on Wednesday afternoon.
  • The province has given the City of Ottawa the power to issue fines of $1,000 for certain offences including open fire violations, idling and noise bylaws.
  • Ottawa Police and the federal government have allowed protesters to set up a new camp in a parking lot on Bronson Avenue near Heron Road. City manager Steve Kanellakos said police are trying to manage disruptions and direct protesters to a better option than downtown streets.
  • Council has voted to cancel committee meetings until Feb. 18 to focus on the protest response.
  • Quebec has now seen 889,057+ confirmed cases, up 3,361+ today. So far, 13,582 people have died. There are 2,348 people in hospital including 171 in intensive care. The province completed 28,296  tests on Feb. 7. So far, 18,351,431 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,995+ cases in total, up 75. There have been 273 deaths. There are 1,109 active cases and 32,573 recoveries. There are 40 in hospital, seven in intensive care. There have been 825,778 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • A Quebec court has rejected a request by unvaccinated caregivers who were hoping to obtain an injunction allowing them to enter nursing homes without showing proof of vaccination.
  • Alberta’s vaccine passport is gone but protesters are promising to hunker down for the long term on the highway leading to the province’s main U.S. border crossing. The federal government will supply more RCMP reinforcements to confront this blockade. Traffic is moving at the Coutts crossing.
  • Alberta Premier Jason Kenney apologized Wednesday for comparing the treatment of unvaccinated people to the stigma faced by HIV/AIDS patients during the 1980s. Kenney drew the comparison Tuesday during a news conference where he announced Alberta’s plan to immediately start phasing out COVID-19 public health restrictions, including the vaccine passport system.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,148,878+ cases with 34,969 deaths. There are 159,002+ active cases and there have been 2,954,907 resolved cases.
  • Newly released census numbers put Canada’s population at 36,991,981 in the spring of last year, with close to 27.3 million Canadians living in one of Canada’s 41 large urban centres. Canada has the fastest rate of population growth in the G7. Most of that growth is from more people arriving here from around the world to start a new life. About 1.8 million more people were calling Canada home in 2021 compared with five years earlier, with four in five of these having immigrated since 2016, Statistics Canada says.
  • The agency also notes that in 2021, nearly three in four Canadians (73.7 per cent) lived in one of Canada’s large urban centres, up from 73.2 per cent five years earlier. Rapid population growth in cities is increasing the need for infrastructure, transportation and services of all kinds—including front-line emergency services. Further urban spread also raises environmental concerns such as car-dependent cultures and encroachment on farmlands, wetlands and wildlife.
  • New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds many Canadians are looking south with growing alarm over internal political strife in the United States. Four-in-five Canadians surveyed say they are worried the current state of U.S. democracy will negatively impact Canada’s economy and security. This is the majority belief across regional and political lines, though past Conservative voters are most likely to dissent at one-in-five (22 per cent).
  • Worldwide there have been 401,536,661+ cases, 5,767,326+ deaths and 10,115,712,050+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Sweden has halted wide-scale testing for COVID-19 even among people showing symptoms of an infection, putting an end to the mobile city-square tent sites, drive-in swab centres and home-delivered tests.
  • Protesters gathered in southern France on Wednesday for what they say will be a “freedom convoy” that will converge on Paris and Brussels to demand an end to COVID-19 restrictions, inspired by protesters who have blocked a Canadian border crossing.

Feb. 8

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 2,092+ new cases today for a total of 1,058,241+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,878 deaths, up 42 today. There are 328+ new cases in Toronto, 198+ in Peel Region, 130+ in York, 87+ in Hamilton and 101+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,254+ in hospital. There are 474+ in intensive care, 289+ on a ventilator. There have been 1,014,285 cases resolved, up 3,407.
  • So far, there have been 31,064,758 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,836,876 with two doses.
  • The province completed 15,788 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,774,058. There are 9,141 pending.
  • There are 285 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,787 resident cases, 1,421 staff. So far, 4,371 residents have died.
  • Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says the province should set a deadline for the truckers to end their protest and remove commercial licences and drivers licences if they do not return home after that deadline.
  • Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca is urging the Ford government to declare a provincial State of Emergency and urging the provincial Attorney General to make clear that Crown prosecutors will follow the guidance in their Prosecution Manual, and will seek forfeiture of any assets used in the commission of a serious (indictable or hybrid) offence.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 170 new cases for a total of 59,749+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 720, up five today. There are 1,768 active cases and there have been 57,261 cases resolved. There are 50 in hospital, nine in ICU. There are 81+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,298,357 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 956,808 with one dose of vaccine; 840,499 residents who have received a second dose and 501,050 have had three shots. Wastewater testing shows a continued decline in the presence of COVID-19.
  • Deputy Chief Steve Bell gave an update Tuesday afternoon on the ongoing anti-vaccine mandate protest in the city’s downtown core. To date, he said the force has arrested 22 people, issued more than 1,300 tickets, and are investigating 79 criminal incidents. Bell added one man from Ohio was arrested Monday after calling in fake threats to Ottawa police “designed to deceive and distract” emergency resources.
  • Police are saying that about a quarter of the trucks parked and idling in downtown Ottawa have children on board. Police are concerned the children may be facing carbon monoxide danger. The force is consulting the Ottawa Children’s Aid Society about this. The society says it is monitoring the situation.
  • Tow trucks operators on contract to the City of Ottawa are refusing to pull trucks out of the convoy protest zone. “I’ve contacted them all and they’re all refusing, as of today, to provide heavy tow truck work,” city manager Steve Kanellakos told reporters Monday evening.
  • On Monday evening, Ottawa city council approved a motion by Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney to ask the federal government to take over security in the parliamentary precinct.
  • Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley received approval to have the city commission an independent report into how the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, the National Capital Commission, Parliamentary Protective Service, federal and provincial governments collaborate on demonstrations.
  • Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has suggested that a mediator be appointed to talk to the protest leaders.
  • Council also officially condemned acts of racism and discrimination and also asked for financial help for the business affected by the protest. The Rideau Centre has now been closed for almost two weeks, for example, and has lost millions of dollars in revenue.
  • Quebec has now seen 885,696+ confirmed cases, up 2,504+ today. So far, 13,551 people have died. There are 2,380 people in hospital including 178 in intensive care. The province completed 19,379  tests on Feb. 6. So far, 18,314,006 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,880+ cases in total, up 272. There have been 271 deaths. There are 1,141 active cases and 32,468 recoveries. There are 48 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 824,741 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Federal Liberal Quebec MP Joël Lightbound says he’s uncomfortable with the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, saying its pandemic response has become “politicized” and “divisive.” He does want the protest to end, he says. Lightbound represents the riding of Louis-Hebert in the Quebec City area. He has resigned as chair of the Quebec caucus.
  • The Quebec government announced a phased-in plan to lift restrictions starting Feb. 12 and ending March 14 to “learn to live with COVID” with a view to lift nearly all public health restrictions by mid-March. Premier François Legault said several measures will be lifted starting Saturday, including those imposed on restaurants and private home gatherings. Mask wearing requirements and the vaccine passport will remain in effect because those are measures “that allow us to currently reopen,” Legault said.
  • Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman is holding a special meeting of city council discuss a way to end a noisy five-day protest outside the provincial legislature that is also blocking city streets. He says most Winnipeggers wants the law to be enforced.
  • Starting Monday, Saskatchewan will no longer require COVID-19 vaccine passports. It is also ending its indoor mask mandate at the end of February.
  • Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced that the province’s vaccine passport program is ending at midnight tonight as he revealed his province’s plan to lift COVID-related health restrictions. He said restrictions would lift in stages starting with most measures affecting children gone by the weekend.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,140,025+ cases with 34,847 deaths. There are 162,837+ active cases and there have been 2,942,341 resolved cases.
  • Federal Liberal Quebec MP Joël Lightbound says he’s uncomfortable with the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, saying its pandemic response has become “politicized” and “divisive.”
  • Starting Monday, Saskatchewan will no longer require COVID-19 vaccine passports. It is also ending its indoor mask mandate at the end of February. Alberta is likely to follow suit soon.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was back in the House of Commons Monday evening taking part in an emergency debate about the convoy occupation taking place on Wellington Street. He condemned the actions of the convoy supporters.
  • A blockade of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, the busiest land crossing between Canada and the U.S., is allowing traffic to the U.S. to resume. Traffic into Canada remains blocked.
  • Canada Unity, one of the groups behind the organization of the Freedom Convoy, has dropped its demand for a peaceful overthrow of the Trudeau government.
  • Protesters at the Coutts border crossing in Alberta have blocked traffic once again.
  • Worldwide there have been 398,153,499+ cases, 5,753,698+ deaths and 10,094,057,108+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Feb. 7

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 2,088+ new cases today for a total of 1,056,149+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,836 deaths, up 11 today. There are 370+ new cases in Toronto, 147+ in Peel Region, 137+ in York, 91+ in Hamilton and 114+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,155+ in hospital. There are 486+ in intensive care, 283+ on a ventilator. There have been 1,010,878 cases resolved, up 3,556.
  • So far, there have been 31,025,150 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,827,116 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 12,880 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,758,270. There are 4,166 pending.
  • There are 290 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,863 resident cases, 1,499 staff. So far, 4,365 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 166 new cases for a total of 59,579+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 715, none reported today. There are 1,917 active cases and there have been 56,947 cases resolved. There are 58 in hospital, 11 in ICU. There are 102+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,298,357 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 956,808 with one dose of vaccine; 840,499 residents who have received a second dose and 501,050 have had three shots.
  • At noon Monday, Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly told reporters the new strategy of surge and contain the protesters, exemplified by a raid on the large supply depot at the Ottawa baseball stadium on Sunday seizing diesel fuel intended to keep the trucks running, the helped make this weekend’s protest smaller compared to the previous weekend. He said police are making incremental progress toward ending the demonstration, but more help would “turn up the heat” on protesters and end it more quickly. He asked council for 1,800 more personnel including officers and civilians. This would almost double Ottawa’s current force of 2,100.
  • City council has been told the city has asked the Chief Justice of Ontario to increase fines for idling a vehicle, breaching the noise bylaw and ‘encumbering’ a roadway to $1,000 for each.
  • Ontario Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean has granted an injunction that orders an end to the blowing of truck horns for the next 10 days.
  • The injunction was sought by Ottawa lawyer Paul Champ on behalf of residents who have been besieged for the past 11 days by the overwhelming noise that hundreds of transport trucks can create.
  • The lawyer for those named in the suit, Keith Wilson, of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), says the horn blowing is a spontaneous reaction caused by frustration of two years of COVID restrictions. He added the individuals named in the suit either don’t have trucks in Ottawa or haven’t used them.
  • Before his decision, Justice McLean asked Wilson to explain: ‘How do I balance the harm being afflicted on another portion of society?’
  • The CF Rideau Centre will stay closed until further notice because of the ongoing protests in downtown Ottawa. Cadillac Fairview said in a statement that authorities “cannot provide any assurances that it is safe” to open the mall and its 175 businesses amid the “Freedom Convoy” protest against COVID-19 mandates.
  • Meanwhile the federal NDP is calling for an emergency debate about the convoy.
  • And federal ministers are urging the creation of a tribe-level table so all three levels of government can talk about measures to deal with the convoy protest face to face.
  • The Ottawa police arson unit is investigating a fire residents say was deliberately set in their apartment building lobby in the Centretown area early Sunday morning.
  • Quebec has now seen 883,192+ confirmed cases, up 2,240+ today. So far, 13,495 people have died. There are 2,425 people in hospital including 178 in intensive care. The province completed 19,499  tests on Feb. 5. So far, 18,279,312 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,608+ cases in total, up 122. There have been 271 deaths. There are 1,221 active cases and 32,116 recoveries. There are 54 in hospital, nine in intensive care. There have been 824,741 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,125,028+ cases with 34,721 deaths. There are 178,098+ active cases and there have been 2,912,209 resolved cases.
  • The federal NDP is advocating for the government to ban the display of three different hate symbols, which leader Jagmeet Singh says are being used to mobilize movements. Bill C-229 would prohibit the “display or sale” of symbols or emblems such as the Nazi swastika, the Ku Klux Klan’s insignia, and the Confederate flag.
  • Worldwide there have been 396,394,748+ cases, 5,744,695+ deaths and 10,070,154,222+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In Beijing, slope-style snowboarder Max Parrot has won Canada’s first gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Fellow Canada Mark McMorris took the bronze.
  • Australia will now allow fully vaccinated travellers to enter the country after two years of a closed border.
  • Boston-based GiveSendGo said that the “Freedom Convoy 2022” campaign has become its biggest campaign ever, raising more than $4.5 million US in less than 24 hours despite complaining its servers have been the target of nearly 10 million bots within two hours.

Feb. 4

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 4,047+ new cases today for a total of 1,047,970+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,711 deaths, up 58 today. There are 673+ new cases in Toronto, 411+ in Peel Region, 137+ in York, 168+ in Hamilton and 158+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,634+ in hospital. There are 517 in intensive care, 312 on a ventilator. There have been 998,238 cases resolved, up 5,622.
  • So far, there have been 30,882,982 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,784,543 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 25,118 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,705,361. There are 7,875 pending.
  • There are 313 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,006 resident cases, 1,759 staff. So far, 4,334 residents have died. Premier Doug Ford said he hopes people will protest peacefully.
  • Ontario is easing visitor restrictions at long-term care homes. Starting on Monday, the number of designated caregivers per resident will increase from two to four, though only two can visit at a time. Residents who have had at least three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to resume social day trips.
  • The Ontario Nurses’ Association said no commitments were made during the meeting with Premier Doug Ford to repeal a bill that limits annual salary increases for nurses.
  • Toronto police are closing off a stretch of University Avenue in order to protect Hospital Row ahead of expected demonstrations this weekend. Police said in a tweet that University Avenue will be closed between College and Queen Streets to regular traffic and any convoys starting at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
  • Premier Doug Ford says the Ottawa protest is an “occupation” and should end.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 303 new cases for a total of 59,095+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 708, up two today. There are 2,168 active cases and there have been 56,219 cases resolved. There are 65 in hospital, nine in ICU. There are 102+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,290,427 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 956,083 with one dose of vaccine; 836,986 residents who have received a second dose and 497,358 have had three shots.
  • GoFundMe has shut down the $10 million Freedom Convoy campaign saying “We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
  • The platform says it will work with organizers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe. Donors have until Feb. 19 to ask for a full refund.
  • The former Justice Minister under Jean Chretien, Allan Rock tweets “Memo to City of Ottawa legal department: ample evidence exists to support a motion in Superior Court for an injunction restraining the incessant truck horns which constitute a nuisance. Indeed the order could also require them to move. Get on it!”
  • Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson has joined a non-partisan group of senators and is severing his ties with the Conservative caucus over their position on the protests against vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions in Ottawa.
  • Tory MP Pierre-Paul His is also speaking out against the protest tweeting “I spent the week undergoing the Siege of Ottawa. If the motivation of truckers could be understood, the current situation is quite different. I ask that we clear the streets and that we stop this occupation controlled by radicals and anarchist groups.”
  • As part of a surge and contain strategy, the Ottawa Police Service will deploy 150 additional officers into Centretown, Sandy Hill, Lowertown and ByWard Market. Police will create “no access roadways”barriers downtown and protesters will be directed to parking areas. Ottawa Police also say Intelligence agencies are working to “identify and target protesters who are funding/supporting/enabling unlawful and harmful activity by protesters.”
  • Police say that about 2,000 protesters and 300-400 trucks will arrive this weekend.
  • Professors who study the Constitution, however, say Canadians’ freedoms of assembly, movement and expression under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms are not absolute and the demonstration downtown — which became much smaller during the work week — has crossed the line because of the harm it’s causing. CBC explains.
  • The grassroots community group, Horizon Ottawa, wants hotels in Ottawa to not book and to cancel reservations known to be affiliated with the Freedom Convoy occupation of downtown. Horizon Ottawa says the hotels are allowing unmasked protesters in creating a dangerous environment for hotel workers and residents.
  • The city’s largest school board is extending the choice of either virtual or in-person learning come next September, according to a news release from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Friday.
  • Quebec has now seen 875,429+ confirmed cases, up 3,400+ today. So far, 13,420 people have died. There are 2,541 people in hospital including 184 in intensive care. The province completed 30,530  tests on Feb. 2. So far, 18,167,124 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,476+ cases in total, up 116. There have been 269 deaths. There are 1,286 active cases and 31,931 recoveries. There are 57 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 819,362 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Police have blocked off access to the National Assembly in Quebec City as a convoy arrives in the city.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,096,217+ cases with 34,381 deaths. There are 180,492+ active cases and there have been 2,881,344 resolved cases.
  • Omicron has taken a toll on working Canadians, Statistics Canada reports. Employment fell by 200,000 in January and the unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent. January employment declines were driven by Ontario and Quebec, and accommodation and food services was the hardest-hit industry. Youth and core-aged women saw the largest impacts. As well, the number of people who were employed but worked less than half their usual hours rose by 620,000 in January, the largest increase since March 2020. Total hours worked fell 2.2 per cent after being at pre-COVID levels in November and December 2021.
  • The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) says individuals who were infected before starting or completing their first two doses should get their next dose eight weeks after symptoms began, or after testing positive if they were asymptomatic, NACI says. Those who were infected after receiving their first two doses can get a booster shot three months after the onset of symptoms or after testing positive, the committee recommended, as long as it is at least six months after having received their second shot.
  • As of Jan. 30, 50 per cent of all eligible Canadians have received a booster dose, an increase of five per cent from the week before. Nearly 55 per cent of eligible children have received at least one shot, up two per cent.
  • The anger of the Freedom Convoy could be symptomatic of a broader sense of disengagement and frustration with Canadian democracy, new data from the Angus Reid Institute indicates. The study finds Canadians equally divided over whether the country has a “good system of government;” 42 per cent do, 45 per cent do not.
  • Worldwide there have been 388,553,793+ cases, 5,714,792+ deaths and 10,022,493,904+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Lockdowns had little effect in saving lives during the pandemic — and “should be rejected out of hand as a pandemic policy,” according to economists in a new meta-analysis of dozens of studies. A group led by the head of Johns Hopkins Institute for Applied Economics analyzed studies from the first surge of the pandemic to investigate widely pushed claims that tough restructions would limit deaths.
  • The massive trucker convoy that crossed Canada to protest against that country’s new vaccine mandates will almost certainly be replicated in the U.S., media reports suggest. A Facebook group organizing the U.S. convoy that had amassed 130,000 members has been tossed from the social media platform amid allegations that the movement was being promoted by right-wing extremists, which the organizers deny.
  • The U.S. economy added 467,000 jobs in January despite the Omicron surge.

Feb. 3

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 4,098+ new cases today for a total of 1,043,923+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,651 deaths, up 74 today. There are 673+ new cases in Toronto, 411+ in Peel Region, 137+ in York, 168+ in Hamilton and 158+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,797+ in hospital. There are 541 in intensive care, 347 on a ventilator. There have been 992,616 cases resolved, up 5,901.
  • So far, there have been 30,832,550 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,770,908 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 28,493 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,680,243. There are 10,166 pending.
  • There are 320 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,084 resident cases, 2,028 staff. So far, 4,316 residents have died. Premier Doug Ford said he hopes people will protest peacefully.
  • The mayor of Toronto, John Tory, is warning protesters to not impede traffic especially to hospitals in the area of Queen’s Park on Saturday.
  • Ontario’s top public health doctor says health-care indicators suggest a general improvement in the COVID 19 situation in the province. Dr. Kieran Moore says hospitalizations are down but ICU beds remain very full. He predicts the next few weeks will be difficult for hospitals.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 309 new cases for a total of 58,792+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 706, up six today. There are 2,201 active cases and there have been 55,885 cases resolved. There are 75 in hospital, 12 in ICU. There are 104+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,284,941 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 955,640 with one dose of vaccine; 835,058 residents who have received a second dose and 494,243 have had three shots.
  • Ottawa police say they issued 30 traffic tickets and charged one person with driving while prohibited. Their vehicle was impounded for 45 days. Police have some 25 criminal investigations underway. Ottawa bylaw officers have handed out 115 tickets.
  • A tractor convoy is being planned from Alexandria to Ottawa on Saturday to show support for the truckers involved in the “Freedom Convoy.” According to the Facebook Group “Farmer Convoy to Ottawa 2.0”, the convoy will depart Alexandria at 6 a.m. and travel to Ottawa.
  • Mayor Jim Watson is calling out several Conservative MPs for showing support for the convoy. The MPs are Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon—Grasswood), former leader Andrew Scheer (Regina—Qu’Appelle), Warren Steinley (Regina—Lewvan), Fraser Tolmie (Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan) and Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster), along with Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters.
  • Hull-Aylmer Liberal MP Greg Fergus, chair of the chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, delivered an emotional speech in the Commons condemning the presence of Nazi and especially Confederate flags in the convoy. “Let’s not mince words. The Confederate flag is a symbol for slavery. Whips, deformed Black bodies, forced labour, mangled limbs, torture almost always preceded lynchings.” 
  • The Retail Council of Canada estimates the seven-day closure of the Rideau Centre could cost the downtown Ottawa mall $19.7 million in lost revenue. The CF Rideau Centre will remain closed until at least Feb. 6 as the “Freedom Convoy” protest continues.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a fresh call on Thursday for the protesters occupying downtown Ottawa to move on, while suggesting his government is unlikely to deploy the military to help end the demonstration.
  • Leaders of the convoy spoke to the media and insisted again that until vaccine mandates are lifted, they will stay in the city.
  • Defence Minister Anita Anand says the Canadian military is not meant to act as a law enforcement body.
  • Police have removed containers of diesel fuel and propane tanks from a wooden structure in Confederation Park, erected by members of the convoy.
  • Quebec has now seen 872,029+ confirmed cases, up 3,592+ today. So far, 13,378 people have died. There are 2,637 people in hospital including 191 in intensive care. The province completed 30,390  tests on Feb. 1. So far, 18,120,785 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,370+ cases in total, up 115. There have been 266 deaths. There are 1,286 active cases and 31,818 recoveries. There are 59 in hospital, 10 in intensive care. There have been 815,887 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • As the city prepares to celebrate the start of winter carnival Friday, Quebec provincial police are patrolling outside the National Assembly in Quebec City in anticipation of the imminent arrival of yet another “Freedom Convoy.” In a Facebook live posted Thursday morning, two of the convoy’s organizers, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier and Kevin Grenier, told their followers they are on their way to Quebec City from the Baie-Comeau area, 420 kilometres northeast of the capital.
  • In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe says it’s time to learn to live with COVID-19 as he pledged to life all restrictions and mandates “soon.” The province will also move from daily COVID-19 case updates to weekly updates the week of Feb. 7. The weekly report will be available on Thursdays.
  • In Alberta, a second blockade has formed on Highway 4, a trickle of traffic is slowly making its way to the U.S. border. Media reports suggest Premier Jason Kenney’s government may lift restrictions in coming days.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,082,000+ cases with 34,212 deaths. There are 199,958+ active cases and there have been 2,847,830 resolved cases.
  • There are currently around 60,000 people approved for Canadian citizenship who are waiting for a citizenship ceremony, some for more than a year. CBC has more.
  • Worldwide there have been 385,665,667+ cases, 5,703,498+ deaths and 10,009,441,779+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Europe could soon enter a “long period of tranquillity” that amounts to a “ceasefire” in the pandemic thanks to the less severe Omicron variant, high levels of immunity and the arrival of warmer spring weather, the World Health Organization says. Hans Kluge, the WHO’s Europe director, said the region was in a position of “higher protection” that could “bring us enduring peace”, even if a new, more virulent variant than Omicron should emerge.
  • Scandinavia is expected to become free of almost all COVID restrictions – with Sweden reportedly due to announce it will join Denmark and Norway in abandoning virus-related rules.

Feb. 2

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 3,909+ new cases today for a total of 1,039,825+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,576 deaths, up 67 today. There are 716+ new cases in Toronto, 362+ in Peel Region, 257+ in York, 176+ in Hamilton and 176+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,939+ in hospital. There are 555 in intensive care, 337 on a ventilator. There have been 986,715 cases resolved, up 4,912.
  • So far, there have been 30,772,309 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,756,159 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 27,720 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,651,750. There are 12,665 pending.
  • There are 327 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,213 resident cases, 2,292 staff. So far, 4,298 residents have died.
  • Toronto police say that they are aware of a planned trucker protest against vaccine mandates set for the city this weekend and are monitoring the situation. A flyer circulating on social media suggests that a “Convoy for Freedom” demonstration will take place at Queen’s Park, beginning at noon Saturday.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 301 new cases for a total of 58,483+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 700, up six today. There are 2,293 active cases and there have been 55,490 cases resolved. There are 79 in hospital, 15 in ICU. There are 108+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,284,941 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 955,640 with one dose of vaccine; 835,058 residents who have received a second dose and 494,243 have had three shots.
  • The leader of the Convoy protest, Chris Barber, wrote in a media release today: “Our message to the citizens of Ottawa is one of empathy. We understand your frustration and genuinely wish there was another way for us to get our message across, but the responsibility for your inconvenience lies squarely on the shoulders of politicians who have [preferred] to vilify and call us names rather than engage in respectful, serious dialogue.” The release also states protesters “plan to remain in Ottawa ‘for as long as it takes.'”
  • Ottawa Police have arrested two Ottawa men for separate incidents connected to the Freedom Convoy protest taking place in downtown. A Quebec man has also been arrested for making threats. As for the protest itself, it enters a sixth day with organizers still promising to continue their action until vaccine mandates end. The size of the protest is now about 250 hard core, “volatile” and determined people and several hundred trucks. There are 25 investigations underway.
  • Police Chief Peter Sloly told a meeting of the Police Board that the longer the “occupation” goes on, the more he’s convinced there may not be “a police answer” to end the demonstration. That raised the possibility of using the military to clear the streets. The prime minister has offered RCMP support but the city has to request it, the meeting was told.
  • Sloly also told the meeting that right wing Americans are major contributors to the GoFundMe campaign — now at $10 million — underwriting the convoy.
  • The police are also saying that residents can expect to see increased vehicular traffic Saturday and through weekend, decreasing Monday.” Deputy Chief Steve Bell called the demonstration something “between a demonstration and a long-term plan to occupy our streets.” 
  • Residents on Metcalfe Street took matters into their own hands after being blasted by big rig horns for days. Four individuals stood in the middle of the street and refused to allow some trucks to travel up the street after days of noisy protest. One of the residents, Marika Morris, told CTV, “it was just a spur of the moment thing actually. We just went out into the street. They were coming really slowly, honking, with a line of people behind them honking. They were blocking all access to any emergency vehicles. They literally don’t care whether we live or die.”
  • Quebec has now seen 868,437+ confirmed cases, up 3,816+ today. So far, 13,336 people have died. There are 2,730 people in hospital including 204 in intensive care. The province completed 33,780  tests on Jan. 31. So far, 18,070,025 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,255+ cases in total, up 89. There have been 263 deaths. There are 1,280 active cases and 31,712 recoveries. There are 64 in hospital, nine in intensive care. There have been 815,887 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Alberta, a deal has been reached to open two lanes of traffic on Highway 4 at the U.S. border crossing at Coutts.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,066,903+ cases with 34,033 deaths. There are 203,763+ active cases and there have been 2,829,107 resolved cases.
  • Using for the very first time the party’s Reform Act, the federal Conservative caucus has voted 73 to 45 to remove Erin O’Toole as leader. The jockeying for his replacement is heating up. O’Toole has now formally resigned. In a final message, O’Toole called leading the Tory party the honour of a lifetime. Manitoba MP Candice Bergen. is the interim leader of the party.
  • Worldwide there have been 382,416,296+ cases, 5,691,006+ deaths and 9,966,244,098+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • More musicians have pulled their music from Spotify. This time it’s Neil Young’s old colleagues, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.

Feb. 1

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 2,622+ new cases today for a total of 1,035,916+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,504 deaths, up 63 today. There are 606+ new cases in Toronto, 334+ in Peel Region, 133+ in York, 117+ in Hamilton and 93+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,091+ in hospital. There are 568 in intensive care, 349 on a ventilator. There have been 981,803 cases resolved, up 4,816.
  • So far, there have been 30,707,331 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,740,651 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 16,380 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,624,030. There are 11,875 pending.
  • There are 353 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,604 resident cases, 2,787 staff. So far, 4,287 residents have died.
  • Hospital occupancy related to COVID-19 is expected to remain in a “prolonged peak” despite the fact that the Omicron wave in Ontario has plateaued or is in decline, the province’s science table said in new modelling released Tuesday. As a result of limited testing, the science table used wastewater data to make projections. According to the wastewater data, between 1.5 million and four million Ontario residents were infected with COVID-19 in the past 60 days.
  • The table says “relaxation of these measures will increase the spread of COVID-19.” This comes as the province is slowly easing restrictions.
  • Assuming that at least eight million people in Ontario will have received their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the February, and that there is a high level of immunity in the community, the province could continue to see more than 2,000 patients in hospital in March. In the worst case scenario, with low levels of immunity, that number could skyrocket to just under 6,000 patients.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province has sufficient hospital capacity to manage the rest of the Omicron wave.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 163 new cases for a total of 57,966+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 693, up two today. There are 2,562 active cases and there have been 54,711 cases resolved. There are 89 in hospital, 15 in ICU. There are 126+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,279,479 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 833,427 residents who have received a second dose and 490,966 have been boosted.
  • Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly is praising the actions of officers in managing the Freedom Convoy protest, which he calls a “unique in nature, massive in scale, polarizing in context and dangerous in literally every other aspect of the event itself.” As well police made two arrests today of people connected to the protest.
  • The protest continued today in downtown Ottawa, again snarling traffic, frustrating residents and impeding the reopening of businesses that have been under lockdown for weeks.
  • Quebec has now seen 864,621+ confirmed cases, up 2,730+ today. So far, 13,286 people have died. There are 2,852 people in hospital including 218 in intensive care. The province completed 21,699 tests on Jan. 30. So far, 18,018,010 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 33,166+ cases in total, up 286. There have been 263 deaths. There are 1,327 active cases and 31,476 recoveries. There are 60 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 812,059 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Even though a bill was ready, Premier Francois Legault says he will not proceed with a ‘tax’ on the unvaccinated because he did not want to cause division in Quebec society.
  • Quebec will also allow gyms, group sports and artistic activities to reopen on Feb. 14.
  • Protesters frustrated an attempt by the RCMP to clear a blockade at the U.S. border near Coutts, Alberta.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,055,826+ cases with 33,873 deaths. There are 209,675 active cases and there have been 2,812,278 resolved cases.
  • Canada has eased COVID-19 restrictions on travellers from India that allows for easier access to PCR tests. Canada will now accept results from any lab recognized by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
  • Conservative leader Erin O’Toole faces, as early as Wednesday, a caucus vote on a review of his leadership that could lead to his ouster.
  • Worldwide there have been 378,888,710+ cases, 5,675,902+ deaths and 9,986,097,323+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Pfizer Inc. and partner BioNTech SE have begun submitting data to U.S. regulators for authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine in children six months to four years old. 

Jan. 31

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 3,043+ new cases today for a total of 1,033,294+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,444 deaths, up 31 today. There are 845+ new cases in Toronto, 690+ in Peel Region, 307+ in York, 187+ in Hamilton and 255+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,983+ in hospital. There are 583 in intensive care, 347 on a ventilator. There have been 976,987 cases resolved, up 5,098.
  • So far, there have been 30,403,149 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,676,521 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 15,008 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,607,650. There are 5,359 pending.
  • There are 353 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,604 resident cases, 2,787 staff. So far, 4,273 residents have died.
  • The province is lifting several COVID restrictions today including reopening indoor dining with capacity limits and resuming some surgeries.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford also denounced some of the actions of the protesters including, vandalism, intimidation, racist rhetoric and the displaying of Nazi and Confederate flags.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 163 new cases for a total of 57,966+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 693, up two today. There are 2,562 active cases and there have been 54,711 cases resolved. There are 89 in hospital, 15 in ICU. There are 126+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,279,479 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 833,427 residents who have received a second dose and 490,966 have been boosted.
  • After a weekend of loud horn honking and several incidents of bad behaviour including causing difficulties for the Shepherds of Good Hope and desecrating the National War Memorial, the Freedom Convoy continues to occupy downtown Ottawa disrupting daily life in the capital. Police say that in the main the anti-vaccination mandate protest has been peaceful, despite the fact that several police investigations are underway.
  • Mayor Jim Watson says it is time for the protesters to head for home and allow the city to begin the cleanup of the aftermath of this noisy demonstration.
  • Ottawa paramedics confirmed Monday they had to ask for a police escort this weekend because rocks and verbal abuse were hurled at an ambulance and paramedics.
  • The Ottawa Police Service said the cost of policing the protest is estimated at more than $800,000 Canadian ($628,000) per day, but said “police have avoided ticketing and towing vehicle so as not to instigate confrontations with demonstrators”.
  • Quebec has now seen 861,891+ confirmed cases, up 2,423+ today. So far, 13,223 people have died. There are 2,888 people in hospital including 223 in intensive care. The province completed 21,856 tests on Jan. 29. So far, 17,962,625 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 32,880+ cases in total, up 134. There have been 263 deaths. There are 1,543 active cases and 31,074 recoveries. There are 76 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 811,194 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec is loosening some restrictions today.
  • Alberta Premier Jason Kenny says a weekend-long blockade of the U.S. border crossing south of Lethbridge has to end. The blockade is in solidarity with the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.
  • In Canada, there have been 3,036,050+ cases with 33,722 deaths. There are 228,197 active cases and there have been 2,774,131 resolved cases.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has now tested positive for COVID-19. He says he is feeling fine and working remotely.
  • The PM did appear by video link to denounce “symbols of hatred and division” that were on display during mass demonstrations by anti-vaccine truckers and their supporters in Ottawa. Trudeau said that while freedom of speech and assembly are cornerstones of democracy, and that Canadians have a right to protest, “hate can never be the answer”.
  • All of this comes as the House of Commons resumes sitting today the the government has brought in legislation to accelerate the delivery of rapid tests. Government House Leader mark Holland said there was no discussion of delaying the return of MPs to the House of Commons. Many MPs did appear virtually, but there were some MPs from each party in the chamber.
  • Worldwide there have been 375,328,937+ cases, 5,665,810+ deaths and 9,972,243,333+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has begun a reorganization of the PMO and a review of public service codes after receiving a critical report on his office’s conduct, including parties during COVID-19 lockdowns. The report called out “failures of leadership” in the U.K. government. Meanwhile a police investigation into 12 cases of pandemic rule-breaking continues.
  • Spotify says it will now begin adding advisories to podcasts that talk about the coronavirus pandemic. Joe Rogan, the controversial host who prompted Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and other musicians to pull their music from the streaming service, has also apologized and said he would “try harder” to offer more balance on his podcast. Spotify shares dropped by 12 per cent after Young pulled his music. After Rogan’s apology, the stick rebounded. 

Jan. 28

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 5,337+ new cases today for a total of 1,021,436+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,298 deaths, up 67. There are 845+ new cases in Toronto, 690+ in Peel Region, 307+ in York, 187+ in Hamilton and 255+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,535+ in hospital. There are 607 in intensive care, 387 on a ventilator. There have been 958,701 cases resolved, up 7,906.
  • So far, there have been 30,403,149 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,676,521 with two doses. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 32,672 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,539,763. There are 10,671 pending.
  • There are 350 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,612 resident cases, 3,017 staff. So far, 4,238 residents have died.
  • Unions are calling for the Ontario government to reverse a pandemic policy that allows hospital workers to return to work while infected with COVID-19 if a facility’s staffing situation becomes dire.
  • Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, says it’s time to “learn to live with COVID-19” as he anticipates the province is in for a much better spring. His comments echo similar ones made by B.C.’s top public health official Dr. Bonnie Henry. Moore says COVID-19 vaccines, especially third doses, and new antiviral medications, as the reasons why Ontario needs to shift to a more “balanced response” to the pandemic. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 308 new cases for a total of 57,267+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 687, up six. There are 2,869 active cases and there have been 53,711 cases resolved. There are 110 in hospital, 15 in ICU. There are 135+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,269,644 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 829,775 residents who have received a second dose and 485,681 have been boosted.
  • The protesters and vehicles expected to arrive in Ottawa with trucker convoys may make it very hard to get around this weekend. The convoys, which include transport truck operators from across the country and other more broadly opposed to public health restrictions are planning to meet and stage protests in Ottawa. Organizers tracking the group’s progress say a group should arrive from Kingston around noon Friday. Kingston Police estimated more than 100 trucks and 550 vehicles in all will land in the city in this convoy.
  • Ottawa Public Health has announced that the vaccination clinic at the University of Ottawa Minto Sports Complex will be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Lowertown Public Health Neighbourhood Vaccination Hub at Jules Morin Fieldhouse on Clarence Street East will also be closed Friday. The Ottawa Public Health website shows the clinic is closed all weekend.
  • Quebec has now seen 853,120+ confirmed cases, up 3,600+ today. So far, 13,113 people have died. There are 3,091 people in hospital including 228 in intensive care. The province completed 33,541 tests on Jan. 26. So far, 17,774,879 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 32,746+ cases in total, up 120. There have been 260 deaths. There are 1,601 active cases and 30,885 recoveries. There are 79 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 806 470 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,998,329+ cases with 33,373 deaths. There are 232,728 active cases and there have been 2,732,228 resolved cases.
  • Five members of Team Canada have been placed in isolation after positive tests in Beijing in advance of the Winter Games, opening next.
  • One of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s children has tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Embattled federal Conservative leader Erin O’Toole says that he will meet with some of the truckers coming to Ottawa away from the Freedom Convoy protest on Parliament Hill. Several members of his caucus have expressed support for the anti-vaccine mandate message the convoy is amplifying.
  • Children age five to 11, moderately to severely immunocompromised, should get a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends. 
  • More than 100 cases of the highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant BA.2 have been detected in Canada since November. More than 10,000 cases have been reported in 47 countries.
  • The average daily COVID-19 case count across the country is down 30 per cent compared to last week. However, Dr. Theresa Tam says targeted testing policies and reduced testing underestimate the number of true infections. She noted severe illness trends are still rising in most jurisdictions and hospitalization rates are increasing across all age groups.
  • Worldwide there have been 366,824,155+ cases, 5,639,460+ deaths and 9,909,110,608+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 27

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 5,852+ new cases today for a total of 1,016,099+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,230 deaths, up 70. There are 1,014+ new cases in Toronto, 842+ in Peel Region, 318+ in York, 247+ in Hamilton and 234+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,645+ in hospital. There are 599 in intensive care, 365 on a ventilator. There have been 950,795 cases resolved, up 8,637.
  • So far, there have been 30,325,181 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,660,422 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 33,560 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,507,091. There are 17,276 pending.
  • There are 351 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,661 resident cases, 3,269 staff. So far, 4,224 residents have died.
  • Ontario has announced that some surgeries paused due to a surge in COVID-19 cases will resume on Monday, as the province begins to lift some public health restrictions on businesses and social gatherings.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 441 new cases for a total of 56,959+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 681, up three. There are 3,001 active cases and there have been 53,277 cases resolved. There are 111 in hospital, 17 in ICU. There are 146+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,262,165 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 827,776 residents who have received a second dose and 480,901 have been boosted.
  • Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is working on a pitch to the Ontario government to allow the team to welcome full-capacity crowds at the Canadian Tire Centre.
  • Quebec has now seen 849,520+ confirmed cases, up 3,956+ today. So far, 13,065 people have died. There are 3,153 people in hospital including 235 in intensive care. The province completed 34,830 tests on Jan. 25. So far, 17,694,538 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 32,626+ cases in total, up 209. There have been 256 deaths. There are 1,633 active cases and 30,737 recoveries. There are 78 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 803,998 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • About 150 students in upper grades at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in the Hull sector of Gatineau, Que., built air filters for each classroom as part of a project thought up by principal David McFall. CBC has more.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,979,832+ cases with 33,192 deaths. There are 250,707 active cases and there have been 2,695,933 resolved cases.
  • Conservative leader Erin O’Toole just wasn’t natural enough during his losing election campaign in October. That’s one of the conclusions at an Internal party review of the campaign.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now self-isolating after an exposure to someone with COVID-19. He has received a negative rapid test.
  • The Freedom Convoy is now expected to roll into the Ottawa area Friday and gather on Parliament Hill of Saturday.
  • Worldwide there have been 363,077,471+ cases, 5,628,549+ deaths and 9,889,642,226+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The U.S. economy saw a 5.7 per cent increase in annualized GDP, the strongest pace since 1984, new numbers show. 
  • Britain’s COVID-19 restrictions are becoming a thing of the past. Thursday saw the end of almost all mandatory measures in England. Masks are no longer required anywhere, and vaccine passports have been dropped – although they were only compulsory in nightclubs and at large events such as soccer games. There is also no longer any work-from-home guidance. The government is also removing the limit on the number of visitors allowed in nursing homes in England next week, and all testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers will expire Feb. 11.

Jan. 26

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 5,368+ new cases today for a total of 1,010,247+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,160 deaths, up 89. There are 891+ new cases in Toronto, 765+ in Peel Region, 339+ in York, 202+ in Hamilton and 155+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 4,016+ in hospital. There are 608 in intensive care, 367 on a ventilator. There have been 942,158 cases resolved, up 9,913.
  • So far, there have been 30,245,859 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,644,800 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 33,687 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,473,531. There are 20,190 pending.
  • There are 359 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,722 resident cases, 3,594 staff. So far, 4,207 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 325 new cases for a total of 56,518+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 678, up three. There are 3,062 active cases and there have been 52,778 cases resolved. There are 104 in hospital, 17 in ICU. There are 152+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,262,165 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 827,776 residents who have received a second dose and 480,901 have been boosted.
  • In his final State of the City speech, Ottawa’s retiring mayor Jim Watson said he would be giving a key to the city to medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches and the entire Ottawa Public Health staff for their “incredible” work during the pandemic.
  • Quebec has now seen 845,564+ confirmed cases, up 4,510+ today. So far, 13,009 people have died. There are 3,270 people in hospital including 252 in intensive care. The province completed 38,734 tests on Jan. 24. So far, 17,608,522 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 32,626+ cases in total, up 209. There have been 256 deaths. There are 1,633 active cases and 30,737 recoveries. There are 78 in hospital, eight in intensive care. There have been 803,998 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • On Wednesday PEI reported 14 COVID-19 hospitalizations, with two people in ICU. There were 255 new lab-confirmed cases.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador said Wednesday that there were 20 people hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of those, seven are in ICU, an increase of two from the previous day. The province also reported three more deaths and 304+ additional lab-confirmed cases. 
  • Nova Scotia says the province had 91 people in designated COVID-19 hospital units, including 15 in ICU. The province also reported three additional deaths and 346+ new lab-confirmed cases.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,961,343+ cases with 32,966 deaths. There are 261,099 active cases and there have been 2,667,278 resolved cases.
  • New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds many believing a personal infection by COVID-19 would be “like a case of the flu.” Some 49 per cent believe if they caught the virus, they would have serious but manageable symptoms while a further one-36 per cent think their infection would be mild. This stands against a backdrop of warnings Omicron is not a mild infection. Few (12 per cent) of those surveyed worry that they would have to be hospitalized or that infection could be fatal (three per cent). As well 46 per cent want Canada to focus on vaccinating people in less wealthy countries, while 39 per cent prefer the efforts stay locally. 
  • The Bank of Canada is saying clearly interest rates will rise, just not today. The bank held its trend-setting rate firm at 0.25 per cent because of the Omicron wave. Expect a rate hike in March, with subsequent hikes down the line.
  • The central bank expects inflation to fall to three per cent by the end of 2022 and back towards the target rate of two per cent by 2024. A monetary policy report from the bank notes uncertainty is “unusually high” around its latest inflation projections amid factors such as the ongoing pandemic and supply chain issues.
  • A key player behind the convoy travelling to Ottawa to protest a vaccine mandate for truckers is distancing her movement from increasingly extremist online rhetoric being associated with the protest and asking members of the convoy to report any extreme behaviour to police. On her Freedom Convoy 2022 Facebook page, Tamara Lich said the convoy is expected to arrive at Parliament Hill in Ottawa Saturday to protest what she calls infringements of personal liberty caused by public health orders. Lich said that everyone participating in the convoy must be registered with their “road captains” and anyone who does not behave in an orderly fashion “will be immediately removed.”
  • A GoFundMe campaign organized by Lich — who has ties to the Maverick Party, a federal party with roots in Alberta separatist circles — has so far collected more than $4.7 million in donations to support the convoy. The fundraising platform issued a statement Tuesday saying that the funds are being held back until GoFundMe receives more details about the group and its financial management.
  • Some federal Conservatives are supporting the convoy including former leader Andrew Scheer. One,MP Melissa Lantsman — the Tory transport critic and an opponent of the trucker mandate — has come under fire for posting a picture of a grocery store with empty shelves while warning that supply issues could worsen if the vaccine requirement is enforced. The shelves were in northern England.
  • Ottawa Police are making a range of plans for the protest that could potentially see counter-demonstrations, blocked intersections, interference with critical infrastructure and unlawful and violent activity.
  • The Canadian Trucking Association says up to 16,000 Canadian cross-border commercial drivers — roughly 10 to 15 per cent of all truckers who regularly cross the Canada-U.S. boundary — could be sidelined by the federal mandate. Some business groups, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition, are calling on Ottawa pause the mandate to prevent further supply chain constraints.
  • The federal government says it is sticking with the mandate and that it is not causing food supply shortages.
  • Statistics Canada says the pandemic contributed to a decline in national life expectancy, the largest decrease recorded since 1921. Preliminary data shows national life expectancy was 81.7 years for those born in 2020 — down from 82.3 the year before. The drop was greater for men, at more than eight months, than for women, at nearly five months. The largest declines in were in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. There were 307,205 deaths in Canada in 2020, representing a 7.7 per cent increase from 2019. Of those, 16,151 deaths were attributed to COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic, representing 5.3 per cent of the country’s 2020 deaths. That made COVID-19 the third leading cause of death in Canada in 2020.
  • Worldwide there have been 359,300,717+ cases, 5,618,434+ deaths and 9,850,294,423+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A 33 year old man in Boston, Mass., has been taken off the transplant list for a new heart because he is unvaccinated. The hospital says because of scarce supply organ transplants go to people with a better chance of survival.
  • The World Health Organization says the Omicron sub-variant is on the rise. The WHO says it is not yet a variant of concern. What has been dubbed as stealth Omicron does not appear to be any more virulent but is likely more transmissible. So far it has been found in 40 countries including Canada.
  • Anxiety and feelings of depression and loneliness among adult Canadians are at their highest levels — especially among women and frontline workers — since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a report by Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggests.

Jan. 25

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 3,424+ new cases today for a total of 1,004,879+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,068 deaths, up 64 today. There are 886+ new cases in Toronto, 690+ in Peel Region, 384+ in York, 252+ in Hamilton and 185+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 4,008+ in hospital. There are 626 in intensive care, 368 on a ventilator. There have been 932,245 cases resolved, up 7,298.
  • So far, there have been 30,166,800 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,629,357 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 20,081 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,439,844. There are 16,482 pending.
  • There are 369 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,821 resident cases, 3,862 staff. So far, 4,193 residents have died. Nearly 60 per cent of the province’s facilities have declared an outbreak.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 232 new cases for a total of 56,193+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 675, up five. There are 3,237 active cases and there have been 52,281 cases resolved. There are 103 in hospital, 17 in ICU. There are 155+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,255,630 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 826,201 residents who have received a second dose and 476,621 have been boosted.
  • Food bank users faced worsening mental and physical health struggles due to food insecurity over an 18-month period, the author of a new study tells CBC.
  • Ottawa’s Board of Health wants the city’s top doctor to approach the province about updating the definition of fully vaccinated by adding a third dose requirement to vaccine passports.
  • The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is reporting a 24.5 per cent average absence rate so far this year. Only 24 of the board’s 142 schools reported absence rates. No elementary schools reported data because Friday was a P.A. day and students were off. The Ottawa Catholic School Board reported an average 13.5 per cent absence rate, among 28 schools.
  • Quebec has now seen 841,414+ confirmed cases, up 2,977+ today. So far, 12,936 people have died. There are 3,278 people in hospital including 263 in intensive care. The province completed 22,818 tests on Jan. 23. So far, 17,521,157 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 32,309+ cases in total, up 455. There have been 245 deaths. There are 1,645 active cases and 30,412 recoveries. There are 82 in hospital, seven in intensive care. There have been 797,644 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • The Quebec government will be loosening several restrictions Jan. 31, as hospitalizations slowly begin to come down from all-time pandemic highs. Restaurants will once again be allowed to reopen at half capacity. Up to four people from four different addresses or a maximum of two family bubbles will be allowed to share a table. However, restaurants will have to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. and will have to close at midnight. The same numbers will govern indoor private gatherings. All extracurricular sports will be permitted in elementary schools, high schools, CEGEPs and universities. Participants over the age of 13 will have to show their vaccine passport. Organized sports outside of school will be allowed only for Quebecers under the age of 18. A maximum of 25 participants will be allowed. Practices will be permitted but competitive matches are still on hold.
  • On Feb. 7, cinemas and theatres will also be allowed to reopen at half capacity, with a maximum of 500 people per room. That limit also applies to the Bell Centre, despite the fact that it’s a large amphitheatre.
  • Places of worship are also allowed to reopen as of Feb. 7 but, with a few exceptions, they must be at half capacity, with a maximum of 250 people. Vaccination passports will be required for entry.
  • A maximum of 50 people will be allowed for funerals, though the proof of vaccination will not be mandatory for humanitarian reasons.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,947,179+ cases with 32,786 deaths. There are 270,032 active cases and there have been 2,644,361 resolved cases.
  • Children ages 5 to 11 who are “moderately to severely” immunocompromised should receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) says.
  • Worldwide there have been 355,591,211+ cases, 5,606,929+ deaths and 9,848,476,065+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The International Monetary Fund is downgrading its growth forecast for 2022 blaming Omicron, higher energy prices, an uptick in inflation and financial strains in China. The 190-country lending agency now forecasts the global economy will expand 4.4 per cent in 2022, down from 5.9 cent last year and from the 4.9 per cent forecast in October. The IMF slashed the growth forecast for the United States to four per cent from the 5.2 per cent it predicted in October. 
  • The global organization downgraded Canada’s 2022 growth to 3.3 per cent from 4.1 per cent. The Canadian economy is expected to grow three per cent in 2023.
  • The Chinese economy is forecast to grow 4.8 per cent this year, down from 8.1 per cent last year and 0.8 percentage points slower than the IMF expected in October. 
  • Scientists are keeping a close eye on BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron, which was first detected in November. It has been designated as a variant under investigation by the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA). More than 10,000 cases have been reported in 47 countries, according to data by cov-lineages.org. So far, 51 cases of the BA.2 variant have been detected in Canada mainly from international travellers, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed to Global News on Tuesday. The Omicron variant of concern, B.1.1.529, has four sub-lineages: BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3. The BA.2 lineage has many similarities to BA.1 but does exhibit differences, including in some mutations that may affect transmissibility, detection and possibly immune escape. Early analyses suggest BA.2 has an increased growth rate compared to BA.1.
  • The noose is tightening around UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the news that Scotland Yard is now investigating reports of numerous parties held by BoJo’s staffers and involving the PM in violation of COVID-19 lockdown rules. The latest soiree involved a small birthday celebration hosted by Johnson’s spouse.

Jan. 24

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 4,790+ new cases today for a total of 1,001,455+ cases. The province has seen a total of 11,004 deaths, up 37 today. There are 886+ new cases in Toronto, 690+ in Peel Region, 384+ in York, 252+ in Hamilton and 185+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,861+ in hospital. There are 615 in intensive care, 372 on a ventilator. There have been 924,947 cases resolved, up 6,924.
  • So far, there have been 30,100,272 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,618,510 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 20,716 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,419,763. There are 8,288 pending.
  • There are 371 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,731 resident cases, 3,956 staff. So far, 4,183 residents have died. Nearly 60 per cent of the province’s facilities have declared an outbreak.
  • Some 337 Ontario schools reported absence rates higher than 30 per cent by the end of last week, after students returned for in-person learning. Data was made available for 3,451 of the province’s 4,844 schools. The province reported that 16 schools or 0.3 per cent were closed as of Friday.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 329 new cases for a total of 55,961+ cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 670, up six. There are 3,579 active cases and there have been 51,712 cases resolved. There are 92 in hospital, 13 in ICU. There are 159+ outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,255,630 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 826,201 residents who have received a second dose and 476,621 have been boosted.
  • The number of students learning remotely has more than tripled since the winter break at the Upper Canada District School Board. The board says 675 students chose remote learning before Christmas, and that number ballooned to 2,269 after the holidays. CBC has more.
  • Quebec has now seen 838,437+ confirmed cases, up 2,807+ today. So far, 12,851 people have died. There are 3,299 people in hospital including 263 in intensive care. The province completed 27,290 tests on Jan. 22. So far, 17,433,421 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 31,854+ cases in total, up 168. There have been 245 deaths. There are 1,673 active cases and 29,936 recoveries. There are 158 in hospital, seven in intensive care. There have been 795,009 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec Education Minister Jean-François Roberge says no schools or classrooms in Quebec have been closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks since students returned to in-person learning last week — so far. Perhaps the new rules have something to do with this: Parents are no longer automatically informed in the event of positive COVID cases in their child’s school or class. And classes are only shut down if a minimum of 60 per cent of students are in isolation at any given time.
  • You will need to present your vaccine passport to enter and shop at big-box stores in the province.
  • Quebec will launch pop-up clinics and a phone line to reach unvaccinated citizens in an effort to increase first vaccinations in regions where rates are lowest. About eight per cent of the population has not received a first dose of vaccine. Teams will work with community organizations and local leaders and use McGill University medical students to identify areas where a clinic might help..
  • Nova Scotia reported five more deaths over the weekend. The province also reported 92 active COVID-19 hospitalizations with 14 in ICU. Nova Scotia Health reported 1,005 new PCR-confirmed cases on Saturday and Sunday. An additional 362 PCR-confirmed cases were reported Monday.\New Brunswick reports 131 in hospital and three more deaths today. Twelve hospitalized people are in ICU
  • Manitoba recorded 23 more deaths over the weekend. The province now has 716 in hospital with 49 in ICU. The province reported 536+ new cases on Monday.
  • Saskatchewan reports 262 people hospitalized and 29 in ICU, three of them children.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,921,385+ cases with 32,597 deaths. There are 295,261 active cases and there have been 2,593,527 resolved cases.
  • A national truck convoy is making its way through Alberta on Sunday, before heading toward Ottawa, to protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truckers that cross the Canada-United States border.
  • Worldwide there have been 352,095,412+ cases, 5,598,349+ deaths and 9,811,766,017+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 21

  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 7,165+ new cases today for a total of 984,359+ cases. The province has seen a total of 10,865 deaths, up 62 today. There are 1,269+ new cases in Toronto, 957+ in Peel Region, 516+ in York, 337+ in Hamilton and 241+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 4,114 in hospital. There are 590 in intensive care, 366 on a ventilator. There have been 898,589 cases resolved, up 11,566.
  • So far, there have been 29,872,383 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,580,643 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 41,538 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,330,404. There are 22,058 pending.
  • There are 358 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,569 resident cases, 4,088 staff. So far, 4,169 residents have died.
  • Results from facilities testing sewage for COVID-19 across Ontario indicate that infection rates may have plateaued at high levels. CBC has more.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 429 new cases for a total of 54,896 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 657, up five. There are 3,777 active cases and there have been 50,462 cases resolved. There are 82 in hospital, 10 in ICU. There are 156 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,244,351 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 824,002 residents who have received a second dose and 468,729 have been boosted.
  • Quebec has now seen 824,942+ confirmed cases, up 5,995+ today. So far, 12,698 people have died. There are 3,351 people in hospital including 265 in intensive care. The province completed 43,241 tests on Jan. 19. So far, 17,180,209 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 31,686+ cases in total, up 231. There have been 245 deaths. There are 1,710 active cases and 29,731 recoveries. There are 134 in hospital, six in intensive care. There have been 783,504 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are recommending people swab both their nose and throat for rapid COVID-19 testing. New research from Nova Scotia Health’s microbiology team indicates that a combination of a nose and throat swab provides more accurate results compared with a nose swab alone. The province has 94 people in hospital, 13 in intensive care.
  • Manitoba reported eight more deaths on Friday. There are now 664 people in hospital, 50 in intensive care. 
  • Saskatchewan reported nine more COVID-19-related deaths on Friday, along with 1,233 new cases. The province is also reporting 215 people in hospital, 23 in intensive care. 
  • In Canada, there have been 2,868,862+ cases with 32,220 deaths. There are 298,509 active cases and there have been 2,538,133 resolved cases.
  • Almost 40 per cent of Canadians say they are worse off now than they were last year, according to the results of a new Angus Reid Institute survey. 
  • Worldwide there have been 343,122,481+ cases, 5,576,594+ deaths and 9,758,192,309+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 20

  • With Omicron’s surge starting to wane the province has laid out a plan for ending restrictions:
  • Starting Jan. 31, Ontario will allow a number of establishments to reopen to the public with 50 per cent capacity limits, including: Restaurants, bars and other food establishments without dancing; retailers, including shopping malls; gyms and non-spectator areas of sports facilities; movie theatres; Meeting and event spaces; museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; religious services, rites and ceremonies; and spectator areas for sports arenas and concert venues will also be open at 50 per cent capacity or up to 500 people, whichever is less.
  • Enhanced proof of vaccination and masking requirements will remain in place.
  • indoor social gatherings of up to 10 people and outdoors gatherings of up to 25 will be permitted. 
  • On Feb. 21, social gathering limits will increase to 25 for indoors and 100 people outdoors. Other planned changes include: removing capacity on all indoor spaces where proof of vaccination is required; allowing spectator capacity of up to 50 per cent at sports, concert and other similar venues; limiting capacity in most other indoor spaces where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people who can maintain a physical distance of two metres; increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent for remaining “high-risk settings” where proof of vaccination is required, such as nightclubs, wedding receptions in event spaces with dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs.
  • On March 14, capacity limits on indoor spaces will be lifted. Proof of vaccination and masking requirements will continue. All capacity limits will also be lifted for religious services, rites and ceremonies, and social gatherings of up to 50 people indoors will be permitted, with no limit for outdoors.
  • Perhaps the polls are forcing Doug Ford’s hand: New Democrats led by Andrea Horwath have taken a three-point lead in vote intention in Ontario ahead of an expected provincial election this June (36 per cent NDP versus 33 per cent PCPO), according to a new survey released by the Angus Reid Institute.
  • Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing.
  • Ontario reported 7,757+ new cases today for a total of 977,194+ cases. The province has seen a total of 10,801 deaths, up 75 today. There are 949+ new cases in Toronto, 914+ in Peel Region, 390+ in York, 350+ in Hamilton and 306+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 4,061 in hospital. There are 594 in intensive care, 347 on a ventilator. There have been 887,023 cases resolved, up 12,578.
  • So far, there have been 29,769,719 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,570,076 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 42,907 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,288,866. There are 30,846 pending.
  • There are 351 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,498 resident cases, 4,128 staff. So far, 4,148 residents have died.
  • Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce the timing of the end of several pandemic restrictions this morning.
  • Ontario’s health minister is urging the regulatory body overseeing the province’s health professionals to crack down on a group of doctors spreading unverified medical information about COVID-19 vaccines, Global News reports.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 332 new cases for a total of 54,467 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 652, up two. There are 3,877 active cases and there have been 49,938 cases resolved. There are 84 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 159 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,235,641 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 823,501 residents who have received a second dose and 461,606 have been boosted.
  • OPH will resume after-school COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Friday, initially in neighbourhoods experiencing more barriers to vaccination or that have lower vaccination rates. A total of 49 after-school clinic locations will operate on a rotating schedule over the next several weeks. The initial clinic schedule will be updated with additional clinics.
  • The University of Ottawa and Carleton University are announcing plans to return to class with uOttawa slated to welcome students and staff back on Jan. 31 and Carleton on Feb. 7. Algonquin College plans to be online until March 6.
  • Quebec has now seen 818,947+ confirmed cases, up 6,528+ today. So far, 12,639 people have died. There are 3,411 people in hospital including 285 in intensive care. The province completed 43,139 tests on Jan. 18. So far, 17,065,361 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 31,455+ cases in total, up 200. There have been 239 deaths. There are 1,643 active cases and 29,569 recoveries. There are 135 in hospital, six in intensive care. There have been 779,659 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • If Doug Ford is struggling in the polls, Premier Francois Legault is thriving, the Reid poll shows. Almost two-in-five (37 per cent) Quebecers say they intend to vote for Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec, a 17-point lead over his closest challenger, the Quebec Liberal Party.
  • Quebec is investigating 150 cases related to fake vaccine passports, including 30 involving alleged bribery and attempted fraud. A single case may be linked to several people and fake vaccine passports.
  • Quebec is seeing hospitalizations peak, Premier Legault says, adding that it is too early to begin lifting pandemic restrictions.
  • The federal government is providing Nunavut with three nurses and nine contact tracers to help handle the wave of COVID-19 that is spreading across the territory.
  • There are 665 people in hospital in Manitoba with 50 in ICU. Seven more people with the illness have died in Manitoba. Manitoba also reported 851+ new cases.
  • Gyms and fitness centres across B.C. will start gradually reopening Jan. 20. Other previous restrictions, including the ban on indoor organized gatherings like wedding and funeral receptions, are being extended until Feb. 16. Bars, nightclubs and lounges must remain closed and capacity limits of 50 per cent are still in place for theatres and stadiums.
  • The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in Newfoundland is now 20, with four in ICU. The province also reported two additional deaths and 360+ new lab-confirmed cases.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,844,912+ cases with 32,008 deaths. There are 312,990 active cases and there have been 2,499,914 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 338,344,077+ cases, 5,567,454+ deaths and 9,734,033,890+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Austria’s parliament is expected to pass legislation establishing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for adults, the first of its kind in Europe. The mandate drawn up by the government would apply to all residents of Austria 18 and over, with exemptions for pregnant women, individuals who for medical reasons can’t be vaccinated, and people who have recovered from a coronavirus infection in the past six months. The vaccine mandate is to become law at the beginning of February. Austria’s conservative-led government will also introduce a national lottery to encourage holdouts to get vaccinated.

Jan. 19

  • Ontario reported 5,744+ new cases today for a total of 969,437+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,726 deaths, up 59 today. There are 949+ new cases in Toronto, 914+ in Peel Region, 390+ in York, 350+ in Hamilton and 306+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 4,132 in hospital. There are 589 in intensive care, 337 on a ventilator. There have been 874,445 cases resolved, up 12,891.
  • So far, there have been 29,664,874 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,560,871 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 34,579 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,245,959. There are 32,581 pending.
  • There are 347 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,539 resident cases, 4,153 staff. So far, 4,122 residents have died.
  • Some optimism: Health Minister Christine Elliott says new cases of Omicron infection are likely to peak this month in Ontario. The statement was made in advance of an announcement on lifting public health restrictions expected this week. Media reports suggest that restaurants will be allowed to open to 50 per cent capacity by Jan. 31.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 255 new cases for a total of 54,135 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 650, up one. There are 4,128 active cases and there have been 49,357 cases resolved. There are 83 in hospital, 10 in ICU. There are 159 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,235,641 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 823,501 residents who have received a second dose and 461,606 have been boosted.
  • The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority is facing a shortage of more than 20 drivers who will not be returning to work.The agency estimates this shortage could affect up to 4,000 students.
  • Quebec has now seen 816,419+ confirmed cases, up 6,123+ today. So far, 12,541 people have died. There are 3,425 people in hospital including 285 in intensive care. The province completed 41,202 tests on Jan. 17. So far, 16,953,912 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 31,099+ cases in total, up 566. There have been 239 deaths. There are 1,662 active cases and 29,198 recoveries. There are 145 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 771,239 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Poor communication and sluggish decision-making by public health officials, a “paternalistic” attitude toward seniors and a lack of a coherent pandemic plan left Quebec’s health system unprepared to switch to crisis mode when the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Quebec’s long-term care homes, according to the final report by Quebec’s health and welfare commissioner, Joanne Castonguay.
  • Nova Scotia reported three new deaths on Wednesday while 83 people were in hospital, 12 in intensive care.
  • Four more New Brunswickers have died, marking 22 deaths in seven days. Meanwhile hospitalizations have jumped to a record of 123. Eleven people are in intensive care.
  • Manitoba public health officials announced 12 more deaths. There are now 631 people in hospital, 50 in ICU.
  • Six more Albertans have died from COVID-19, with 1,101 people in hospital, 108 in ICU.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,822,614+ cases with 31,827 deaths. There are 323,113 active cases and there have been 2,467,674 resolved cases.
  • Unfavourable weather conditions during the growing season and supply chain disruptions have put upward pressure on prices in Canada. This has been compounded by supply chain disruptions that led to higher prices for durable goods, including passenger vehicles and household appliances, while higher construction costs and the increased frequency and severity of weather events contributed to rising home and mortgage insurance costs. As a result, Statistics Canada reports, the Consumer Price Index rose 4.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis in December, up from a 4.7 per cent gain in November. Excluding gasoline, inflation rose 4.0 per cent year over year. On a monthly basis inflation actually fell 0.1 per cent in December, the first monthly decline since December 2020, as gasoline prices fell in response to lower demand.
  • Overall, inflation rose 3.4 per cent in 2021, the fastest pace since 1991, following an increase of 0.7% in 2020. 
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada has terminated two supply contracts with Supermax Healthcare Canada following allegations that the nitrile gloves it manufactured in Malaysia for use by Canadian health care workers were made with forced labour.
  • Worldwide there have been 334,659,111+ cases, 5,557,810+ deaths and 9,706,508,210+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the end of COVID-19 measures introduced to curb the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in England.

Jan. 18

  • Ontario reported 7,086+ new cases today for a total of 963,693+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,666 deaths, up 37 today. There are 1,628+ new cases in Toronto, 1,106+ in Peel Region, 545+ in York, 327+ in Hamilton and 179+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 4,183 in hospital. There are 580 in intensive care, 337 on a ventilator. There have been 861,554 cases resolved, up 10,189.
  • So far, there have been 29,561,731 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,552,007 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 31,355 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,211,380. There are 31,645 pending.
  • There are 350 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,617 resident cases, 4,157 staff. So far, 4,115 residents have died.
  • Half of Ontarians who died of an opioid overdose in the early stages of the pandemic had interacted with the health-care system in the month before their deaths, says a new report from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network and Unity Health. One in four had seen a doctor, gone to an emergency department or been discharged from hospital a week prior.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 325 new cases for a total of 53,880 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 649. There are 4,587 active cases and there have been 48,644 cases resolved. There are 72 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 156 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,228,582 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 823,166 residents who have received a second dose and 455,065 have been boosted.
  • Because there is no contact tracing happening in Ottawa schools, a new Facebook group of parents is posting infection information.
  • Quebec has now seen 806,296+ confirmed cases, up 5,143+ today. So far, 12,453 people have died. There are 3,417 people in hospital including 289 in intensive care. The province completed 28,356 tests on Jan. 16. So far, 16,838,143 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 31,099+ cases in total, up 566. There have been 239 deaths. There are 1,662 active cases and 29,198 recoveries. There are 145 in hospital, five in intensive care. There have been 771,239 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • To deal with hospitalizations, Quebec has a plan to manage the pressure on hospitals. This will include ways to treat some patients from home, such as providing oxygen machines to patients with milder symptoms. The Jewish General Hospital in Montreal has already been experimenting with providing some COVID outpatients with oxygen.
  • About 6,300 doses of the drug Paxlovid will arrive in Quebec this week, with thousands more set to arrive in the coming month.
  • You will now need a vaccine passport to enter Quebec liquor and cannabis stores.
  • At present, there are about 12,000 health-care workers off work in the province because of COVID-19 infection.
  • PEI is limiting gatherings to one household plus two support people until at least Jan. 31. Indoor dining is banned. Eight people are in hospital with four in ICU. Gyms and other recreational centres are closed and weddings and funerals are limited to 10 people.
  • In Nova Scotia, there are 183 people in hospital who have tested positive for the virus. There are now 15 people in ICU. One more death was reported and the province confirmed 415+ new cases.
  • Manitoba has 620 in hospital, 48 in ICU. Three more deaths were reported. Another 847+ cases were confirmed by PCR tests on Tuesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,801,451+ cases with 31,679 deaths. There are 331,376 active cases and there have been 2,438,396 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 331,306,590+ cases, 5,548,085+ deaths and 9,675,117,167+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 17

  • Ontario reported 8,521+ new cases today for a total of 956,607+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,628 deaths, up 22 today. There are 1,961+ new cases in Toronto, 1,561+ in Peel Region, 918+ in York, 604+ in Hamilton and 302+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,887 in hospital. There are 565 in intensive care, 343 on a ventilator. There have been 851,365 cases resolved, up 8,292.
  • So far, there have been 29,180,320 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,517,048 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 37,059 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,180,025. There are 38,774 pending.
  • There are 346 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,548 resident cases, 4,090 staff. So far, 4,112 residents have died.
  • Some premiers continue to suffer public disapproval over their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey from the Angus Reid Institute shows. Among them, Ontario Premier Doug Ford faces and election in the next few months. His approval rating has tumbled to 30 per cent.
  • Ontario’s chief medical officer of health tells various media outlets that he believes the modified lockdown in the province is starting to slow the spread of Omicron.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 419 new cases for a total of 53,555 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 649, up two. There are 4,930 active cases and there have been 47,976 cases resolved. There are 65 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 151 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,203,053 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 819,520 residents who have received a second dose and 436,268 have been boosted.
  • The return to school in Ottawa and across much of southern Ontario has been delayed because of a massive snowstorm that is blanketing the region, delivering almost 50 centimetres. Schools in the city are still delivering online instruction.
  • The Ottawa Catholic School Board says it will still notify families of a positive COVID-19 case in their schools, should they learn of them.
  • Quebec has now seen 801,153+ confirmed cases, up 5,400+ today. So far, 12,364 people have died. There are 3,381 people in hospital including 286 in intensive care. The province completed 32,646tests on Jan. 15. So far, 16,743,471 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 30,533+ cases in total, up 294. There have been 224 deaths. There are 3,811 active cases and 26,498 recoveries. There are 113 in hospital, four in intensive care. There have been 768,822 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Schools in Gatineau have also been shattered today because of the massive snowstorm that dropped more than 30 centimetres of snow by the end of day.
  • Quebec Premier François Legault is asking government employees to volunteer to work in hospitals, as staffing shortages continue to hamper the province’s health-care system. Bureaucrats are being asked to opt-in to work in a hospital setting as service aides, taking over non-medical tasks normally performed by nurses. That could include disinfecting surfaces and equipment, doing administrative tasks, and providing meals to patients.
  • Nova Scotia reported four additional deaths from COVID-19 on Monday and said 73 people are receiving specialized care in a designated hospital unit because of the coronavirus, including 13 who are in intensive care and 495 new cases have been reported.
  • Public Health reported 239 new cases Monday. There are 5,325 active cases and 15 hospitalizations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • PEI reported 231 new cases of COVID-19 and 378 recoveries Monday. Seven people are in hospital due to COVID-19, including one in intensive care.
  • New Brunswick reported two deaths and 113 hospitalizations Monday, including 16 people in ICU. The province has 4,914 active cases. 
  • Another 20 people have died from COVID-19 in Manitoba, and hospitals now have 601 COVID-19 patients in hospital, 47 in ICU. Another 717 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed by lab tests on Monday.
  • In Saskatchewan, 167 people are in hospital with 13 in ICU. There were 1,374 new infections confirmed.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,759,991+ cases with 31,530 deaths. There are 362,781 active cases and there have been 2,365,680 resolved cases.
  • Air Canada, WestJet and Toronto Pearson International Airport want the federal government to end mandatory COVID-19 testing at airports and shift those resources to communities where they are needed most.
  • Health Canada has approved Paxlovid, Pfizer’s antiviral medication used to treat those infected with COVID-19. It is intended for those at high risk of severe illness. The drug is most effective if taken early in the onset of illness, from three to five days after symptoms appear. The federal government has purchased a million treatments. Pfizer says it will be delivering the drug “immediately.” The first 30,000 treatments will move immediately to the provinces
  • Health Canada says the product shouldn’t be used while a patient is on any of a long list of other drugs, including common medications used to treat erectile dysfunction, high cholesterol and seasonal allergies, among others. Pfizer’s treatment is meant to be taken as 30 pills over five days. Patients take three pills at a time: two of Pfizer’s pills and one of a low-dose HIV drug known as ritonavir, which helps Pfizer’s drug remain active in the body longer.
  • Worldwide there have been 328,526,076+ cases, 5,541,609+ deaths and 9,637,220,830+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Tennis star Novak Djokovic has returned to Serbia following his deportation from Australia over his lack of vaccination.

Jan. 14

  • Ontario reported 10,964+ new cases today for a total of 926,904+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,522 deaths, up 41 today. There are 1,961+ new cases in Toronto, 1,561+ in Peel Region, 918+ in York, 604+ in Hamilton and 302+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,814 in hospital. There are 527 in intensive care, 288 on a ventilator. There have been 804,886 cases resolved, up 21,672.
  • So far, there have been 29,180,320 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,517,048 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • About 43 per cent of those 12 and up have had a booster shot. That includes roughly 46 per cent of those in the 50-59 group, 61 per cent of those in the 60-69 group, 73 per cent of those 70-79 and 76 per cent of those 75 and up. Booster rates are below 36 per cent in all other eligible groups, with the lowest uptake among those 18-29 (just 23 per cent). The province is averaging about 150,000 jabs a day, below the daily target of 200,000.
  • The province completed 58,031 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 22,033,972. There are 72,005 pending.
  • There are 326 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 2,146 resident cases, 3,830 staff. So far, 4,091 residents have died.
  • Meanwhile Rod Phillips, who is the MPP for Ajax and the province’s long-term care minister, said he will step down from his posts next month and will return to the private sector.
  • Immunocompromised Ontarians can now book appointments for a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The province has already started administering fourth doses in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 431 new cases for a total of 52,276 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 640, up two. There are 5,479 active cases and there have been 46,157 cases resolved. There are 61 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 147 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,203,053 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 819,520 residents who have received a second dose and 436,268 have been boosted.
  • OPH has opened vaccinations to drop-ins at clinics as the city tries to increase vaccine uptake.
  • In their first game of 2022, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 Thursday night
  • Quebec has now seen 783,102+ confirmed cases, up 7,382+ today. So far, 12,193 people have died. There are 3,085 people in hospital including 275 in intensive care. The province completed 43,707 tests on Jan. 12. So far, 16,453,249 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 30,339+ cases in total, up 218. There have been 224 deaths. There are 4,634 active cases and 25,481 recoveries. There are 116 in hospital, three in intensive care. There have been 754,013 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Gatineau mayor France Bélisle has tested positive for COVID-19. She is working from home and recovering. Last month, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson tested positive.
  • Quebec teachers unions are slamming the government’s decision to reopen elementary and high schools without providing teachers with N95 masks and outfitting all classrooms with mechanical ventilation systems.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,688,751+ cases with 31,190 deaths. There are 386,033 active cases and there have been 2,271,528 resolved cases.
  • Canada is set for several “intense” weeks as Omicron drives record infections and hospitalizations, new federal data suggests. The projections by Canadian health officials suggest the Omicron wave could peak at 170,000 cases a day this month, though officials say the numbers are estimates of the “true number of daily cases” that may be occurring because of testing restrictions limiting reported cases. Officials project that new hospital admissions could peak at 2,000 a day later this month.
  • As of Jan. 10, 6,926 hospital beds in the country were occupied by COVID-19 patients – up from 4,113 on Jan. 3, the government reports.
  • Tens of thousands of people have left Toronto and Montreal for smaller cities or rural areas in the second year of the pandemic, official data shows. More than 70,000 people left Toronto from mid-2020 to mid-2021, up 14 per cent from the previous 12-month period, according to Statistics Canada population estimates. Montreal lost nearly 43,600 residents. Atlantic Canada has fared well in the exodus. Halifax added more than 6,000 people in the year up to June 30, 2021, with the vast majority arriving from out of province. Rural Quebec added more than 25,000 people from urban centres. And cities such as Oshawa added 8,000 people and Hamilton and St. Catharines each gained nearly 5,000.
  • Worldwide there have been 320,738,972+ cases, 5,523,023+ deaths and 9,575,635,907+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Novak Djokovic has been detained in Australia ahead of a court hearing that will determine whether the tennis star can stay in the country unvaccinated. The Serbian faces deportation after his visa was cancelled for a second time, with the government labelling the 34-year-old a threat to the public.

Jan. 13

  • Ontario reported 9,909+ new cases today for a total of 915,940+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,480 deaths, up 35 today. There are 1,895+ new cases in Toronto, 1,365+ in Peel Region, 1,001+ in York, 411+ in Hamilton and 390+ in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,630 in hospital. There are 500 in intensive care, 275 on a ventilator. There have been 783,214 cases resolved, up 19,816.
  • So far, there have been 29,017,284 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,504,282 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 58,831 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,975,941. There are 79,521 pending.
  • There are 311 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,905 resident cases, 3,609 staff. So far, 4,080 residents have died.
  • Omicron may peak in the next few weeks, Ontario’s top doctor says, but the province is unlikely to see a full-blown reopening until COVID-19 cases plateau and pressures on the health-care system ease. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 532 new cases for a total of 51,845 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 638, up one. There are 6,352 active cases and there have been 44,855 cases resolved. There are 57 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 140 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,182,236 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 816,866 residents who have received a second dose and 420,098 have been boosted.
  • Ottawa parents can move up their child’s second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 21 days after the first shot as the Omicron variant spreads and students prepare to return to school, Dr. Vera Etches says. As of Wednesday, 64 per cent of Ottawa children aged five to 11 had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while eight per cent had two doses.
  • And Ottawa’s top doctor told the media today that the Omicron variant is “increasing the likelihood” most people will eventually be exposed to COVID-19. The medical officer of health also urged people to get vaccinated and stay home when they’re sick to protect the population and hospital capacity.
  • The Ottawa Senators will finally back on the ice and playing for real tonight in Calgary against the Flames. It will be the team’s first NHL match in in three and a half weeks (save for an embarrassing loss to Toronto).
  • Quebec has now seen 775,720+ confirmed cases, up 8,730+ today. So far, 12,125 people have died. There are 2,994 people in hospital including 272 in intensive care. The province completed 43,320 tests on Jan. 11. So far, 16,337,691 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 30,121 cases in total, up 217. There have been 224 deaths. There are 5,259 active cases and 24,638 recoveries. There are 109 in hospital, three in intensive care. There have been 743,709 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec Premier Francois Legault has announced the end of the overnight curfew will be lifted on Monday. He also said businesses with more than 1,500 square footage will be subject to the vaccine passport as of Jan 24. The new measure will not apply to pharmacies and grocery stores. 
  • The premier said that the government believes the current Omicron surge has peaked. To that end, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) predicts a reduction in hospitalizations by the end of the month, with new hospital admissions peaking sometime next week.
  • He also announced schools will be reopening to in-person learning Monday, with all students wearing masks indoors. Students and educators who test positive or are in close contact with a COVID-19 case are being asked to isolate themselves for five days.
  • Volunteer parents could be asked to supervise Quebec classrooms if too many teachers fall sick with COVID-19. The Education Ministry has directed schools to develop contingency plans for a “very large number” of teacher absences after elementary and high school students return to in-person learning on Monday. 
  • Quebec’s Health Ministry has an agreement with Montreal’s MedSup Medical to produce more than 70 million rapid tests. The first 10 million tests at to arrive by the end of January. Twenty million is expected to be delivered in both February and March, as well as a minimum of 15 million in April and five million in May.
  • Quebec public health released new directives for people to get boosted “as soon as possible,” including those who recently had COVID-19, as the province prepares to make three doses of vaccine the minimum to be considered “adequately protected.” The three doses will be required for Quebec’s vaccine passport, which is needed to enter government alcohol and cannabis retailers, as well as restaurant dining rooms, bars, and other environments which are presently closed. 
  • A Quebec Superior Court judge has temporarily suspended a father’s right to see his child based on evidence that the man is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and appears to oppose government anti-pandemic health measures.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,657,384+ cases with 31,082 deaths. There are 398,397 active cases and there have been 2,227,905 resolved cases.
  • Truckers crossing into Canada from the United States will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Saturday, despite a statement sent “in error” from the Canada Border Services Agency late Wednesday appearing to reverse course on the mandate.
  • A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute shows that 55 per cent of Canadians are resigned to the inevitability of being infected with Omicron. This sentiment rises to at least three-in-five among parents who have children in grade school. Among those who feel that they will be infected, 48 per cent say that public health measures should be removed and 48 per cent disagree.
  • Worldwide there have been 317,349,736+ cases, 5,515,446+ deaths and 9,545,277,984+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 12

  • Ontario reported 9,783+ new cases today for a total of 906,031+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,445 deaths, up 46 today. There are 1,649 new cases in Toronto, 1,143 in Peel Region, 844 in York, 306 in Hamilton and 105 in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,448 in hospital. There are 505 in intensive care, 265 on a ventilator. There have been 763,398 cases resolved, up 16,109.
  • So far, there have been 28,853,124 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,493,087 fully vaccinated. The province is now offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 56,420 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,917,110. There are 85,684 pending.
  • There are 290 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,739 resident cases, 3,254 staff. So far, 4,077 residents have died.
  • New interim guidelines for Ontario schools state that local public health units won’t routinely notify students of a positive case or if someone is self-isolating because of COVID symptoms. The updated guidelines also say public health units will no longer dismiss cohorts, instead leaving it up to schools and school boards based on their operational requirements.
  • Schools will have to report daily data on staff absences to local public health units to monitor disruptions in schools now that the province has limited access to tests.
  • Officials say public health will notify families if 30 per cent of the school is absent, though they noted that it will not be confirmed whether all absences are due to COVID-19.
  • Education Minister Stephen Lecce says Ontario students and teachers will each receive two rapid tests when school opens on Monday. Millions of tests will be deployed in coming days. Tests will be distributed first to staff, then to children in day cares and students in public elementary schools, followed by high school students. People with symptoms are to use two tests 24 to 48 hours apart and can return to school after negative results once their symptoms improve.
  • Ontario school boards can rotate between in-person and remote days or combine classes, if needed, to minimize school closures.
  • The province will also launch school-based vaccination clinics to increase the vaccination rate of school-aged children.
  • Ontario will distribute three-ply medical masks to students and will put another 3,000 heap filtration units into classrooms. This is on top of 70,000 already distributed. Staff will get N95 masks. The province will make nine million available.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 585 new cases for a total of 51,313 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 637. There are 7,110 active cases and there have been 43,566 cases resolved. There are 59 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 126 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,182,236 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 816,866 residents who have received a second dose and 420,098 have been boosted.
  • Ottawa Public Health has expanded drop-in eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines in the city. Anyone who is eligible for a first, second, or booster dose can drop in at a community clinic, no appointment necessary.
  • Quebec has now seen 766,927+ confirmed cases, up 8,351+ today. So far, 12,080 people have died. There are 2,877 people in hospital including 263 in intensive care. The province completed 42,557 tests on Jan. 10. So far, 16,220,710 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 29,904 cases in total, up 255. There have been 224 deaths. There are 6,531 active cases and 23,778 recoveries. There are 86 in hospital, three in intensive care. There have been 743,709 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • More than 7,000 people registered for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, amid threats by the province to tax the unvaccinated.
  • The Canadian Civil Liberties Association calls Quebec’s tax plan is deeply troubling, noting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes individual autonomy over our bodies and medical decisions.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has 427 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province has just received back several hundred test results from outside the province. The tests were conducted from Dec. 29 to Jan. There were an additional 323 cases to add to the provincial total. There are five people in hospital because of COVID-19.
  • Nova Scotia reported 60 hospitalizations on Wednesday, including a child under five.
  • Manitoba now has 454 hospitalizations with 15 in ICU. There have been three more deaths. The provincial dashboard also lists 1,478+ new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,642,921+ cases with 31,055 deaths. There are 402,114 active cases and there have been 2,191,716 resolved cases.
  • A federal government website that collects and interprets data for the Canadian military on the pandemic is now indicating that the Omicron surge may be peaking in several Canadian cities including Toronto and Montreal.
  • The federal government is extending the deadline for repayment of Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans to the end of 2023.
  • An additional 9.3 million doses of the Moderna Spikevax vaccine and 6.8 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty adult/adolescent formulation will arrive in Canada this month, according to data supplied by Health Canada. Last week, 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived, with another 6.3 million to follow this month.
  • Federal COVID-19 vaccine contracts mean Canada should get enough doses to give two or three more mRNA shots to every Canadian, every year, until at least 2024.
  • Worldwide there have been 314,019,135+ cases, 5,507,370+ deaths and 9,513,238,884+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The U.K. Prime Minister has apologized for attending a garden party at 10 Downing St. this past May. Boris Johnson has been under pressure from government MPs along with the opposition.
  • The World Health Organization’s vaccine technical committee says vaccines need to become more effective at keeping up with emerging variants. There are some in development, the panel says. But the committee said in the absence of those vaccines for now, and the need for vaccine equity, “a vaccination strategy based on repeated booster doses of the original vaccine composition is unlikely to be appropriate or sustainable.”
  • Doctors at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, have confirmed an individual contracted both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. On Dec. 23, 2021, a 29-year-old pregnant woman tested positive for COVID-19. Six days later she tested positive for influenza type A, a strain of the flu. She was hospitalized and released after recovering. There have been more cases of the virus combo confirmed in other countries. These cases have prompted a new term. “Flurona” refers to when someone is infected with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

Jan. 11

  • Ontario reported 7,951+ new cases today for a total of 896,248+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,399 deaths, up 21 today. There are 1,879 new cases in Toronto, 1,310 in Peel Region, 1,033 in York, 412 in Hamilton and 333 in Windsor-Essex. There are 3,220 in hospital. There are 477 in intensive care, 250 on a ventilator. There have been 747,289 cases resolved, up 9,893.
  • So far, there have been 28,693,247 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,482,911 fully vaccinated. The province is offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • The province completed 45,451 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,860,690. There are 94,223 pending.
  • There are 271 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,566 resident cases, 2,762 staff. So far, 4,062 residents have died.
  • Ontario is making it possible for internationally trained nurses to work in the province to help ease the shortage of nurses in the provincial system.
  • Health Minister Christine Elliott also said that there are currently about 600 open ICU beds in Ontario along with another 500 beds that could be added to deal with the ongoing surge.
  • The province has also confirmed students would be returning to in-person learning on Jan. 17.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 419 new cases for a total of 50,728 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 637. There are 7,651 active cases and there have been 42,440 cases resolved. There are 52 in hospital, six in ICU. There are 114 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,161,286 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 815,285 residents who have received a second dose and 402,576 have been boosted.
  • An internal document from the The Ottawa Hospital dated Jan. 5 and obtained by CBC outlines its decision-making process for when health-care workers are allowed to work should they be exposed to or have COVID-19. The hospital states that “if exceptionally critical to operations,” workers who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 may be asked to come into work whether they’re symptomatic or asymptomatic.
  • Quebec has now seen 758,576+ confirmed cases, up 8,710+ today. So far, 12,028 people have died. There are 2,742 people in hospital including 255 in intensive care. The province completed 31,901 tests on Jan. 9. So far, 16,109,032 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 29,904 cases in total, up 255. There have been 224 deaths. There are 6,531 active cases and 23,778 recoveries. There are 86 in hospital, three in intensive care. There have been 738,506 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec Premier François Legault has replaced, on an interim basis, the province’s public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, with Dr. Luc Boileau, who is the head of Quebec’s health-care research institute, the INESSS, .
  • The premier also told unvaccinated adult Quebecers they would have to make a significant health “contribution” to help pay for the burden they imposer of health care when they become sick with COVID-19. How much they will have to pay will be announced in coming weeks.
  • “These people, they put a very important burden on our health-care network,” Legault said. “I think it’s reasonable a majority of the population is asking that there be consequences.” Ten per cent of Quebecers remain unvaccinated, but health officials say they take up about 50 per cent of COVID-19 beds in hospitals. The province is looking at further expanding the use of the province’s vaccination passport to hairdressers and other personal care services.
  • As of Jan. 18, customers will have to show their vaccine passports before entering SAQ and SQDC establishments, Quebec’s provincially run alcohol and cannabis stores. 
  • Three million rapid COVID-19 tests are being distributed to Quebec pharmacies. At five tests per box, that means about 600,000 boxes will be available.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,595,960+ cases with 30,862 deaths. There are 404,404 active cases and there have been 2,160,694 resolved cases.
  • Justin Trudeau says Canada will have enough COVID-19 vaccines for all those eligible to receive a fourth dose if needed.
  • Fifty-six per cent of respondents in a poll conducted by Leger and the Association of Canadian Studies agree governments are making the right decisions to limit the spread of Omicron and keep the health system from being overrun. Another 31 per cent said they did not believe Omicron poses a serious health risk to most of those who are infected, and that governments should leave things open and let Canadians live with the risk.
  • Worldwide there have been 310,881,676+ cases, 5,498,118+ deaths and 9,463,086,444+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 10

  • Ontario reported 9,706+ new cases today for a total of 888,297+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,378 deaths, up 12 today. There are 2,405 new cases in Toronto, 1,745 in Peel Region, 965 in York, 226 in Hamilton and 370 in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,419 in hospital. There are 412 in intensive care, 226 on a ventilator. There have been 737,396 cases resolved, up 10,378.
  • So far, there have been 28,140,051 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,454,222 fully vaccinated. The province is offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • There are 259 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,452 resident cases, 2,612 staff. So far, 4,059 residents have died.
  • Free emergency child care is now available for eligible front-line health-care workers in Ontario. 
  • Education Minister Steven Lecce says a new agreement with the Ontario Teachers’ Federations allows retirees to be re-employed for 95 days instead of 50.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 526 new cases for a total of 50,309 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 637. There are 8,217 active cases and there have been 41,455 cases resolved. There are 64 in hospital, five in ICU. There are 102 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,161,286 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 815,285 residents who have received a second dose and 402,576 have been boosted.
  • All visitors to city of Ottawa recreation facilities 12 and over must present proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter indoors for most activities, as mandated by provincial regulations. For youth who turn 12 in 2022, there is a grace period of 12 weeks from their birthday when they do not need to show proof of vaccination.
  • More than 30 long-term care and retirement homes in Ottawa are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, even though many staff and residents already have three vaccine doses.
  • Quebec has now seen 749,866+ confirmed cases, up 10,573+ today. So far, 11,966 people have died. There are 2,554 people in hospital including 248 in intensive care. The province completed 35,084 tests on Jan. 8. So far, 16,007,528 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 29,649 cases in total, up 2,159. There have been 224 deaths. There are 6,531 active cases and 22,894 recoveries. There are 77 in hospital, two in intensive care. There have been 733,723 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Media reports say the Quebec’s chief medical officer, Dr. Horacio Arruda, has resigned.
  • Health Canada has started the process for possible legal consequences for some of the passengers on the infamous Sunwing flight to Cancun on Dec. 30 by sending notices of infractions to Quebec’s top prosecutor over the flight. More will be sent later.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador reports 455 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province is also reporting two more deaths. There are four people in hospital.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting three additional deaths related to COVID-19 on Monday. There are 59 people in hospital in Nova Scotia due to the virus, two of whom are in intensive care. And 816 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday.
  • Eighty-six people are now hospitalized because of the virus in New Brunswick with 13 in intensive care. Public health reported 220 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
  • There are 81 in hospital in Manitoba with 39 in ICU. The province reported 19 deaths over the weekend along with 2,383 new cases.
  • A total of 3,110 COVID-19 cases have been added to Saskatchewan’s case total over the last three days. There are a total of 119 people in hospital due to COVID-19, with 11 of them in ICU.
  • Alberta has 635 hospitalizations with 72 ICU patients. The province saw 17,913 new confirmed cases over the weekend along with six deaths. Students were back in class in Alberta today.
  • British Columbia health officials have reported 6,966 new COVID-19 cases, 431 people in hospital, 95 of whom are in intensive care and seven deaths. Students were back in class in the province today.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,539,930+ cases with 30,788 deaths. There are 422,017 active cases and there have been 2,087,125 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 307,450,630+ cases, 5,490,360+ deaths and 9,433,818,708+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday advised against travel to Canada because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases.
  • Novak Djokovic won his visa appeal against the Australian government on Monday. The Australian Federal Court quashed the government’s decision to cancel the Serbian tennis star’s visa on Monday, ending his detention and appearing to clear the path for him to play in the Australian Open.

Jan. 7

  • Ontario reported 11,899+ new cases today for a total of 853,270+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,315 deaths, up 42 today. There are 2,405 new cases in Toronto, 1,745 in Peel Region, 965 in York, 425 in Hamilton and 370 in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,472 in hospital. There are 338 in intensive care, 177 on a ventilator. There have been 707,732 cases resolved, up 11,946.
  • So far, there have been 28,140,051 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,454,222 fully vaccinated. The province is offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • Ontario completed 61,137 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,669,405. There are 100,224 results pending.
  • There are 208 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 1,053 resident cases, 1,928 staff. So far, 4,047 residents have died.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 720 new cases for a total of 48,407 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 631, up five. There are 8,177 active cases and there have been 39,599 cases resolved. There are 43 in hospital, five in ICU. There are 83 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,117,785 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 813,051 residents who have received a second dose and 363,918 have been boosted.
  • Quebec has now seen 712,358+ confirmed cases, up 16,176+ today. So far, 11,873 people have died. There are 2,133 people in hospital including 229 in intensive care. The province completed 57,659 tests on Jan. 5. So far 15,756,550 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 27,490 cases in total, up 808. There have been 224 deaths. There are 7,701 active cases and 19,565 recoveries. There are 60 in hospital, three in intensive care. There have been 718,533 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Nova Scotia reported 678 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday with one new death. There are 48 people in hospital due to COVID-19 as of Friday, seven in intensive care. 
  • New Brunswick reported 840 new PCR-confirmed cases Friday. There are 69 people hospitalized including 17 in intensive care. 
  • In Canada, there have been 2,437,822+ cases with 30,584+ deaths. There are 376,670 active cases and there have been 2,030,568 resolved cases.
  • Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said he personally expects that a vaccine mandate will happen in this country. His comment drew immediate response from Alberta Premier Jason Kenney who rejected the idea and said such a mandate would not happen in his province.
  • Canada’s jobless rate now stands at 5.9 per cent, Statistics Canada reported Friday. There were more people working full-time in December, particularly core-aged men aged 25 to 54. Most of the employment growth was in Ontario. Nationally, gains were driven by the construction and educational services industries.
  • Despite transportation disruptions caused by flooding and landslides in British Columbia in November, total Canadian exports increased 3.8 per cent, while imports rose 2.4 per cent. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade surplus widened from $2.3 billion in October to $3.1 billion in November, StatsCan says.
  • With Omicron rapidly spreading across the country, the average daily case count has increased 65 per cent from last week and hospitalizations are up 91 per cent but severe illnesses are not rising at the same “explosive rate,” Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says.
  • Worldwide there have been 300,616,122+ cases, 5,474,752+ deaths and 9,366,885,648+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. unemployment fell to 3.9 per cent in December down from 4.2 per cent.

Jan. 6

  • Ontario reported 13,339+ new cases today for a total of 841,371+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,272 deaths, up 20 today. There are 2,645 new cases in Toronto, 1,500 in Peel Region, 1,238 in York, 665 in Hamilton and 543 in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,279 in hospital. There are 319 in intensive care, 164 on a ventilator. There have been 683,750 cases resolved, up 11,669.
  • So far, there have been 27,945,958 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,445,183 fully vaccinated. The province is offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • Ontario completed 59,241 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,608,268. There are 99,870 results pending.
  • There are 186 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 870 resident cases, 1,525 staff. So far, 4,040 residents have died.
  • Ontario is accelerating booster shots for education workers as well as providing N95 masks to those working in child-care settings, the province announced Thursday afternoon. Starting Friday, education and child-care staff in the Greater Toronto Area can book priority shots at the International Centre in Mississauga. The province says further clinics will be set up “urgently,” in addition to existing clinics in Toronto and Ottawa that already have dedicated access for these staff.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 1,231 new cases for a total of 47,687 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 626. OPH is reporting the death of a woman in her 20s who had COVID. There are 8,389 active cases and there have been 38,672 cases resolved. There are 35 in hospital, three in ICU. There are 78 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,083,358 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 811,357 residents who have received a second dose and 333,207 have been boosted.
  • OPH reports an outbreak of 97 cases almost evenly split between residents and staff at the Governor’s Walk retirement home. This is the city’s largest retirement home outbreak during the pandemic. 
  • In Ottawa, there are hundreds of staff off work due to COVID-19 infections or exposure. There are 100 people off the job at The Ottawa Hospital because they have tested positive for the virus and more than 80 more at the Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH). The Montfort Hospital reports about 90 staff in isolation because of COVID-19. 
  • Quebec has now seen 696,182+ confirmed cases, up 15,874+ today. So far, 11,846 people have died. There are 1,953 people in hospital including 207 in intensive care. The province completed 60,509 tests on Jan. 4. So far 15,651,879 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • According to the province’s health-care research institute, there could be more than 3,400 Quebecers in hospital with COVID-19 in two weeks. The institute, known by its French acronym, INESSS, released its latest projections on Thursday. At least 3,000 of those projected hospitalizations would be for regular beds, INESSS said in a statement, and at least 400 would be patients in the intensive care unit.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 25,893 cases in total, up 5,868. There have been 224 deaths. There are 7,334 active cases and 18,335 recoveries. There are 23 in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 707,416 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • There are about 20,000 health care workers in the province off work because of COVID-19 infection and other reasons.
  • The province is expanding the vaccine passport to liquor stores and cannabis stores. Health Minister Christian Dube says the passports will soon be required in other non-essential business. He said the province is sending a message to the unvaccinated to stay home.
  • The province will also change the definition of fully vaccinated to include three doses sometime after February.
  • Nova Scotia announced 745 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with 48 people in hospital, including nine in the ICU.
  • PEI announced 204 new cases Thursday on P.E.I. There are now 1,491 active cases on the Island, and a total of 2,288. There has been an average of 156 new cases per day over the last seven days. 
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has 503 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • New Brunswick is reporting 672 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday along with one death.
  • Manitoba reported 2,548 new cases along with six deaths. the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on Thursday increased to 263 with 33 in ICU.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,394,674+ cases with 30,524+ deaths. There are 360,452 active cases and there have been 2,003,698 resolved cases.
  • Emergency services in many major Canadian cities are facing staffing shortages due to a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, with police, ambulance and fire all scrambling to redeploy and bolster their ranks. CBC has more.
  • Worldwide there have been 298,194,606+ cases, 5,468,069+ deaths and 9,333,544,050+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Jan. 5

  • Ontario reported 11,582+ new cases today for a total of 828,032+ cases. Daily case counts underestimate the actual number of infections because of limits on testing. The province has seen a total of 10,252 deaths, up 14 today. There are 2,715 new cases in Toronto, 1,066 in Peel Region, 1,252 in York, 539 in Hamilton and 179 in Windsor-Essex. There are 2,081 in hospital. There are 288 in intensive care, 138 on a ventilator. There have been 683,750 cases resolved, up 11,669.
  • So far, there have been 27,012,866 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,404,979 fully vaccinated. The province is offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • Ontario completed 59,137 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,549,027. There are 94,605 results pending.
  • There are 145 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 389 resident cases, 571 staff. So far, 4,039 residents have died.
  • Ontario is moving schools online for at least two weeks (until Jan. 17 at least), temporarily closing indoor dining and gyms and pausing non-urgent medical procedures as it faces record-high case counts that, according to public health officials, threaten to overwhelm the province’s health-care system.
  • The Ontario government has also instructed hospitals and health-care professionals to stop all non-urgent surgeries and procedures to preserve critical-care capacity and human resources.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 515 new cases for a total of 46,456 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 625. There are 8,015 active cases and there have been 37,816 cases resolved. There are 32 in hospital, four in ICU. There are 74 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,083,358 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 811,357 residents who have received a second dose and 333,207 have been boosted.
  • Pediatric hospitals across Ontario are urging pregnant people to get vaccinated because they’re seeing an increase in infants hospitalized with COVID-19. Since mid-December, CHEO, eastern Ontario’s children’s hospital in Ottawa, and Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital have admitted a total of six babies under the age of 12 months with the virus. CBC has more.  
  • The Nunavut health department is sending a staff member bilingual in Inuktut-English to the Embassy West seniors living facility in Ottawa where five Nunavut elders have tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Quebec has now seen 680,308 confirmed cases. So far and 11,820 people have died. There are 1,750 people in hospital including 191 in intensive care. The province completed 55,339 test on Jan. 3. So far 15,551,922 doses of vaccine have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 25,893 cases in total, up 5,868. There have been 224 deaths. There are 7,334 active cases and 18,335 recoveries. There are 23 in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 707,416 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec public health is putting an end to testing the general public for the coronavirus. PCR tests will be reserved for those in high-risk settings such as hospitals, long-term care homes, detention centres and homeless shelters. 
  • The Quebec government is also considering implementing the vaccine passport at SAQ liquor outlets and SQDC cannabis outlets.
  • The province is also shortening the isolation time for fully vaccinated people infected by Omicron to five days from 10, in line with moves by other provinces.
  • Quebec will distribute seven million rapid tests to preschools and elementary school students and staff. The schools will open Jan. 17. Education Minister Jean-François Roberge says the province will provide students without internet access at home with LTE sticks they can plug into their computers. He said school service centres and boards can request computers from the government if they need some to provide some to children who don’t have any. Roberge and Arruda also announced the period of isolation for students under the age of 12, as well as teachers, would be reduced to five days instead of 10. School daycare services will remain open, but will continue to prioritize the children of essential workers, such as health-care workers, unless a parent is an exceptional situation and needs the help.
  • Nova Scotia reported 842 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday with 45 people are in hospital with the virus; eight in intensive care.
  • New Brunswick is reporting 779 new COVID-19 cases. There are 59 people hospitalized, 16 in intensive care.
  • There are now 252 people with COVID-19 in Manitoba hospitals. Of those, 30 are in intensive care units. The province reported 1,790 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths on Wednesday.
  • Winnipeg’s police chief has declared an emergency because of the number of officers infected by Omicron. The service has 90 active COVID-19 cases, and 170 personnel have booked time off on COVID-19-related leave.
  • Saskatchewan reported 537 new confirmed cases. A total of 106 individuals are hospitalized, including 13 in ICU.
  • Alberta confirmed an additional 4,752 cases on Wednesday. There are 470 people in the hospital Wednesday with 72 in the ICU. 
  • No deaths and 3,798 new cases were reported in B.C. There are 317 in hospital, 83 in ICU.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,355,243+ cases with 30,456+ deaths. There are 344,140 active cases and there have been 1,980,647 resolved cases.
  • Canada’s chief public health officer Theresa Tam said on Wednesday that the qualifications for being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 were not changing in Canada yet. “I think that we will be revisiting this question again after our booster programs have rolled out significantly in the domestic context,” she told reporters.
  • The federal government will ship an additional 140 million rapid tests to provinces and territories this month.
  • Sunwing Airlines has cancelled the return flight for a group of Quebecers who partied maskless on a chartered flight from Montreal to Cancun on Dec. 30. In a series of now-deleted videos on social media obtained by the Journal de Montreal, passengers were seen drinking alcohol, vaping, and partying in close proximity. Passengers included Quebec social media influencers and reality TV stars. Transport Canada is investigating. Political leaders including the prime minister have condemned to party-goers and fines are pending.
  • Worldwide there have been 295,666,090+ cases, 5,461,047+ deaths and 9,267,179,802+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Emmanuel Macron faced criticism from political opponents and heated scenes in parliament on Wednesday after he warned unvaccinated French people, saying he would make their lives as difficult as possible by curbing their access to spaces such as cafés and restaurants.
  • “I am not about pissing off the French people,” Macron said in an interview on Tuesday. “But as for the non-vaccinated, I really want to piss them off. And we will continue to do this, to the end. This is the strategy.”
  • It looks like World No. 1 tennis star Novak Djokovic is going to be deported from Australia before having a chance to win his 10th Open title. The tennis star prompted an uproar when it was learned he was granted a special exemption to enter the country. He is expected to appeal this deportation.
  • The United States Centres for Disease Control now says those fully vaccinated people who have been infected with COVID-19 will have to wear a mask for five days after isolating for five days.

Dec. 31

  • Ontario reported 16,713 new cases today for a total of 756,361 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,194 deaths, up 15. There are 2,715 new cases in Toronto, 1,066 in Peel Region, 1,252 in York, 539 in Hamilton and 179 in Windsor-Essex. There are 1,144 in hospital. There are 205 in intensive care, 104 on a ventilator. There have been 647,345 cases resolved, up 4,630.
  • So far, there have been 27,012,866 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,404,979 fully vaccinated. The province is offering a fourth vaccination to long term care residents three months after their third shot.
  • Ontario completed 75,093 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,254,037. There are 106,173 results pending.
  • There are 98 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 249 resident cases, 520 staff. So far, 4,033 residents have died. Four homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: Glebe Centre, Peter D.Clark Centre, St. Patrick’s Home and Extendicare Starwood.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 1,508 new cases for a total of 42,102 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 621. There are 7,166 active cases and there have been 34,315 cases resolved. There are 21 in hospital, three in ICU. There are 68 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 2,026,450 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 807,911 residents who have received a second dose and 283,503 have been boosted.
  • Quebec reported 16,461 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 13 new deaths. There have been 603,068 confirmed cases and 11,724 people have died. There are 1063 people in hospital (an increase of 124 from the previous day), including 151 in intensive care (an increase of 13). The province has administered 15,277,424 doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Friday, meaning 89 per cent of the eligible population in the province (ages five and up) has received one dose of vaccine, 82 per cent has received two doses, and 16 per cent three doses.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 20,025 cases in total, up 645. There have been 223 deaths. There are 4,065 active cases and 15,737 recoveries. There are 23 in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 692,572 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Nine care homes in the province are reporting significant COVID-19 outbreaks, with more than 200 residents infected in facilities located in Montreal, Outaouais, the Montérégie and Lanaudière. The homes are on the government’s “red zone” list, meaning more than 25 per cent of their residents are infected with the virus.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting 431 new cases of COVID-19 and its 19th COVID-19 death as the year comes to a close.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 618 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Public health says there are 34 people in hospital, four people are in intensive care.
  • New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 after completing a rapid test. Higgs had received two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and a booster shot. He said he is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms in the form of a cough, sore throat and head congestion. He is isolating with his family. On Friday, the province announced 682 new cases. There are 45 people in hospital with 21 in intensive care. Also, New Brunswick hospitals are moving to urgent and emergency services only.
  • Nunavut on Friday reported another 40 cases of COVID-19. 
  • Manitoba is reporting 1,494 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths. There are 192 hospitalized, 30 in ICU.
  • Alberta is cutting the isolation period for fully vaccinated people who contract COVID-19 to five days from 10, effective Monday.
  • B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry tells the CBC she believes the record-breaking surge of COVID-19 cases in the province could eventually lead to a stage where the virus becomes endemic. 
  • In Canada, there have been 2,142,310+ cases with 30,280+ deaths. There are 233,785 active cases and there have been 1,878,245 resolved cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 287,316,743+ cases, 5,433,370+ deaths and 9,141,794,432+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Israel is to go ahead with second COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for people with weakened immune systems, the top government health official said on Thursday, but a final decision on wider usage is still pending.
  • South Africa has lifted a midnight to 4 a.m. curfew believing the country has passed the peak of its fourth COVID-19 wave driven by the Omicron variant.
  • The Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine caused mostly mild side effects in children aged 5 to 11 years, according to new data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

Dec. 30

  • Ontario reported 13,807 new cases today for a total of 739,648 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,179 deaths, up eight. There are 2,715 new cases in Toronto, 1,066 in Peel Region, 1,252 in York, 539 in Hamilton and 179 in Windsor-Essex. There are 965 in hospital. There are 200 in intensive care, 104 on a ventilator. There have been 642,715 cases resolved, up 4,037.
  • So far, there have been 27,012,866 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,404,979 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 67,301 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,178,944. There are 96,455 results pending.
  • There are 58 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 186 resident cases, 307 staff. So far, 4,033 residents have died. Four homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: Glebe Centre, Peter D.Clark Centre, St. Patrick’s Home and Extendicare Starwood.
  • Ontario is delaying the start of classes until Jan. 5 because of rising Omicron infections.
  • As well, starting New Year;’s Eve, the province is limiting PCR testing to who are immunocompromised and other high risks groups.
  • The province is also shortening isolation times for this who are fully vaccinated to five days. The unvaccinated will still have to isolate for 10 days.
  • Ontario has cut crowds further to a maximum of 1,000 or 50 per cent whichever is smaller. The move prompted Maple leaf Sports, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors, to stop ticketed home games for the next three weeks.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 771 new cases for a total of 40,594 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 621. There are 6,076 active cases and there have been 33,897 cases resolved. There are 13 in hospital, three in ICU. There are 65 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,996,489 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 806,570 residents who have received a second dose and 256,893 have been boosted.
  • The Queensway Carleton Hospital is pulling back on some services due to a staffing shortage caused by COVID-19. Ambulatory Care, therapeutic services and endo/cysto services will be scaled back as staff are redeployed to other areas.
  • Quebec reported 14,188 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 586,607 infections. There has been a total of 11,711 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 939 patients with 138 people in intensive care. The province completed 55,526 tests on Dec. 28. So far, 15,245,140 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 20,025 cases in total, up 645. There have been 223 deaths. There are 4,065 active cases and 15,737 recoveries. There are 23 in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 692,572 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Hard-hit Quebec is reimposing a curfew just in time for New Year’s Eve. People will need a good reason to be out and about from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. As well, school start will now be Jan. 17. As well to province is banning in-person dining in restaurants and private gatherings in homes will be prohibited. Only people who live alone or need caregivers will be allowed to join another family bubble.
  • Quebec’s institute for excellence in health and social services (INESSS), based on average growth rates, predicts that COVID-19 hospitalizations could reach 1,600 in the next three weeks, while those for intensive care patients could jump to 300. The second more pessimistic scenario projects up to 2,100 COVID-19 patients in regular beds and 375 in intensive care, which is higher than what the province saw in previous waves of the pandemic.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting 349 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. One person is currently in hospital due to COVID-19.
  • Nova Scotia is also reporting 511 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, along with an estimated 5,106 active infections. Of those, 25 are in hospital, three of whom are in intensive care.
  • PEI is reporting 169 new cases.
  • New Brunswick reported its highest single-day COVID-19 case increase on Thursday with 572 new infections. Health officials say, as of Thursday, there are 40 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, 16 of whom are in intensive care.
  • Manitoba is reporting 1,123 new COVID-19 cases, along with three more deaths. There are currently 190 people in hospital and 29 ICU patients.
  • Saskatchewan reported 589 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, along with four more deaths. There are 79 people in hospital related to COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, including 14 in intensive care. Saskatchewan has also cut the isolation time for fully vaccinated infected individuals to five days from 10.
  • B.C. health officials announced 4,383 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death on Thursday. A total of 211 people are in hospital, including 66 in intensive care. 
  • In Canada, there have been 2,102,470+ cases with 30,253+ deaths. There are 207,418 active cases and there have been 1,864,799 resolved cases.
  • Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon says she is taking inspiration on the eve of the new year from the resilience and compassion of Canadians. In her first New Year’s message, Simon also talks about the concept of ‘ajuinnata’ in Inuktitut and how to find meaning in action.
  • The federal government quietly “gave up” on its COVID Alert contact tracing app and stopped supporting it months ago because of its “low” uptake, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Minister says. Health Canada said that it still supports the application and that it continues to update an online dashboard with COVID Alert statistics monthly.
  • WestJet is cutting 15 per cent of its flights through January because of staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 infection.
  • Worldwide there have been 285,043,163+ cases, 5,425,817+ deaths and 9,089,422,520+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 29

  • Ontario reported 10,436 new cases today for a total of 725,841 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,171 deaths. There are 2,715 new cases in Toronto, 1,066 in Peel Region, 1,252 in York, 539 in Hamilton and 179 in Windsor-Essex. There are 726 in hospital. There are 190 in intensive care, 104 on a ventilator. There have been 638,678 cases resolved, up 3,832.
  • So far, there have been 26,815,586 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,400,095 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 59,259 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 21,111,643. There are 74,535 results pending.
  • There are 32 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 35 resident cases, 76 staff. So far, 4,032 residents have died. Four homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: Glebe Centre, Peter D.Clark Centre, St. Patrick’s Home and Extendicare Starwood.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 653 new cases for a total of 39,823 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 5,637 active cases and there have been 33,565 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, one in ICU. There are 68 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,996,489 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 806,570 residents who have received a second dose and 256,893 have been boosted.
  • Canadian Blood Services says there is an immediate need for blood donors over the holiday season, with thousands of donation appointments open across the country including in Ontario. CBC has more.
  • Quebec reported 13,149 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 572,419 infections. There has been a total of 11,702 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 804 patients with 122 people in intensive care. The province completed 51,500 tests on Dec. 27. So far, 15,148,869 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 19,380 cases in total. There have been 223 deaths. There are 3,574 active cases and 15,586 recoveries. There are 11 in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 686,739 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,089,176+ cases with 30,291+ deaths.
  • The World Junior Hockey Tournament in Alberta has been cancelled because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
  • Worldwide there have been 283,384,181+ cases, 5,418,925+ deaths and 9,061,621,901+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • France is seeing a “tsunami” of infections, with 208,000 cases reported over the past 24 hours, a new national and European record.
  • The United States hit a record 258,312 daily infections on Wednesday. The previous peak was 250,141, registered last January.

Dec. 28

  • Ontario is reporting limited data today with another 8,825 cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Tuesday. There are 491 people hospitalized with COVID-19, and 187 of them are in intensive care units. The seven-day rolling average for COVID patients in the ICU is 171. Public Health Ontario reported seven more deaths linked to the illness on Tuesday in its daily epidemiological summary. 
  • Ontario long-term care homes won’t accept general visitors or allow residents to leave for social reasons starting later this week. Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips says the policy change is being made to protect residents from the highly contagious Omicron variant. COVID-19 is spreading in the community, he said, and allowing general visitors would risk exposing vulnerable residents to the virus. Two designated caregivers will still be allowed to visit each resident after the changes take effect Thursday at 12:01 a.m.
  • Ontario science table data shows that while having two doses of vaccine protects against severe illness, its ability to prevent infection altogether is plummeting.to 14.9 per cent — from nearly 90 per cent a month ago — for people who have received two doses. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 424 new cases for a total of 39,170 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 5,287 active cases and there have been 33,262 cases resolved. There are 11 in hospital, one in ICU. There are 67 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,970,939 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 805,399 residents fully vaccinated.
  • The City of Ottawa says four staff members at two long-term care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19. One staff members works at the Peter D. Clark home and three work at Centre d’accueil Champlain, the city wrote in a memo Monday afternoon.
  • An Ottawa LRT driver has also tested positive for the illness, according to the city. The person last worked on Dec. 21. The city says the driver was inside Bayview station at the beginning and end of their shift on both Dec. 20 and 21 and used the men’s washroom at Tunney’s Pasture station sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 20.
  • Quebec reported 12,833 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and 15 new deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 559,269 confirmed cases and 11,683 people have died. There are 702 people in hospital (an increase of 88 from the previous day), including 115 in intensive care (an increase of six).  The province has administered 15,005,169 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. About 89 per cent of the eligible population in the province (ages five and up) has received one dose of vaccine, 82 per cent has received two doses, and 13 per cent have received boosters.
  • Quebec’s health minister announced Tuesday that some workers in the province who have tested positive for COVID-19 or come in close contact with a confirmed case may remain on the job to protect hospital capacity. The province plans on extending the mandate to all non-essential workers in the coming days and weeks. There were about 7,000 health-care workers off the job yesterday due to COVID-19, and that number is expected to rise to 10,000 in the coming days. 
  • Quebec will be widening the scope of its booster campaign as of Jan. 4. As of that date, appointments will gradually open to 18 to 59-year-olds. Appointments will open to a new age group every few days until Jan. 21. The goal is to vaccinate between two and three million people every month, and have administered boosters to every eligible Quebecer who wants one by March.
  • CHSLD Marguerite-Rocheleau — a long-term care residence for seniors — has reported a major outbreak among staff and employees. The facility, located in Saint-Hubert in the Montérégie region, reported 92 active cases Tuesday. Some 61 residents and 31 staff are infected. Two people have died.
  • Most students in Nova Scotia are now scheduled to return to classes on Jan. 10, a few days later than the previously scheduled return date of Jan. 6. Nova Scotia reported 561 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
  • P.E.I. reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, a record high number of new daily cases for the province. 
  • Newfoundland and Labrador reported a record day of new COVID-19 cases Tuesday with 194. 
  • Manitoba is reporting a record-high 825 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths, according to the province’s dashboard on Tuesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 2,023,910+ cases with 30,177+ deaths.
  • Worldwide there have been 281,803,069+ cases, 5,410,921+ deaths and 9,012,862,726+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. health officials have cut recommendations for isolation restrictions for Americans diagnosed with the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts need to quarantine. Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the guidance is in keeping with growing evidence that people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.

Dec. 27

  • Ontario is reporting 9,418 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Public Health Ontario reported an additional five deaths linked to COVID-19 on Monday, pushing the provincial death toll to 10,162. Health Minister Christine Elliott said there are 480 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 and 176 people are in intensive care units. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 2,262 new cases of infection over the past three days for a total of 38,746 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 621. There are 5,164 active cases and there have been 32,961 cases resolved. There are 10 in hospital, one in ICU. There are 63 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,970,939 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 805,399 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 8,231 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and 10 new deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 519,326 confirmed cases and 11,668 people have died. There are 614 people in hospital, 109 in intensive care. 
  • In Canada, there have been 2,023,910+ cases with 30,177+ deaths and 1,809,406+ recoveries. There are 82,708+ active cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 280,555,284+ cases, 5,403,468+ deaths and 8,968,173,524+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 24

  • Ontario reported 9,571 new cases today for a total of 676,924 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,146 deaths, up six. There are 2,456 new cases in Toronto, 1,193 in Peel Region, 604 in York, 487 in Hamilton and 163 in Windsor-Essex. There are 508 in hospital. There are 164 in intensive care, 102 on a ventilator. There have been 626,798 cases resolved, up 1,997.
  • So far, there have been 26,343,050 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,383,811 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 72,639 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,827,410. There are 67,571 results pending.
  • There are 26 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 31 resident cases, 56 staff. So far, 4,032 residents have died. Four homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: Glebe Centre, St. Patrick’s Home, Peter D. Clark Centre and Extendicare Starwood.
  • There are 1,097 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 24 are closed. There are 65 new student cases reported today; 21 staff.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 698 new cases for a total of 36,484 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 3,355 active cases and there have been 32,509 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 63 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,957,640 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 804,805 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Nineteen infected Ottawa Fire Services staff are isolating at home and other employees who came into contact with them have been notified and are also self-isolating, wrote Kim Ayotte, the city’s general manager of emergency and protective services.
  • Starting Sunday, skating rinks, ski trails and toboggan hills in Ottawa will all have reduced capacity limits of a maximum of 25 people.
  • Health care workers in Quebec are being urged by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) to wear N-95 masks to protect themselves while battling against the surge of COVID-19 cases in the province.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,922,227+ cases with 30,113+ deaths and 1,809,406+ recoveries. There are 82,708+ active cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 277,786,548+ cases, 5,382,436+ deaths and 8,858,994,608+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 23

  • Ontario reported 5,790 new cases today for a total of 667,353 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,140 deaths, up seven. There are 1,527 new cases in Toronto, 491 in Peel Region, 470 in York, 277 in Hamilton and 103 in Windsor-Essex. There are 440 in hospital. There are 169 in intensive care, 106 on a ventilator. There have been 624,801 cases resolved, up 1,659.
  • So far, there have been 26,113,307 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,379,811 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 68,191 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,754,771. There are 63,472 results pending.
  • There are 19 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 28 resident cases, 44 staff. So far, 4,032 residents have died. Two homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home and Extendicare Starwood.
  • There are 1,151 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 21 are closed. There are 71 new student cases reported today; 20 staff.
  • Ontario has become the first province to list an inexpensive and well-known antidepressant as a treatment doctors can “consider” for patients with a mild COVID-19 infection in a bid to keep them out of hospital.
  • Ontario health-care workers who are deemed close contacts of people who contract COVID-19 will be allowed to remain on the job so long as they test negative before each shift.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 466 new cases for a total of 35,786 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 2,783 active cases and there have been 32,383 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 59 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,918,036 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 803,278 residents fully vaccinated.
  • The Ottawa Paramedic Service says 130 of its staff attended a gathering in which COVID-19 was present. These 130 are considered high-risk contacts in the outbreak. So far at least 36 paramedic cases have been confirmed and the number of patient close contacts is 105. 
  • With COVID-19 testing capacity at its limit in Ottawa, Ottawa Public Health says assume you have the Omicron variant and self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status, if you develop symptoms or test positive. And everyone in your household has to self-isolate as well.
  • The Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum are closing their doors until Jan. 19.
  • Quebec reported 9,397 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 511,095 infections. There has been a total of 11,658 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 473 patients with 91 people in intensive care. The province completed 54,520 tests on Dec. 21. So far, 14,865,951 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Half of today’s new cases are in Montreal.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 16,144 cases in total. There have been 223 deaths. There are 1,117 active cases and 14,804 recoveries. There are six in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 671,286 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • The province is further tightening gathering limits start on Boxing Day with indoor gatherings cut to six or two family bubbles. Restaurants will also be limited to serving groups of six, or two family bubbles. Legault said the new measures are aimed at preventing hospitals from being overrun. So far no new curfew has been imposed.
  • Hospitalizations in Montreal have jumped by over 60 per cent as the number of COVID-19 cases in the city continues to grow exponentially, notably in the younger population. There are 181 people currently hospitalized for COVID-19 across the city. Most have the Delta variant, while Omicron is surging in the city and province.
  • Nova Scotia reported 689 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. Fourteen people are in hospital, including four in intensive care.
  • New Brunswick reported 257 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday along with two more deaths.
  • Prince Edward Island is, among other things, banning wedding receptions, funeral receptions and wakes as the province announces 35 new cases on Thursday.
  • Manitoba reported 556 new COVID-19 cases and one death on Thursday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,922,227+ cases with 30,113+ deaths and 1,809,406+ recoveries. There are 82,708+ active cases.
  • Pharmacy workers are being burned out by demand for vaccinations and rapid testing, CBC reports.
  • Worldwide there have been 277,786,548+ cases, 5,382,436+ deaths and 8,858,994,608+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The U.S. has approved a COVID-19 treatment by Merck for use at home on those who have recently been infected with the virus. The treatments are expected to keep the infected out of hospital, but treatment needs to start within five days of infection.
  • The UK reported 106,122 new COVID cases on Wednesday — exceeding 100,000 on a single day for the first time. Researchers there say that if you are experiencing cold symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat and a headache, chances are you have Omicron.

Dec. 22

  • Ontario reported 4,383 new cases today for a total of 661,563 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,133 deaths, up 10. There are 1,284 new cases in Toronto, 335 in Peel Region, 479 in York, 149 in Hamilton and 68 in Windsor-Essex. There are 420 in hospital. There are 168 in intensive care, 108 on a ventilator. There have been 623,142 cases resolved, up 1,787.
  • So far, there have been 25,860,049 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,373,519 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 55,381 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,686,580. There are 58,038 results pending.
  • There are 18 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 28 resident cases, 42 staff. So far, 4,032 residents have died. Two homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home and Extendicare Starwood.
  • There are 1,210 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 19 are closed. There are 60 new student cases reported today; 14 staff.
  • Ontario businesses affected by recent public health measures can apply for rebates on property taxes and energy costs, the government announced Wednesday. Ontario’s new benefit will cover up to 50 per cent of the property taxes and energy costs of eligible businesses while they’re affected by public health restrictions that capped capacity in restaurants, salons and other indoor settings at 50 per cent.
  • The province said the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program will start accepting applications in mid-January, but the rebates will be retroactive to Dec. 19, when the latest round of restrictions came into effect. Businesses will be required to submit their property taxes and energy bills to get the rebates.
  • The government is also providing a six-month “interest- and penalty-free period” to make payments for most provincially administered taxes, starting Jan. 1, 2022 and running through July 1.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 387 new cases for a total of 35,320 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 2,435 active cases and there have been 32,265 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 52 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,918,036 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 803,278 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 6,361 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 501,698 infections. There has been a total of 11,652 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 445 patients with 88 people in intensive care. The province completed 54,328 tests on Dec. 20. So far, 14,769,254 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 15,710 cases in total. There have been 223 deaths. There are 746 active cases and 14,741 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 665,939 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Premier François Legault will hold a news conference this evening at 6 p.m., as Quebec continues to break daily case records and the Omicron variant spreads across the province. Many expect a curfew will be reintroduced. Part of the plan is expected to be the postponement of half of scheduled surgeries to free up space in hospitals.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,907,771+ cases with 30,085+ deaths and 1,805,006+ recoveries. There are 72,680+ active cases.
  • The federal government is expanding access to pandemic financial supports. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the measures in a news conference Wednesday, in which he appeared virtually. Trudeau said he was following local public health advice after six members of his staff and security detail tested positive for COVID-19. “For the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit and the Local Lockdown Program, you’ll be able to apply if you’re subject to capacity limiting restrictions,” Trudeau said.
  • Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland explained that the government would be changing what they considered to be a “lockdown,” widening the eligibility for businesses and employees.
  • Employees in regions where governments have introduced capacity restrictions of 50 per cent or more will now be eligible for the $300 a week Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, if they’ve lost more than half their income.
  • Employers who are subject to capacity restrictions of 50 per cent or more and face current-month declines in revenue of at least 25 per cent can apply for the Local Lockdtown Program, which grants wage subsidies from 25-75 per cent depending on revenue loss. The expanded eligibility is expected to cost $4 billion. The new regulations will apply retroactively to Dec. 19 and last until Feb. 12, 2022.
  • Worldwide there have been 276,663,484+ cases, 5,373,898+ deaths and 8,794,966,805+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • NHL players will not participate in the Beijing Olympics because of Omicron concerns.

Dec. 21

  • Ontario reported 3,453 new cases today for a total of 657,180 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,123 deaths, up 10. There are 901 new cases in Toronto, 280 in Peel Region, 345 in York, 54 in Hamilton and 89 in Windsor-Essex. There are 412 in hospital. There are 165 in intensive care, 109 on a ventilator. There have been 621,355 cases resolved, up 1,332.
  • So far, there have been 25,629,533 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,367,446 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 49,285 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,631,199. There are 48,096 results pending.
  • There are 19 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 26 resident cases, 37 staff. So far, 4,030 residents have died. Two homes in Ottawa have an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home and Extendicare Starwood.
  • There are 1,288 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; nine are closed. There are 270 new student cases reported today; 48 staff.
  • Ontarians who resell rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits may be fined for doing so. Government and Consumer Services Minister Ross Romano says reselling the kits is considered a breach of government emergency orders that prohibit charging unfair prices for necessary goods. Fines range from $750 to $100,000 for individuals, up to $500,000 for company directors and up to $10 million for corporations. Some 900 cases have been referred to police.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 325 new cases for a total of 34,933 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 2,147 active cases and there have been 32,166 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 52 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,878,541 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 801,944 residents fully vaccinated.
  • The regulations governing PCR testing in Ottawa are being updated because of overwhelming demand. The new guidance will priorize vulnerable populations and essential workers.
  • Quebec reported 5,043 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 495,337 infections. There has been a total of 11,650 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 415 patients with 88 people in intensive care. The province completed 42,303 tests on Dec. 19. So far, 14,679,995 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 15,568 cases in total. There have been 223 deaths. There are 636 active cases and 14,709 recoveries. There are five in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 657,417 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • The City of Montreal has declared a local state of emergency in an effort to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who recently announced she tested positive for COVID-19, made the announcement Tuesday at a virtual news conference.
  • Quebec has asked the federal government for help from the Canadian Armed Forces, with military personnel to be used as reinforcements in the lagging campaign to administer booster shots.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,896,462+ cases with 30,063+ deaths and 1,800,387+ recoveries. There are 66,012+ active cases.
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says she has tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Worldwide there have been 275,666,580+ cases, 5,364,765+ deaths and 8,757,744,115+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Belgian researchers on Tuesday issued a pre-holiday warning against over-reliance on COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, saying they believed the breath of people infected with the disease had high levels of virus in the first two days after an infection – a period when many antigen tests were negative.

Dec. 20

  • Ontario reported 3,784 new cases today for a total of 653,727 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,113 deaths. There are 1,056 new cases in Toronto, 381 in Peel Region, 310 in York, 181 in Hamilton and 96 in Windsor-Essex. There are 284 in hospital. There are 164 in intensive care, 109 on a ventilator. There have been 620,023 cases resolved, up 1,040.
  • So far, there have been 25,422,938 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,362,551 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 44,123 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,581,914. There are 40,962 test results pending.
  • There are 15 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 24 resident cases, 31 staff. So far, 4,030 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 1,288 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; nine are closed. There are 270 new student cases reported today; 48 staff.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 312 new cases for a total of 34,608 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620. There are 1,941 active cases and there have been 32,047 cases resolved. There are four in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 48 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,878,541 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 801,944 residents fully vaccinated.
  • COVID-19 testing sites are experiencing an unprecedented surge in Ottawa, OPH says, and cannot keep up with demand. OPH says if you have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive on a rapid antigen test or have been exposed to a positive case, self-isolate and follow the guidance.
  • The Ottawa Hospital is limiting access to its facilities. The hospital says those who have been instructed to quarantine by public health officials to stay away. And if you have a fever or cough, isolate at home or get tested. Do not go to the Emergency Department unless you have a medical emergency.
  • Quebec reported 4,571 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 490,294 infections. There has been a total of 11,642 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 397 patients with 82 people in intensive care. The province completed 38,879 tests on Dec. 18. So far, 14,602,922 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 15,219 cases in total. There have been 223 deaths. There are 405 active cases and 14,591 recoveries. There are five in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 657,417 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Those looking for free rapid test kits today in the province are having trouble getting their hands on the prized kits. Not all have arrived at pharmacies and others are running out of supply quickly.
  • Bars, gyms, movie theatres, concert venues and spas in the province must close as of 5 p.m. Monday. Restaurants will have to reduce their capacity to 50 per cent and limit their hours from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Professional sports will have to be held without audiences.
  • Schools will close early for the holidays, shutting down as of Monday evening and returning on Jan. 10. Elementary schools will remain open only for vaccination campaigns and the distribution of rapid test kits.
  • Working from home is now being mandated for all non-essential workers, including civil servants. The provincial government is pausing all ministerial public activities, such as news conferences that are not related to COVID-19. 
  • On Monday, Nova Scotia announced 485 new COVID-19 infections, the highest single-day increase since the pandemic began. Nine people are in hospital in Nova Scotia, two in intensive care.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,866,907+ cases with 30,032+ deaths and 1,788,221+ recoveries. There are 48,654+ active cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 275,170,911+ cases, 5,358,810+ deaths and 8,699,714,434+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Moderna said Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine should offer protection against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Moderna said lab tests showed the half-dose booster shot increased by 37 times the level of so-called neutralizing antibodies able to fight Omicron.  And a full-dose booster was even stronger, triggering an 83-fold jump in antibody levels, although with an increase in the usual side-effects, the company said.
  • Pfizer and BioNTech said earlier this month that two vaccine doses of their vaccine resulted in significantly lower neutralizing antibodies, but that a third dose of their vaccine increased the neutralizing antibodies by a factor of 25.

Dec. 17

  • Ontario reported 3,124 new cases today for a total of 642,465 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,107 deaths, up five. There are 759 new cases in Toronto, 209 in Peel Region, 215 in York, 107 in Hamilton and 93 in Windsor-Essex. There are 358 in hospital. There are 157 in intensive care, 98 on a ventilator. There have been 616,566 cases resolved, up 1,392.
  • So far, there have been 25,006,030 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,350,356 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 51,636 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,432,233. There are 37,855 test results pending.
  • There are 13 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 22 resident cases, 24 staff. So far, 4,029 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 1,236 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 72 are closed. There are 285 new student cases reported today; 48 staff.
  • Ontario is imposing capacity limits inlaces such as restaurants to 50 per cent and limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 309 new cases for a total of 33,712 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 620, up one. There are 1,223 active cases and there have been 31,869 cases resolved. There are three in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 48 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,838,567 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 800,519 residents fully vaccinated.
  • A number of Ottawa’s recent COVID-19 exposures are originating in places where people have gathered for live concerts, including the Bronson Centre and the National Arts Centre, public health officials say.
  • Dr. Very Etches has announced the reimposition of social distancing rules and capacity limits for businesses and other places people gathering indoors. So capacity will be cut to 50 per cent starting Monday in restaurants, gyms, bars, meeting places, theatres and cinemas.
  • Quebec reported 3,768 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 478,246 infections. There has been a total of 11,634 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 312 patients with 62 people in intensive care. The province completed 46,830 tests on Dec. 15. So far, 14,436,803 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 15,116 cases in total, up 71 today. There have been 223 deaths. There are 333 active cases and 14,560 recoveries. There are two in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 648,652 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Western Quebec’s health unit has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 among staff of the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que. Nine workers have tested positive.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting 394 new cases of COVID-19 infection, its highest ever daily number.
  • New Brunswick is reporting 163 new cases and another two individuals have died from the virus. Sixteen of the cases are confirmed as the highly transmissible Omicron variant – bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the variant to 30.
  • P.E.I. is reporting 31 new cases of infection, the most in one day in the pandemic.
  • Manitoba is reporting 239 new cases and one more death.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,857,999+ cases with 30,012+ deaths and 1,784,078+ recoveries. There are 43,909+ active cases.
  • The federal government is reimposing, on Dec. 21, a pre-arrival COVID-19  molecular test for all returning international travellers.
  • The government is also lifting the travel ban on 10 African nations on Saturday.
  • Worldwide there have been 273,130,047+ cases, 5,340,643+ deaths and 8,626,869,914+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 16

  • Ontario reported 2,421 new cases today for a total of 639,342 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,102 deaths, up nine. There are 505 new cases in Toronto, 153 in Peel Region, 143 in York, 81 in Hamilton and 130 in Windsor-Essex. There are 357 in hospital. There are 165 in intensive care, 105 on a ventilator. There have been 615,174 cases resolved, up 1,013.
  • So far, there have been 24,849,505 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,345,168 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 54,724 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,380,597. There are 28,959 test results pending.
  • There are 11 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 21 resident cases, 31 staff. So far, 4,029 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 1,094 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 47 are closed. There are 343 new student cases reported today; 34 staff.
  • Ontario’s COVID-19 science table is calling for immediate and stringent public health measures to combat a growing surge of the Omicron variant that could see ICU admissions reach “unsustainable levels” early next year. The group’s latest modelling suggests that without “circuit breaker” restrictions to reduce social contacts by about 50 per cent, booster shots alone will not be enough to stop daily cases reaching between 6,000 and more than 10,000 per day by the end of 2021.
  • Such measures, coupled with a sustained booster shot campaign of about 250,000 to 350,000 per day, could keep new cases below 5,000 a day. The most new infections ever recorded in Ontario during the pandemic were 4,812 on April 16, during the peak of the third wave.
  • The Kingston, Ont., region now has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in the country. As of Dec. 16, the health unit was reporting a rolling seven-day average of 471.4 cases per 100,000 residents — far surpassing the next highest, the Chaudière-Appalaches region in Quebec, where that number sits in the mid-200s.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 199 new cases for a total of 33,403 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 619, up one. There are 973 active cases and there have been 31,811 cases resolved. There are five in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 48 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,814,672 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 799,762 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Ottawa Public Health is working with the Ontario government to implement further COVID-19 restrictions, including capacity limits for businesses.
  • Carleton University in Ottawa says it will move fully online for the first three weeks of the winter semester due to Omicron concerns. The term begins on Jan. 10, and the university expects in-person learning to start Jan. 31 for those courses that are currently scheduled to be in person. The university says a small number of in-person exams scheduled for Dec. 20 and beyond will be rescheduled or moved online. It also warns staff to not come to campus unless it’s for work that can’t be done remotely. 
  • The University of Ottawa will postpone its return to campus until Jan. 31, and will run courses virtually until then. Research and some courses, however, require in-person learning and staff and students involved in these “exceptional cases” will be directly notified, the university said.
  • Quebec reported 2,736 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 474,478 infections. There has been a total of 11,627 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 305 patients with 63 people in intensive care. The province completed 45,375 tests on Dec. 14. So far, 14,377,646 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 15,116 cases in total, up 71 today. There have been 223 deaths. There are 333 active cases and 14,560 recoveries. There are two in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 646,244 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • One of the region’s largest casinos has failed to properly enforce COVID-19 masking rules, according to an investigation by Radio-Canada. The infractions at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que., were first noted by Linda Dumouchel, a nursing assistant at the Hull Hospital, and then confirmed by a team of Radio-Canada reporters last weekend.
  • The latest projections from the provincial government health-care research institute show that as many as 700 Quebecers could be in hospital by early January, with about 160 in intensive care because of the Omicron surge.
  • The Quebec government is cutting capacity in businesses, including gyms and restaurants, theatres, cinemas to 50 per cent in a bid to slow the spread of Omicron. Places of worship will be reduced also to 50 per cent capacity and will be capped at 250 attendees and will now have to use vaccine passports. Schools’ reopening after the holidays will also be delayed, but only for high schools — primary schools will be back on schedule.
  • Christmas gatherings will also be halved, from the previously announced 20-person cap to a 10-person cap. Even at that limit, people are urged to be cautious.
  • Quebec has shut the Bell Centre to hockey fans for tonight’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers. A decision on the game Saturday will be taken Friday. This was the first inkling of measures the province is taking to limit the spread of Omicron which is surging in Quebec with at least 3,700 new cases expected to be reported Friday morning.
  • The province will speed up booster shots, opening appointments for people 60-69 this month, two weeks ahead of schedule. All age groups will be eligible in January.
  • Quebec’s education minister has tested positive and will remain in isolation until Dec. 25.
  • Nova Scotia announced 287 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest number reported in one day since the pandemic arrived in the province.
  • New Brunswick set a single-day COVID-19 case-count record Thursday, with 177 new cases of the virus confirmed.
  • P.E.I. has 49 active COVID-19 cases, the highest active case count recorded in the province since the pandemic was declared. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced 10 new cases on Thursday, six of which are still under investigation. Four of the the cases have been linked to travel.
  • Manitoba reports 218 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths on Thursday on the province’s coronavirus data dashboard.
  • Saskatchewan reported 55 new cases Thursday, putting the seven-day average of new cases at 56.
  • Calgary Flames officials confirmed some players have tested positive for the Omicron variant.
  • British Columbia reported three deaths and 753 new cases on Thursday, more than doubling the number of new cases reported a week ago.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,851,057+ cases with 30,010+ deaths and 1,780,679+ recoveries. There are 40,384+ active cases.
  • Worldwide there have been 272,382,144+ cases, 5,333,237+ deaths and 8,576,021,311+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 15

  • The Ontario government is ramping up its delivery of third doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Starting Monday, anyone 18 and up can get a third shot, three months after the second dose. Premier Doug Ford urged those 50 and up to re-book appointments because of the change in the time between shots.
  • The province is also making free rapid tests widely available at venues such as pharmacies, malls and even select LCBO outlets.
  • Ontario also says indoor venues with a usual capacity of 1,000 people or more — such as sports venues, concert venues, cinemas — will see a 50 per cent capacity limit, effective Dec. 18 at 12:01 a.m. 
  • Ontario reported 1,808 new cases today for a total of 636,920 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,093 deaths, up nine. There are 343 new cases in Toronto, 132 in Peel Region, 149 in York, 86 in Hamilton and 73 in Windsor-Essex. There are 357 in hospital. There are 154 in intensive care, 102 on a ventilator. There have been 614,161 cases resolved, up 1,165.
  • So far, there have been 24,711,702 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,340,162 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 44,726 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,325,873. There are 28,940 test results pending.
  • There are 11 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 18 resident cases, 30 staff. So far, 4,029 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 1,094 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 47 are closed. There are 343 new student cases reported today; 34 staff.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 116 new cases for a total of 33,204 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 618. There are 845 active cases and there have been 31,741 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 44 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,814,672 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 799,762 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 2,386 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 471,742 infections. There has been a total of 11,622 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 309 patients with 73 people in intensive care. The province completed 40,646 tests on Dec. 13. So far, 14,322,481 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 14,997 cases in total, up 55 today. There have been 223 deaths. There are 261 active cases and 14,513 recoveries. There are three in hospital, two in intensive care. There have been 641,795 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The infection is in a person who travelled to another part of Canada. The province has 13 new cases today. The province will begin giving travellers entering Newfoundland and Labrador rapid COVID-19 tests upon arrival.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting 178 new cases of infection today.Meanwhile New Brunswick is reporting 160 new cases.
  • Manitoba has 206 new cases and two more deaths on Wednesday. Manitoba could see 1,000 new COVID-19 cases per day early in the new year as the highly transmissible Omicron variant begins to take hold, Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin says.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,845,256+ cases with 29,969+ deaths and 1,777,480+ recoveries. There are 37,807+ active cases.
  • Statistics Canada says inflation remained at an 18-year high in November at 4.7 per cent. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.3 per cent in November. As well, manufacturing sales rose 4.3 per cent in October, led by vehicle sales.
  • The federal government is issuing a travel advisory to Canadians against non-essential international travel. “Now is not the time,” says Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. The advisory will remain in effect for at least four weeks. The government is also promising to boost testing at airports and hinting at other measures which could include mandatory quarantines upon return for all travellers. Some 35 million rapid tests are one the way to provinces in December. That’s on top of 85 million already passed out.
  • The federal government also has 16 million booster doses on hand and orders for more.
  • Because of Omicron, the federal NDP and the federal Liberals are caucusing virtually but the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois are meeting in person.
  • The head of the organization representing Canada’s personal protective equipment manufacturers tells the CBC that the industry feels betrayed by the Canadian government because it’s not buying from small, home-grown companies after encouraging them to step up to deliver “critical supplies.”
  • The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) says prices were up 2.7 per cent month-over-month nationally in November and a record 25.3 per cent year-over-year. Low interest rates and a lack of available homes for sale helped push prices higher. The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average home price was $720,850 in November 2021, up 19.6 per cent from the same month last year. Excluding Toronto and Vancouver cuts $158,000 from the national average price.
  • Worldwide there have been 271,646,797+ cases, 5,325,145+ deaths and 8,538,123,745+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The United States passed another grim milestone on Tuesday, as the country topped 800,000 COVID-19 related deaths. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, by Wednesday afternoon, 801,078 people had died in the country after contracting the virus.

Dec. 14

  • Omicron is expected to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario by the end of day today or by Wednesday at the latest and 100 per cent of new cases by Dec. 31. The variant has a doubling rate of three days, according to the latest update from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. Cases of the Delta variant, by comparison, take 34 days to double. The World Health Organization says the variant is now in 70 countries and spreading quickly.
  • Media reports suggest the federal government will issue an travel advisory to Canadians against non-essential international travel.
  • In her fall economic update, warning of significant uncertainty, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who delivered her speech virtually after two staffers tested positive, says the government will set aside an extra $4.5 billion to fight the surge caused by the Omicron variant. The federal government will also set aside $1.7 billion to purchase thousands more rapid tests for use by Canadians through the provinces.
  • The economic update also included $7.3 billion to procure booster doses this year and in the coming years, if needed. And $2 billion will go to buy new treatments like the antiviral drugs made by Merck and Pfizer.
  • The federal debt to GDP ratio is expected to peak at 48 per cent and then begin to fall next year. The projected deficit in 2021-2022 is now predicted to be $144.5 billion down about $11 billion from projections.
  • The government will also make up to $50 billion to help deal with supply chain blockages as inflation caused by demand surges.
  • Seniors and students who received CERB and weren’t entitled to it will not see that money clawed back, the government says.
  • The government will also set up a $60 million fund for performance arts workers including independent artists.
  • The government will also provide tax breaks to allow for improved ventilation in schools and other work spaces.
  • As well, as previously announced, $40 billion has been set aside to help deal with legal settlements around the child welfare abuses and inequities faced by Indigenous families and children.
  • The government is also promising to bring in 411.000 immigrants to Canada in 2022, the most ever.
  • So far the federal government has spent $511 billion to help Canadians through the pandemic.
  • Ontario reported 1,429 new cases today for a total of 635,112 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,084 deaths, up five. There are 239 new cases in Toronto, 103 in Peel Region, 128 in York, 49 in Hamilton and 52 in Windsor-Essex. There are 385 in hospital. There are 162 in intensive care, 98 on a ventilator. There have been 612,996 cases resolved, up 930.
  • So far, there have been 24,584,089 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,334,812 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 33,400 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,281,147. There are 22,855 test results pending.
  • There are 11 outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 23 resident cases, 37 staff. So far, 4,029 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 1,019 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 28 are closed. There are 473 new student cases reported today; 61 staff.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 124 new cases for a total of 33,088 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 618. There are 802 active cases and there have been 31,668 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 42 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,795,306 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 799,100 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 1,747 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 469,356 infections. There has been a total of 11,618 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 293 patients with 75 people in intensive care. The province completed 32,002 tests on Dec. 12. So far, 14,272,937 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 14,942 cases in total, up 115 today. There have been 223 deaths. There are 241 active cases and 14,478 recoveries. There are four in hospital, two in intensive care. There have been 640,176 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • As the province’s ICU beds for COVID patients fill up, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube is asking Quebecers to work from home if possible. The province will also make rapid testing available for the population at large. The province has asked for 10 million rapid tests from the federal government which the province will start distributing on Monday through pharmacies. People will be able to get five tests in a 30-day period. The program will continue through January to March. If a test is positive, individuals are asked to go to a screening centre to confirm the infection.
  • The province is seeking 500 people to help with the booster immunization campaign that begins in earnest in January.
  • Nova Scotia is seeing 127 new cases while New Brunswick is reporting 109 more cases. Meanwhile PEI has confirmed a case of Omicron. The province has immediately started to restrict activity.
  • Manitoba reports 164 new infections along with two more deaths.
  • Saskatchewan is reporting 47 new cases and four deaths today.
  • British Columbia has confirmed 44 Omicron infections, 37 in vaccinated people. Currently, no one is in hospital. Only 20 of the Omicron cases are linked to travel, including arrivals from countries such as Nigeria, South Africa/Zimbabwe, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Germany, Portugal, and the United States. According to the latest modelling data, B.C.’s worst-case scenario involving Omicron would be 2,000 new cases day by Dec. 29. The best-case would be around 1,000 new cases a day by mid-January. B.C.’s running seven-day average of daily new cases is 373 as of Dec. 13. Booster shots will soon be offered at pharmacies. About 500 pharmacies have signed up so far.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,840,919+ cases with 29,941+ deaths and 1,774,134+ recoveries. There are 36,844+ active cases.
  • Liberal House Leader Mark Holland says the party will hold virtual caucus meetings and will limit the number of its MPs in person in the House of Commons.
  • Worldwide there have been 271,112,494+ cases, 5,317,396+ deaths and 8,507,887,419+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A two-dose Pfizer vaccination provides just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, but 70 per cent protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday.
  • Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the Omicron variant. The company also said full results of its 2,250-person study confirmed the pill’s promising early results against the virus: The drug reduced combined hospitalizations and deaths by about 89 per cent among high-risk adults when taken shortly after initial COVID-19 symptoms.

Dec. 13

  • Ontario reported 1,536 new cases today for a total of 633,683 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,079 deaths. There are 255 new cases in Toronto, 89 in Peel Region, 139 in York, 44 in Hamilton and 82 in Windsor-Essex. There are 253 in hospital. There are 161 in intensive care, 90 on a ventilator. There have been 612,066 cases resolved, up 800.
  • The province’s science advisory table says about 21 per cent of all new infections are being caused by the Omicron variant. That’s up from 10 per cent last week. Omicron cases are on pace to double every three days. By the end of the week, omicron could account for roughly 50 per cent of all infections in the province. Within 10 days, it will likely account for more than 95 per cent of new cases.
  • So far, there have been 24,484,692 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,330,544 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 38,331 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,247,747. There are 15,048 test results pending.
  • There are nine outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 18 resident cases, 30 staff. So far, 4,029 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • Today is also the deadline for long-term care workers in the province to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Staff, students and volunteers can’t enter long-term care homes without proof of both doses. Nearly 98 per cent of long-term care workers have at least one dose of vaccine, with 95.3 per cent fully vaccinated.
  • The province is expected, as early as today, to further tighten access to the homes today because of Omicron. On the table: increased testing at homes, including vaccinated residents and a limit of two visitors per resident at one time. Visitors will now be required to be vaccinated.
  • There are 944 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 20 are closed. There are 189 new student cases reported today; 23 staff.
  • Ontario is suspended a return to in-person work for government employees.
  • Ontario’s portal for booking COVID-19 vaccines crashed this morning as 3.4 million more Ontarians aged 50-69 who received their second shot at least six months ago became eligible for booster doses.
  • The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health Unit currently has one of the worst COVID-19 case rates in the province. Over the past two weeks, its nearly 250 cases per 100,000 people is almost four times the rate in Ottawa. Most cases are expected to be the Omicron variant. The local health united is limiting gatherings to a maximum of five people and placing new restrictions on restaurants – they must be closed to indoor dining between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., not sell or serve alcohol after 9 p.m., ensure all patrons are seated when served, seat no more than four people at a table, and not allow dancing, singing or live music.
  • The Kingston Health Sciences Centre says it has the highest number of intensive care COVID-19 patients in the province.
  • Queen’s University has cancelled in-person exams.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 129 new cases for a total of 32,964 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 618. There are 733 active cases and there have been 31,613 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 33 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,795,306 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 799,100 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 1,628 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 467,609 infections. There has been a total of 11,611 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 268 patients with 73 people in intensive care. The province completed 34,408 tests on Dec. 11. So far, 14,237,208 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 14,942 cases in total, up 115 today. There have been 223 deaths. There are 241 active cases and 14,478 recoveries. There are four in hospital, two in intensive care. There have been 640,176 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec public day-care educators have approved an agreement in principle reached with the provincial government, ending a strike.
  • Nova Scotia reported 114 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the highest daily case count since the third wave. The National Microbiology Lab confirmed 40 cases of the Omicron variant in the province and that those cases were previously reported. Nova Scotia all imposed restrictions on public schools to limit spread in the last days before the holiday break.
  • New Brunswick has imposed capacity limits on businesses as Omicron cases have been detected in the province. There were 100 new cases reported Monday, along with two more deaths.
  • Manitoba has reported eight deaths and confirmed 478 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Manitoba has asked for federal ICU nurses to help cope with surge.
  • Saskatchewan reported 35 new cases today.
  • Alberta confirmed Monday that 863 people tested positive over the weekend. Three more deaths were reported. The Alberta government will give out free rapid test kits through pharmacies, just in time for the holidays.
  • The NHL has postponed three Calgary Flames games because of COVID-19.
  • B.C. health officials announced 1,129 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths over the past three days. The University of Victoria in British Columbia has cancelled in-person exams because of Omicron.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,827,691+ cases with 29,900+ deaths and 1,764,867+ recoveries. There are 32,924+ active cases.
  • The prime minister said today that the federal government is “very concerned” by the latest projections about the Omicron variant.
  • The federal government is extending, and slightly expanding, a travel exemption for Canadians trying to return home from South Africa.
  • Presenting the Public Health Agency’s annual report, Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada needs to renew and reinvigorate the public health tool box with data on race, ethnic origin, and sharing of data between provinces and territories. A pan-Canadian health registry is under way but she said it needs to be accelerated in order to allow timely decision-making. Canada also needs to modernize governance and collaboration, because complex health challenges require working across jurisdictions, communities, industries and borders. Finally Canada will need investments into public health instead of scaling back after public health emergencies.
  • In its new framework agreement with the federal government, the Bank of Canada will keep focused on a two-per-cent annual inflation rate. The Bank will additionally focus on increasing employment in the country.
  • Worldwide there have been 270,318,793+ cases, 5,308,970+ deaths and 8,460,785,178+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that out of the 43 Omicron cases identified in 22 states in early December, just ​​one person needed a brief hospital stay, and there were no reported deaths yet from the variant. Omicron is now present in 60 countries.
  • Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is likely to be much lower than against earlier variants, but they may still offer substantial protection against severe disease, a new analysis suggests.
  • Despite record-high case counts, scientists in South Africa have not yet seen evidence that Omicron is causing more serious illness.
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed the United Kingdom’s first death from the Omicron variant. He also warned his nation of a tidal wave of Omicron infections on the immediate horizon. The government has reinstated mask mandates for public transit and for indoors. Vaccine passports are needed for large gatherings such as sports events.

Dec. 10

  • Ontario reported 1,453 new cases today for a total of 629,064 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,065 deaths, up 21. There are 195 new cases in Toronto, 89 in Peel Region, 91 in York, 54 in Hamilton and 89 in Windsor-Essex. There are 309 in hospital. There are 151 in intensive care, 90 on a ventilator. There have been 609,806 cases resolved, up 910.
  • So far, there have been 24,304,272 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,316,878 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 39,941 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,128,734. There are 25,644 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 18 resident cases, 28 staff. So far, 4,027 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 906 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 16 are closed. There are 174 new student cases reported today; 17 staff.
  • Ontario will not drop the provincial vaccine passport program in mid-January and will require all proof of vaccination certificates to include QR codes. This is because of the surge in new infections and the potential impact of Omicron.
  • On Dec. 20, proof of vaccination will now be required for youth aged 12 to 17 participating in organized sports at recreational facilities. 
  • Ontarians are also being “strongly advised” to limit their social gatherings and the number of gatherings they attend over the holiday season.
  • Booster eligibility to all Ontarians 18 years of age and older will begin Jan. 4, with appointments to be booked six months after a second dose of vaccine.
  • Omicron cases are now about 10 per cent of reported new infections. The variant is expected to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in coming weeks.
  • Kingston’s medical officer of health told CBC that the case of Omicron found in his community occurred in a person with no record of travel, indicating community spread.  
  • Toronto Public Health is asking all those who attended the Raptors game on Dec. 5 to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after a potential COVID-19 exposure. This follows at least two confirmed cases at a Giants of Africa gala event hosted by Masai Ujiri. He and another person were exposed to the virus at the gala.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 106 new cases for a total of 32,613 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 618. There are 524 active cases and there have been 31,471 cases resolved. There are five in hospital, no-one in ICU. There are 31 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,782,229 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 798,318 residents fully vaccinated.
  • OPH says extra-curricular activities are directly connected to rising COVID-19 case counts in city schools. The warning follows what is described as an “explosive growth” in cases in Barrhaven schools. OPH says Barrhaven and Riverside South are experiencing rates of COVID-19 that are more than double the average of the rest of the city. Eleven schools in the Barrhaven area have active COVID-19 outbreaks, with one school closed.
  • Quebec reported 2,013 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of 462,246 infections. There has been a total of 11,603 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 256 patients with 62 people in intensive care. The province completed 40,192 tests on Dec. 8. So far, 14,136,479 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 14,794 cases in total, up 41. There have been 223 deaths. There are 192 active cases and 14,379 recoveries. There are two in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 633,601 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Public health officials have confirmed the first two cases of the omicron variant in the Outaouais. The cases are related to travel.
  • New Brunswick reported 143 new cases today while neighbouring Nova Scotia reported 123 new cases, with 55 connected to graduation ceremonies at St. Francis Xavier University.
  • There are 198 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Friday and one more person has died from the illness, the province says.
  • Saskatchewan confirmed 69 new cases of COVID-19 and one death on Friday.
  • A “potential modest relaxation” of COVID-19 public health measures in Alberta is on the table for the Christmas season, says Premier Jason Kenney.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,823,009+ cases with 29,876+ deaths and 1,761,838+ recoveries. There are 31,295+ active cases.
  • Canada is on track to experience a resurgence of infections fuelled by the Delta variant. But, if the Omicron variant takes hold it could worsen the pandemic to 26,000 cases a day by mid-January, new national data suggests.
  • Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada has so far found 87 cases of Omicron in seven jurisdictions. The majority of those cases are linked to international travel or close contact with travellers. All cases have either been asymptomatic or mild in nature, officials said. Last year, at this time, Canada was seeing double the number of daily cases and more than double the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals and intensive care units daily. Daily reported deaths are down 82 per cent than this time last year, Tam added. South African scientists see no sign that Omicron is causing more severe illness,
  • Worldwide there have been 268,685,182+ cases, 5,290,958+ deaths and 8,345,259,160+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 9

  • Ontario reported 1,290 new cases today for a total of 627,611 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,044 deaths, up eight. There are 206 new cases in Toronto, 71 in Peel Region, 66 in York, 48 in Hamilton and 114 in Windsor-Essex. There are 333 in hospital. There are 155 in intensive care, 97 on a ventilator. There have been 608,896 cases resolved, up 970.
  • So far, there have been 24,150,789 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,306,219 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 38,502 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,048,551. There are 19,212 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 15 resident cases, 26 staff. So far, 4,027 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 860 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 10 are closed. There are 219 new student cases reported today; 25 staff.
  • Ontario’s science table, a group of expert advisers on COVID-19, is recommending health officials implement voluntary rapid testing in settings such as schools and workplaces in areas that reach a certain level of infection.
  • Kingston’s Health Science Centre plans to transfer three patients to other hospitals because its intensive care unit is full. The local health unit has confirmed its first case of Omicron infection. The health unit reported 88 new COVID-19 cases earlier this week with an all-time high of 389 active cases.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 32 new cases for a total of 32,507 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 618. There are 451 active cases and there have been 31,438 cases resolved. There are five in hospital, one in ICU. There are 35 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,772,193 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 797,753 residents fully vaccinated.
  • OPH has also uncovered a fifth case of Omicron variant infection.
  • Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches says people in the city should limit unmasked indoor gatherings this holiday season with people who are not fully vaccinated.
  • In other health units in the capital region: Eastern Ontario health, which includes Cornwall and Hawkesbury, reported 17 new cases; Leeds, Grenville, Lanark reported 13; and Renfrew district had two new cases.
  • Quebec reported 1,807 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of  460,233 infections. There has been a total of 11,597 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 255 patients with 60 people in intensive care. The province completed 39,089 tests on Dec. 7. So far, 14,100,473 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 14,753 cases in total, up 22. There have been 223 deaths. There are 165 active cases and 14,365 recoveries. There is one in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 633,601 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • New Brunswick recorded a single-day record high of 174 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and two more COVID-related deaths.
  • Manitoba reported 203 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths on Thursday
  • In Canada, there have been 1,818,742+ cases with 29,852+ deaths and 1,758,980+ recoveries. There are 29,910+ active cases.
  • A new report suggests that the cost of food for an average family could rise by about $1,000.
  • The federal auditor general says the federal department charged with inspecting farms that hire temporary foreign workers failed to keep tabs on how well employers were protecting their staff during the pandemic.
  • From May to June 2020, the Public Health agency of Canada was in the dark regarding the status of 66 per cent of incoming travellers — a number that dropped to 37 per cent as of June 2021, the auditor general said. “This is not a success story,” Karen Hogan said. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the government has issued guidance to PHAC to put an end to this. He also noted that the AG’s report ended in June. He says significant improvements have been made since.
  • About 80 million rapid tests have been distributed too the provinces but many Canadians have no access to them. CBC has more.
  • Worldwide there have been 268,089,819+ cases, 5,283,708+ deaths and 8,312,332,755+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Dec. 8

  • Ontario reported 1,009 new cases today for a total of 626,321 cases. The province has seen a total of 10,054 deaths, up 10. There are 124 new cases in Toronto, 48 in Peel Region, 50 in York, 50 in Hamilton and 75 in Windsor-Essex. There are 309 in hospital. There are 155 in intensive care, 94 on a ventilator. There have been 607,926 cases resolved, up 1,129.
  • So far, there have been 24,225,882 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 11,311,453 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario completed 40,242 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 20,088,793. There are 23,263 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in a long term care home. There are 17 resident cases, 28 staff. So far, 4,028 residents have died. One home in Ottawa has an outbreak: St. Patrick’s Home.
  • There are 884 schools with a reported case of COVID-19; 13 are closed. There are 198 new student cases reported today; 24 staff.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 74 new cases for a total of 32,475 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 618. There are 475 active cases and there have been 31,382 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, two in ICU. There are 27 outbreaks. So far, In Ottawa, 1,772,193 doses of vaccine have been administered. There are 797,753 residents fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 1,367 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today for a total of  458,426 infections. There has been a total of 11,596 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 242 patients with 59 people in intensive care. The province completed 35,136 tests on Dec. 6. So far, 14,065,287 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 14,731 cases in total, up 20. There have been 223 deaths. There are 156 active cases and 14,352 recoveries. There is one in hospital, one in intensive care. There have been 631,922 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec has asked for 10 million rapid tests from the federal government and Health Minister Christian Dubé says he hopes to receive them before the Christmas holidays.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,815,215+ cases with 29,827+ deaths and 1,756,185+ recoveries. There are 29,203+ active cases.
  • The Bank of Canada is keeping its trendsetting interest rate at .25 per cent but signals that inflation concerns could lead to a hike in April.
  • Worldwide there have been 267,344,049+ cases, 5,275,476+ deaths and 8,284,781,997+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Cases of the Omicron variant have now been reported in 57 countries, including Canada.
  • Pfizer and BioNTech say a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralize the new omicron variant in a laboratory test, and that they could deliver an omicron-based vaccine in March 2022 if needed.
  • Sweden is to reintroduce a raft of measures on Wednesday to curb rising COVID-19 infections and urge renewed physical distancing and the use of masks on public transit, the government said on Tuesday.
  • The Norwegian government introduced stricter rules on Tuesday to slow the spread of the illness amid a surge of infections in recent weeks. No more than 10 visitors will be allowed in private homes, and people must keep a distance of at least one metre from anyone who is not a member of their household. Bars and restaurants must stop serving alcohol at midnight.

For COVID-19 news from Sept. 28 to Dec. 7, click here

More Stories