• Ontario reported 466 new cases reported today for a total of 585,007 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,715 deaths, up 11. There are 138 new cases in Toronto, 39 in Peel Region, 21 in York, 25 in Hamilton and 31 in Windsor-Essex. There are 315 in hospital. There are 180 in intensive care, 127 on a ventilator. There have been 570,030 cases resolved, up 819.
  • So far, there have been 21,704,159 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,493,722 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,461+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 18,508 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,785 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 18,000,974. There are 19,835 test results pending.
  • There are 17 outbreaks in long term care homes, two in Ottawa, the Peter D. Clark Centre and Residence Saint-Louis. There are 52 resident cases, 37 staff. So far, 4,011 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Tonight 30,000 fans will be seated in the stadium when the Toronto Blue Jays play the New York Yankess with a playoff berth on the line. The larger crowd size is a recent decision by the province for stadium sports. Sporting events, meeting and event spaces, concerts, theatres, cinemas are now able to operate at 50 per cent capacity or up to 10,000 people.
  • Ontario’s science advisory table says, in its latest projections, that the fourth wave has been effectively flattened thanks to public health measures, and that the test positivity rate in Ontario appears to be declining. “New cases, hospitalizations and ICU occupancy are not increasing,” it wrote in a report released today.
  • The science table, as usual, outlined different scenarios for the coming months. It says in a status quo scenario, in which there are no changes in behaviour or policy, cases would begin to increase in October and would surpass 1,500 new cases a day by November. If transmission is reduced by 25 per cent or more, cases would track steadily downwards, though they are not projected to hit zero in the next two months even in that best-case scenario.
  • The science table projects ICU occupancy to range from 200 beds to more than 300 beds by the end of October. At the peak of the third wave, close to 900 ICU beds were being used by COVID-19 patients.
  • It also points out that children under the age of 11, who have yet to be vaccinated, account for an increasing number of cases — and says young people will likely take up an increasing portion of ICU beds. 
  • The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario says that Dr. Patrick Phillips — who is based in the rural community of Englehart, about 45 kilometres south of Kirkland Lake — is “incompetent” and that he has engaged in “disgraceful, dishonourable” conduct, including deliberately spreading misinformation about the pandemic. He has been has barred a family doctor from providing exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines and face masks and faces a disciplinary hearing.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 16 new cases for a total of 29,734 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 412 active cases and there have been 28,727 cases resolved. There are 17 in hospital, 10 in ICU. There are 23 outbreaks. So far, 1,598,505 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 749,373 are fully vaccinated.
  • Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties announced 90 per cent of its eligible population is fully vaccinated, saying it’s the first health unit in the province to do so.
  • Cornwall is seeing an increase in cases, outpacing other parts of the region and most of the province, according to Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). In parts of Cornwall, 74.9 per cent of eligible residents have at least one dose and 67.3 per cent have two. The seven-day average test positivity rate in those areas is between seven and 7.6 per cent, where Ottawa Public Health is reporting 2.3 per cent in the capital, which is closer to the provincial average.
  • Quebec reported 469 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 408,931 infections. There have been 391,583 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,362 deaths, up six. Hospitalizations stand at 321 patients with 94 people in intensive care. The province completed 22,068 tests on Sept. 26. So far, So far, 13,051,466 doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,660 cases, up 96. There have been 220 deaths. There are 175 active cases and 13,265 recoveries. There are 11 in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 582,377 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé is announcing that seniors living in residences will be offered a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. It is possible a third dose could soon be offered to more Quebecers. About 250,000 seniors are eligible for a third dose. Right now there are 140 active COVID-19 cases in Quebec seniors’ homes.
  • Quebec says there are 17,642 unvaccinated health-care workers. They will be suspended Oct. 15. Nearly half of those unvaccinated employees are front-line workers in direct contact with patients.
  • New Brunswick is announcing two more deaths and 68 new cases.
  • Nova Scotia reports one new death and 32 new cases on Tuesday.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has 14 new confirmed cases and PEI is reporting two new cases.
  • There are 42 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Manitoba on Tuesday. Two more deaths from the illness were also reported.
  • There are 449 new cases, 10 more deaths and 311 in hospital in Saskatchewan.
  • Alberta is reporting 1,246 new cases and 18 deaths as the province prepares to protect hospitals from protesters. 
  • British Columbia is moving forward with booster shots for vulnerable populations inn care homes and assisted living residences. The province is also expressing concern about a growing number of cases in school aged children. As of this week, around 30 people out of 100,000 aged nine to 11 in B.C. are getting COVID and 22 out of 100,000 aged five to eight are getting the virus. The next highest group are 18 to 39-year-olds at a rate of 15 out of every 100,000. The Vancouver School Board is extending its mask mandate to apply to all students from kindergarten to Grade 12. It’s the first school board in the province to go beyond the provincial guidelines for masking in schools for grades 4-12.
  • Another 652 cases were reported in British Columbia on Tuesday, along with two more deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,612,368+ cases with 27,699+ deaths and 1,538,244+ recoveries. There are 46,425+ active cases.
  • The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending booster shots for residents of long term care homes.
  • By Tuesday morning, 80.14 per cent of the eligible population over the age of 12 had been fully vaccinated and 86.75 per cent had received one dose.
  • Worldwide, there have been 232,428,536+ cases, 4,758,529+ deaths and 6,143,891,362+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Russia has reported its highest one day COVID-19 death toll on Tuesday with 852 coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, according to the country’s coronavirus response center. The country is in he midst of a surge with only with 47 million Russians having received a first dose of a vaccine. There are 110 million adults in Russia. It has registered 7,464,708 cases across the country, while the total number of coronavirus-related deaths stands at 205,531, according to official figures. The actual is believed to be much higher.

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 graphic

Sept. 27

  • Ontario reported 613 new cases reported today for a total of 584,541 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,704 deaths. There are 117 new cases in Toronto, 70 in Peel Region, 48 in York, 46 in Hamilton and 45 in Windsor-Essex. There are 186 in hospital. There are 184 in intensive care, 130 on a ventilator. There have been 569,211 cases resolved, up 578.
  • So far, there have been 21,672,304 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,474,837 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,460+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 18,297 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 22,633 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,977,189. There are 9,306 test results pending.
  • There are 17 outbreaks in long term care homes, two in Ottawa, the Peter D. Clark Centre and Residence Saint-Louis. There are 55 resident cases, 38 staff. So far, 4,010 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 48 new cases for a total of 29,718 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 463 active cases and there have been 28,660 cases resolved. There are 15 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 22 outbreaks. So far, 1,598,505 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 749,373 are fully vaccinated.
  • Eastern Ontario’s children’s hospital is now offering parents do-it-yourself COVID-19 test kits due to rising demand at Ottawa’s test centres. The number of tests administered across the city has nearly doubled over the past month.
  • Quebec reported 519 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 408,462 infections. There have been 390,858 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,356 deaths. Hospitalizations stand at 299 patients with 95 people in intensive care. The province completed 22,259 tests on Sept. 25. So far, So far, 13,043,281 doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,564 cases. There have been 220 deaths. There are 164 active cases and 13,180 recoveries. There are 10 in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 582,241 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Masks are now mandatory in common areas of private seniors’ residences in the Outaouais. And rapid COVID-19 tests are now available in western Quebec elementary schools.
  • Health officials in New Brunswick are reporting a single-day record 86 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has 25 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory.
  • Nova Scotia confirmed 83 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend and one more death.
  • Manitoba public health officials report 306 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths over three days.
  • Saskatchewan is reporting 398 new cases and two more deaths. Visitors to long term care homes in the province now have to wear a mask.
  • Alberta Health confirmed an additional 5,181 cases had been confirmed over the previous three days, along with 23 more deaths. There are currently 312 patients in intensive care units. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has rejected calls for a “hard lockdown” was suggested by his province’s former top doctor in a letter calling for immediate “firebreak” measures to deal with surging cases of COVID-19. In a letter released Monday 58 intensive care unit doctors says the province is on the verge of a health system collapse.
  • In British Columbia, a letter sent to the education ministry, parent advisory councils in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Sooke on Vancouver Island have called for a stronger mask mandate to require students from kindergarten to Grade 3 to wear face coverings, increased contact tracing, a return to learning cohorts in elementary schools, and improved ventilation in schools. The province’s vaccination passport takes effect today. Eighteen people in British Columbia have died over the last three days while the province recorded 2,239 new infections.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,604,443+ cases with 27,654+ deaths and 1,526,145+ recoveries. There are 45,042+ active cases.
  • A survey by Leger, conducted for the Association of Canadian Studies, found that more than three in four respondents hold negative views of those who are not immunized. The survey found vaccinated people consider the unvaccinated as irresponsible and selfish, a view contested by those who are not immunized.
  • Worldwide, there have been 231,907,590+ cases, 4,749,827+ deaths and 6,106,782,281+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 26

  • Ontario reported 653 new cases reported today for a total of 583,928 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,704 deaths. There are 144 new cases in Toronto, 83 in Peel Region, 54 in York, 66 in Hamilton and 33 in Windsor-Essex. There are 198 in hospital. There are 177 in intensive care, 110 on a ventilator. There have been 568,633 cases resolved, up 814.
  • So far, there have been 21,566,334 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,406,874 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,461+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 18,260 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 31,063 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,954,556. There are 11,512 test results pending.
  • There are 17 outbreaks in long term care homes, two in Ottawa, the Peter D. Clark Centre and Residence Saint-Louis. There are 53 resident cases, 36 staff. So far, 4,010 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 79 new cases for a total of 29,670 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 474 active cases and there have been 28,601 cases resolved. There are 15 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 22 outbreaks. So far, 1,592,461 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 745,413 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 719 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 407,148 infections. There have been 388,602+ recoveries. There has been two more deaths for a total of 11,351+. Hospitalizations stand at 297 patients with 90 people in intensive care. So far, So far, 12,995,354+ doses have been administered.
  • Saskatchewan reported 552 new cases on Sunday, a new record. Three more people have died.
  • Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health (CMOH) has co-written a letter to the province’s new health minister Jason Copping, strongly recommending additional measures in the province as the pandemic’s fourth wave continues to strain hospital capacity. CBC has more.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,598,807+ cases with 27,620+ deaths and 1,526,145+ recoveries. There are 45,042+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 231,696,727+ cases, 4,746,184+ deaths and 6,085,316,757+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 24

  • Ontario reported 727 new cases reported today for a total of 582,635 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,688 deaths, up 11. There are 144 new cases in Toronto, 83 in Peel Region, 54 in York, 66 in Hamilton and 33 in Windsor-Essex. There are 308 in hospital. There are 193 in intensive care, 134 on a ventilator. There have been 567,200 cases resolved, up 814.
  • So far, there have been 21,566,334 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,406,874 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,455+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 17,836 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 36,855 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,890,190. There are 17,809 test results pending.
  • There are 15 outbreaks in long term care homes, two in Ottawa, the Peter D. Clark Centre and Residence Saint-Louis. There are 49 resident cases, 37 staff. So far, 4,010 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 65 new cases for a total of 29,541 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 445 active cases and there have been 28,501 cases resolved. There are 12 in hospital, nine in ICU. There are 23 outbreaks. So far, 1,587,512 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 742,412 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 701 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 406,429 infections. There have been 388,602 recoveries. There has been two more deaths for a total of 11,349. Hospitalizations stand at 298 patients with 91 people in intensive care. The province completed 37,463 tests on Sept. 22. So far, So far, 12,995,354 doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,556 cases so far up 17. There have been 220 deaths. There are 188 active cases and 13,148 recoveries. There are 10 in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 580,487 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting 34 new cases of COVID-19.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has 45 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • New Brunswick is reporting 78 new cases and three more deaths. The province has reinstated a state of emergency.
  • P.E.I.’s chief public health officer announced six new COVID-19 cases on Friday.
  • There are 60 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Friday. 
  • Saskatchewan reported its sixth day in a row of record high COVID-19 hospitalizations, while adding 528 new cases on Friday, along with five deaths.
  • Alberta is now implementing some triage protocols to deal with a crisis in over-burdened intensive care units in the province. This means some patients will not get the treatment they need and others will be moved to other provinces. The province reported 1,651 new cases of the disease over the past 24 hours, along with 11 deaths. There are 226 in ICU and 1,061 Albertans in hospital with the illness.
  • British Columbia announced 743 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths on Friday, even as the province hit a vaccination milestone, with 80 percent of those 12 and older now fully vaccinated and 87.5 per cent having received at least one dose.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,594,200+ cases with 27,581+ deaths and 1,521,645+ recoveries. There are 44,974+ active cases.
  • There are about 700 people in intensive care across Canada the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says.
  • PHAC also says that about 6.5. million eligible Canadians remain unvaccinated.
  • Worldwide, there have been 230,706,705+ cases, 4,730,896+ deaths and 6,057,700,104+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The U.S. Centres for Disease Control have recommended that third doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine be administered to all seniors, residents of long term care, frontline workers and those over 18 with underlying health conditions. This is about 60 million individuals.

Sept. 23

  • Ontario reported 677 new cases reported today for a total of 581,908 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,677 deaths. There are 136 new cases in Toronto, 76 in Peel Region, 73 in York, 38 in Hamilton and 39 in Windsor-Essex. There are 307 in hospital. There are 193 in intensive care, 134 on a ventilator. There have been 566,386 cases resolved, up 676.
  • So far, there have been 21,519,784 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,378,380 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,455+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 17,738 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 37,630 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,853,335. There are 21,168 test results pending.
  • There are 13 outbreaks in long term care homes with 36 resident cases, 20 staff. So far, 4,009 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Toronto’s city government faces a $94 million budget shortfall, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic. While hoping for more help from the federal and provincial governments, Mayor John Tory says the city won’t raise taxes or cut services.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 33 new cases for a total of 29,476 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 444 active cases and there have been 28,437 cases resolved. There are 12 in hospital, eight in ICU. There are 20 outbreaks. So far, 1,587,512 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 742,412 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 754 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 405,728 infections. There have been 387,863 recoveries. There has been seven more deaths for a total of 11,347. Hospitalizations stand at 283 patients with 90 people in intensive care. The province completed 33,812 tests on Sept. 21. So far, So far, 12,973,939 doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,539 cases so far up 23. There have been 220 deaths. There are 203 active cases and 13,116 recoveries. There are 10 in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 579,182 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Anti-vax protesters who picket outside hospitals, schools, daycares or COVID-19 test and vaccine sites could face a $12,000 fine under the terms of a bill tabled Thursday by the Quebec government.
  • Quebec will also pay $1 billion to offer bonuses to health-care workers in a bid to cope with a labour shortage in the public system. New workers will get between $12,000 and $15,000, including those working part-time who move to a full-time schedule, and those returning to the public system after having left. Additional bonuses between $15,000 and $18,000 will be offered to existing full-time workers.  
  • Health officials in New Brunswick are reporting 52 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
  • The Nova Scotia government reported one death related to COVID-19 and 41 new cases on Thursday.
  • There are 67 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Thursday.
  • Saskatchewan added 460 new confirmed cases and seven deaths.
  • Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will face a leadership review next spring. The review followed a heated closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday. Alberta reported 1,660 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday as there were 310 people in ICU across the province, 226 cases with COVID-19. There were 17 deaths reported.
  • The B.C. government is considering tougher laws to discourage anti-vaccine protesters from disrupting the daily operations of schools and hospitals. The province reports 861 new cases and five deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,589,602+ cases with 27,537+ deaths and 1,517,269+ recoveries. There are 44,796+ active cases.
  • Canada’s COVID election saw low turnout according to numbers that are surfacing now. Some  16,134,539 of 27,366,297 registered electors showed up to vote — a turnout rate of 58.96 per cent. There are still mail-in ballots being counted so the rate might rise slightly as seven ridings are still too close to call. In 2019 there was a turnout of 67 per cent. Elections in 2015 and 2011 had turnout rates of 68.3 per cent and 61.1 per cent, respectively.
  • Deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines to Canada are paused. Canada was to get 95 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna by the end of September, but is about 20 million doses shy of that as of Wednesday. The pause is because Canada has a stockpile of 18.7 million doses and doesn’t need any more to fully vaccinate eligible people over age 12. That includes 8.5 million doses shipped to provinces and not yet used and 10.2 million in a federal stockpile provinces can turn to if they need it.
  • Canada will begin allowing direct flights from India next week. Travellers will face additional COVID measures. travellers eligible to enter Canada will need to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 18 hours of departure from India. Travellers will also have to upload their vaccination information to the ArriveCAN app prior to boarding.
  • Worldwide, there have been 230,189,529+ cases, 4,721,127+ deaths and 6,009,694,198+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 22

  • Ontario reported 463 new cases reported today for a total of 581,231 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,670 deaths. There are 93 new cases in Toronto, 41 in Peel Region, 30 in York, 27 in Hamilton and 48 in Windsor-Essex. There are 299 in hospital. There are 187 in intensive care, 130 on a ventilator. There have been 565,710 cases resolved, up 783.
  • So far, there have been 21,475,030 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,351,311 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,453+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 17,594 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 39,092 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,815,705. There are 19,259 test results pending.
  • There are 13 outbreaks in long term care homes with 36 resident cases, 19 staff. So far, 4,007 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • The province’s COVID-19 vaccine passport system is in force requiring people to show proof of vaccination for entry into non-essential venues including restaurants, bars, sports venues, gyms, theatres, cinemas and casinos. Patrons need to show certification that they received two doses of an approved vaccine at least two weeks before, along with identification that matches their vaccination document. Ontarians can download their proof of vaccination from this provincial government website. An app for the mobile phone will be available in October. Premier Doug Ford called for patience and respect for the new verification program. “I know this may be tough for some, but we owe it to our businesses to do everything we can to avoid lockdowns,” he told reporters.
  • Ford says any Progressive Conservative candidate running in the next election will have to be fully vaccinated.
  • Meanwhile one of Ford’s daughters shared a second anti-vaccine rant on Instagram in as many months this week as the province’s vaccine passports take effect. Krista Ford Haynes encourageD her followers to “ask questions” about COVID-19 vaccines while voicing her disapproval for vaccine passports in a video posted to her private account.
  • About 172 staff members at Windsor, Ont., hospitals have been suspended without pay for not getting their COVID-19 shots by the deadlines set out by their employers. They have until Oct. 6 to get the first shot or face firing.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 59 new cases for a total of 29,443 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 476 active cases and there have been 28,372 cases resolved. There are nine in hospital, seven in ICU. There are 17 outbreaks. So far, 1,587,512 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 742,412 are fully vaccinated.
  • The City of Ottawa has released a list of where it will require people to show proof of vaccination and identification. The list includes all indoor fitness activities from lane swims, to gym drop-ins to adult sports. This also applies to private clubs and gyms. Cchildren under the age of 18 entering a facility for the sole purpose of attending an organized sport are exempt. If an adult wants to accompany them, the adult must be vaccinated. Youth, ages 12 to 17, will need to show proof of vaccination to attend events as spectators or use the facilities in a drop-in capacity. You must be vaccinated to attend all theatre, cooking and art activities; this includes activities in rented city-owned spaces.
  • Quebec reported 683 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 404,974 infections. There have been 387,185 recoveries. There has been nine more deaths for a total of 11,340. Hospitalizations stand at 280 patients with 91 people in intensive care. The province completed 31,996 tests on Sept. 20. So far, So far, 12,954,968 doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,516 cases so far up nine. There have been 220 deaths, up three. There are 196 active cases and 13,100 recoveries. There are nine in hospital and four in intensive care. So far there have been 577,909 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • The Quebec government is poised on Friday to introduce legislation banning protests outside hospitals, vaccination clinics and schools.
  • New Brunswick reported 76 new cases today, the highest ever daily increase during the pandemic.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has now racked up 23 new cases of infection.
  • Manitoba has 70 new COVID-19 cases and one more death on Wednesday.
  • The province of Saskatchewan reported 426 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with 25 per cent of cases reported in children under 12, four of whom are in hospital. There were also five more deaths reported.
  • Alberta is reporting 1,336 new cases of COVID-19, 20 more deaths as speculation continues to swirl around the political future of Premier Jason Kenny. Alberta reported the death of an 18-year-old on Wednesday, the youngest person to have died from COVID-19 in the province.
  • Calgary city council passed all three readings of a vaccine passport bylaw that mandates participation for any business eligible to participate in the province’s restriction exemption program.
  • B.C. health officials announced 759 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 more deaths on Wednesday. Meanwhile at least 12 critically ill COVID-19 patients in B.C.’s north are being flown as far away as Vancouver Island to receive care because local hospitals no longer have enough capacity.
  • Vancouver transit police are investigating an assault on a woman on the city’s SkyTrain system after she asked a couple to wear masks.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,585,732+ cases with 27,488+ deaths and 1,512,791+ recoveries. There are 45,453+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 229,665,913+ cases, 4,711,253+ deaths and 5,980,945,575+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged a contribution of another 500 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to help those in poor countries get protected from infection.

Sept. 21

  • Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose: Canadians have returned virtually the same Parliament in Monday’s pandemic election. It really is deja vu all over again as the great sage, Yogi Berra, said.
  • Ontario reported 574 new cases reported today for a total of 580,768 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,663 deaths. There are 126 new cases in Toronto, 100 in Peel Region, 71 in York, 23 in Hamilton and 29 in Windsor-Essex. There are 330 in hospital. There are 179 in intensive care, 130 on a ventilator. There have been 564,927 cases resolved, up 764.
  • So far, there have been 21,434,434 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,327,192 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,453+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 16,944 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,631 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,776,613. There are 21,449 test results pending.
  • There are 10 outbreaks in long term care homes with 32 resident cases, 16 staff. So far, 4,007 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 46 new cases for a total of 29,384 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595. There are 475 active cases and there have been 28,314 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, six in ICU. There are 14 outbreaks. So far, 1,583,595 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 740,062 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 587 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 404,291 infections. There have been 386,572 recoveries. There has been nine more deaths for a total of 11,335. Hospitalizations stand at 274 patients with 86 people in intensive care. The province completed 22,917 tests on Sept. 19. So far, So far, 12,941,633 doses have been administered.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,507 cases so far up 82. There have been 217 deaths, up one. There are 217 active cases and 13,073 recoveries. There are 13 in hospital and six in intensive care. So far there have been 577,802 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Nunavut is reporting two new cases of COVID-19 two days after the territory reinstated its mask mandate.New Brunswick is restoring a mask mandate as 27 schools are reporting outbreaks. New Brunswick has another 65 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 25 new cases of COVID-19.
  • Manitoba has 66 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, along with one more death.
  • The Saskatchewan government reported 372 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and five additional deaths.
  • Alberta Premier Jason Kenny will shuffle his cabinet today and media reports suggest that Tyler Shandro will no longer be health minister. He will be replaced by Jason Copping. The province has also requested help from the federal government with patient transfers and critical care healthcare staff. Today Alberta reported 29 deaths, 1,519 new cases.
  • B.C. health officials announced 525 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death on Tuesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,581,910+ cases with 27,434+ deaths and 1,508,657+ recoveries. There are 45,819+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 229,170,561+ cases, 4,702,286+ deaths and 5,956,427,581+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 20

  • Ontario reported 610 new cases reported today for a total of 580,194 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,655 deaths. There are 126 new cases in Toronto, 100 in Peel Region, 71 in York, 23 in Hamilton and 29 in Windsor-Essex. There are 233 in hospital. There are 177 in intensive care, 123 on a ventilator. There have been 564,163 cases resolved, up 628.
  • So far, there have been 21,404,362 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,309,713 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,453+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 16,755 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,864 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,752,982. There are 9,337 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in long term care homes with 31 resident cases, 20 staff. So far, 4,007 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 60 new cases for a total of 29,338 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595, up one. There are 501 active cases and there have been 28,242 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, seven in ICU. There are 14 outbreaks. So far, 1,583,595 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 740,062 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 679 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 403,704 infections. There have been 385,775 recoveries. There has been one more death for a total of 11,326. Hospitalizations stand at 280 patients with 92 people in intensive care. The province completed 24,415 tests on Sept. 18. So far, So far, 12,929,144, doses have been administered with about 83 per cent of the eligible population double-vaxxed.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,425 cases so far. There have been 216 deaths. There are 238 active cases and 12,971 recoveries. There are 11 in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 577,691 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 55 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has 15 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • Masks in indoor public spaces will be mandatory in New Brunswick again, effective at the end of the day Tuesday, Premier Blaine Higgs has announced. It comes as 199 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the weekend. That includes 75 new cases reported Sunday, a single-day record since the beginning of the pandemic.
  • There were 42 new cases identified in Manitoba today along with two deaths.
  • Two more people with COVID-19 have died in Saskatchewan and the province is reporting 519 new COVID-19 cases Monday.
  • Four Alberta unions representing more than 100,000 health-care workers have written a letter to Premier Jason Kenney, pleading for help from the military in the province’s battle with COVID-19. The fourth wave of the pandemic is hitting Alberta particularly hard as doctors are preparing triage protocols and many hospitals have cancelled elective surgeries.
  • Alberta’s vaccine passport system came into force Monday. There are concerns over how the documents could be forged. The province says falsifying health records is an offence under the Health Information Act. Meanwhile, 4,633 new cases of the virus have been reported since Friday, along with 22 deaths.
  • British Columbia’s minister of public safety says the province is looking at “all possible options,” including so-called “bubble zones” and injunctions, after vaccine protesters targeted schools in the province’s interior. On Monday, health officials report 11 more people deaths and1,692 new cases confirmed over the weekend.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,569,186+ cases with 27,370+ deaths and 1,497,434+ recoveries. There are 44,382+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 228,630,066+ cases, 4,693,750+ deaths and 5,922,188,946+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Pfizer says clinical trials have shown that its vaccine is safe for children aged five to 11. The company has applied for authorization for use.
  • The White House says the non-essential travel ban on fully vaccinated travellers from the United Kingdom and the European Union will be lifted in November.
  • Meanwhile Washington has extended the ban on non-essential travel from Canada for another month.
  • The United States has now surpassed the death toll of the 1918 influenza epidemic. There have now been 675,575+ deaths and climbing at 2,000 a day. Experts expect another 100,000 deaths will be added to this terrible total.

Sept. 19

  • Ontario reported 715 new cases reported today for a total of 579,584 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,653 deaths. There are 139 new cases in Toronto, 59 in Peel Region, 68 in York, 68 in Hamilton and 40 in Windsor-Essex. There are 245 in hospital. There are 182 in intensive care, 129 on a ventilator. There have been 563,535 cases resolved, up 708.
  • So far, there have been 21,387,650 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,299,445 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,452+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,229+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 16,732 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 29,906 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,729,118. There are 12,330 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in long term care homes with 29 resident cases, 19 staff. So far, 4,007 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Police and bylaw officers in Kingston, Ont., issued thousands of dollars in fines Friday night under an emergency order designed to curb large parties that violate Ontario’s COVID-19 rules. A dozen partygoers at one residence near the corner of University Avenue and Earl Street were each given $2,000 fines after officers determined there were more than 25 people indoors, Kingston police said in a Saturday night press release.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 62 new cases for a total of 29,278 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 595, up one. There are 498 active cases and there have been 28,185 cases resolved. There are nine in hospital, seven in ICU. There are 12 outbreaks. So far, 1,577,996 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 736,567 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 742 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 403,025 infections. There have been four more deaths for a total of 11,325. Hospitalizations stand at 277 patients with 87 people in intensive care. So far, 83 per cent of the population is double-vaxxed (6,203,929 people).
  • Saskatchewan reported 543 new COVID-19 cases and one death on Sunday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,569,186+ cases with 27,370+ deaths and 1,497,434+ recoveries. There are 44,382+ active cases.
  • On the even of Election Day, new data from the Angus Reid Institute finds both leading parties in a statistical tie (32 per cent for the Conservatives and 30 per cent for the Liberals). For the Grits, it represents a decline from 36 per cent voter support at the beginning of the campaign, though the party maintains a position of strength in battleground Ontario. The Tories’s traditional bastions in the Prairies remain strong and burgeoning support in British Columbia has boosted its fortunes. But both are being tested by increased support for the New Democratic Party and the People’s Party of Canada.
  • Worldwide, there have been 228,381,655+ cases, 4,689,379+ deaths and 5,903,566,050+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 17

  • Ontario reported 795 new cases reported today for a total of 578,048 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,637 deaths. There are 166 new cases in Toronto, 77 in Peel Region, 71 in York, 33 in Hamilton and 36 in Windsor-Essex. There are 336 in hospital. There are 194 in intensive care, 133 on a ventilator. There have been 562,172 cases resolved, up 660.
  • So far, there have been 21,318,465 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,256,563 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,452+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,227+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 16,086+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 33,763 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,668,496. There are 15,943 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care homes with 37 resident cases, 16 staff. So far, 4,003 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ontario hospitals could soon be housing patients from Alberta as that province struggles with a rising number of hospitalizations and overcrowded intensive care units which are operating at 155 per cent capacity.
  • A Waterloo region child under the age of 10 who had COVID-19 has died, the region’s medical officer of health said Friday. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 75 new cases for a total of 29,151 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 477 active cases and there have been 28,080 cases resolved. There are 11 in hospital, five in ICU. There are 13 outbreaks. So far, 1,577,996 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 736,567 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 837 new cases of COVID-19 today. There have been 401,462 confirmed cases and 11,318 people have died. There have been 383,334 recoveries. There are 262 people in hospital, including 95 in intensive care. There were 32,586 tests on Sept. 14. There have been 12,870,222 doses administered in Quebec so far.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,425 cases so far, up 36. There have been 216 deaths. There are 238 active cases and 12,971 recoveries. There are 11 in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 575,362 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • New Brunswick Public Health is reporting 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. 
  • Nova Scotia reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the active caseload in the province to 162.
  • Saskatchewan reported seven new deaths and 472 new cases Friday.
  • Across Alberta, another 2,020 new cases of COVID-19 were announced Friday along with 18 more deaths.
  • The B.C. government announced another 11 deaths related to COVID-19 on Friday along with 786 new cases. B.C. says it won’t be able to take any of Alberta’s extra intensive care unit patients.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,564,090+ cases with 27,325+ deaths and 1,493,619+ recoveries. There are 43,146+ active cases.
  • As training camps loom a week away, the NHL estimates about 98 per cent of its players are vaccinated.
  • Worldwide, there have been 227,132,837+ cases, 4,671,893+ deaths and 5,840,483,150+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • In Alaska, the state’s largest hospital is no longer able to provide life-saving care to every patient who needs it, according to an open letter from the medical executive committee of Providence Alaska Medical Center this week. “If you or your loved one need specialty care at Providence, such as a cardiologist, trauma surgeon, or a neurosurgeon, we sadly may not have room now,” the letter read. “There are no more staffed beds left.”

Sept. 16

  • Ontario reported 864 new cases reported today for a total of 577,253 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,632 deaths. There are 162 new cases in Toronto, 122 in Peel Region, 78 in York, 53 in Hamilton and 50 in Windsor-Essex. There are 348 in hospital. There are 191 in intensive care, 120 on a ventilator. There have been 561,492 cases resolved, up 668.
  • So far, there have been 21,283,180 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,236,143 fully vaccinated. Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools. The province also says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups.
  • There have been 146,452+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,227+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 15,925+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 34,365 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,634,733. There are 16,278 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care homes with 33 resident cases, 19 staff. So far, 4,003 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 60 new cases for a total of 29,076 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 433 active cases and there have been 28,049 cases resolved. There are nine in hospital, three in ICU. There are 12 outbreaks. So far, 1,573,498 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 734,101 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ottawa Public Health is projecting a $61 million deficit in 2021 because of “continuing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.” A staff report says the mass vaccination campaign for COVID-19 vaccines, two large and lengthy waves of COVID-19 cases in January and April and the corresponding case and outbreak management efforts contributed to higher than anticipated expenditures.
  • Live music returns to Lansdowne Park this evening, as CityFolk music festival kicks off. The organizers of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest and CityFolk are hosting the Ottawa Fall Festivals — two live music events on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne over the next two weekends.
  • The University of Ottawa says more than 90 per cent of faculty, staff and students are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as the university implements a mandatory vaccination policy to step foot on campus. Less than 30 staff and faculty members at uOttawa have refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The Ottawa Senators are gambling that the province will allow a sold out Canadian Tire Centre on the opening night of the NHL season on Oct. 14. At present, the team is allowed to have either 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 fans in indoor arenas; whichever is fewer.
  • At least 90 per cent of the staff in Ottawa’s two largest school boards say they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
  • Quebec reported 782 new cases of COVID-19 today. There have been 400,625 confirmed cases and 11,315 people have died. There have been 382,703 recoveries. There are 256 people in hospital, including 87 in intensive care. There were 33,111 tests on Sept. 14. There have been 12,844,027 doses administered in Quebec so far.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,368 cases so far, up 20. There have been 216 deaths. There are 241 active cases and 12,911 recoveries. There are nine in hospital and four in intensive care. So far there have been 574,304 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Public Health is reporting 51 new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Thursday, along with a rise in demand for vaccination in the wake of new measures announced on Wednesday.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 34 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • P.E.I. reported 10 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, nine of which are related to the outbreak at an elementary school.
  • Manitoba health officials said 64 new infections of the virus have been identified along with two more deaths.
  • Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has announced an indoor masking mandate will come into effect on Friday followed by a proof-of-vaccination policy that will come into effect Oct. 1. Saskatchewan confirmed 439 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, along with one new death.
  • Richard Gotfried, a Calgary Tory MLA says the government’s inaction on rising COVID-19 cases “will cost us lives” and that there was ample warning to take decisive actions weeks earlier. The province is now in a public health emergency. Alberta reported 1,718 new cases, 10 more deaths on today. 
  • British Columbia reported 706 new cases and four new deaths on Thursday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,559,410+ cases with 27,305+ deaths and 1,489,783+ recoveries. There are 42,322+ active cases.
  • Any Canadian voter who is required to self-isolate due to a positive COVID-19 test, or close contact with someone who has tested positive, in accordance with their provincial or territorial rules, will have no way to cast a ballot on Sept. 20, Elections Canada says.
  • Canadian researchers who’ve been tracking the impact of COVID-19 during pregnancy, have found data suggesting people who are pregnant face significantly higher risks of serious illness requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or life support. CBC has more.
  • Health Canada has authorized brand name changes for three COVID-19 vaccines approved for use. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will now be named Comirnaty, the Moderna vaccine will be named SpikeVax, and the AstraZeneca vaccine will be named Vaxzevria. Health Canada said. “These are only name changes. There are no changes to the vaccines themselves,” the agency tweeted.
  • Worldwide, there have been 226,719,705+ cases, 4,663,423+ deaths and 5,801,651,824+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 15

  • Ontario reported 593 new cases reported today for a total of 576,389 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,629 deaths. There are 141 new cases in Toronto, 61 in Peel Region, 39 in York, 38 in Hamilton and 45 in Windsor-Essex. There are 346 in hospital. There are 188 in intensive care, 125 on a ventilator. There have been 560,824 cases resolved, up 755.
  • So far, there have been 21,247,717 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,215,951 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools.
  • The province says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups. So far, more than 30,000 third doses have been given. 
  • There have been 146,451+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,227+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 15,689+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 33,220 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,600,368. There are 18,006 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care homes with 41 resident cases, 23 staff. So far, 4,003 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ontario did not spend funds from a new $2.7 billion COVID-19 response program in the first quarter, the Financial Accountability Office found. Health spending was $691 million lower than planned in the area of population and public health because the province didn’t spend funds from the pandemic program. The COVID-19 Response transfer payment was introduced this year to support public health. A spokeswoman for the watchdog’s office said the FAO did not have details on the program’s intended recipients. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott disputed the FAO finding that “no spending occurred” and noted that the $2.7 billion is allocated for the entire fiscal year. She said the program is used for COVID-19 response measures like testing, vaccine and case management.
  • All employees of the Toronto District School Board, Canada’s largest, have until Nov. 1 to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The TDSB says 94 per cent of staff responded to a survey and of those who did respond, about 83 per cent indicated that they had been fully vaccinated. Until Nov. 1, those who are not yet fully vaccinated will have to comply with regular COVID-19 testing and provide proof of a negative result to attend a TDSB workplace. The tests will be provided to individuals at no cost, the board says. Staff who are not fully vaccinated or who have not disclosed their vaccination status must complete a mandatory education program supplied by the Ontario government no later than two weeks after the TDSB provides access to the program. Staff undergoing the education program are still required to meet the full vaccination requirement by Nov. 1. This policy also extends to those who visit board premises frequently, such as students on educational placements, individuals on internships, co-op placements, or apprenticeship programs, volunteers, permit holders and contractors, those who provide professional services to children at school and “other members of organizations not related to the board but who nevertheless work on or are invited onto board premises.” The board will provide exemptions.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 50 new cases for a total of 29,016 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 410 active cases and there have been 28,012 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, three in ICU. There are 11 outbreaks. So far, 1,573,498 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 734,101 are fully vaccinated.
  • The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has rejected a motion to make vaccines mandatory in schools.
  • Some Ottawa businesses taking part in pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics say they have received threats of vandalism and violence, CBC reports.
  • Quebec reported 785 new cases of COVID-19 today. There have been 399,843 confirmed cases and 11,313 people have died. There have been 382,050 recoveries. There are 250 people in hospital, including 85 in intensive care. There were 30,326 tests on Sept. 13. There have been 12,820,456 doses administered in Quebec so far.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,348 cases so far, up 19. There have been 215 deaths. There are 244 active cases and 12,888 recoveries. There are nine in hospital and four in intensive care. So far there have been 573,098 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • New Brunswick is reporting 63 new cases of COVID-19 and one death today. An angry and frustrated Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical officer, urged the unvaccinated to get the shot immediately “if not sooner.” In response, the government of Premier Blaine Higgs has imposed a vaccine passport proving full vaccination to enter such businesses as restaurants, theatres and sporting events, starting Sept. 22. The government says the province has a target of 90 per cent fully vaccinated because of the virulence of the Delta variant. New Brunswick has also reimposed controls on those entering the province. Those who are not fully vaccinated will have to quarantine for 14 days.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting six new cases of COVID-19. 
  • Prince Edward Island is reporting five new cases of COVID-19. To confront a rising number of cases the province is imposing a mask mandate on indoor settings.
  • Newfoundland has seen 10 new cases over the past two days.
  • There are 49 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba and two more people have died.
  • The Saskatchewan government confirmed 475 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday along with two deaths.
  • An apologetic Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said “we were wrong, and for that I apologize” as he announced the province will bring in a vaccine passport along with other COVID-19 health measures including masking in schools from Grade four to 12 and restrictions on restaurants, indoor gatherings, weddings and funerals, retail, entertainment venues and indoor sport and fitness. to curb the spread of the Delta variant. Alberta reported 1,609 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 new deaths today.
  • B.C. recorded 661 new infections Wednesday, along with seven deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,555,121+ cases with 27,263+ deaths and 1,485,526+ recoveries. There are 42,332+ active cases.
  • The Consumer Price Index rose 4.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis in August, the fastest pace since March 2003, up from a 3.7 per cent gain in July. The increase in prices mainly stems from an accumulation of recent price pressures and from lower price levels in 2020. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 3.2 per cent year over year, Statistics Canada reports.
  • Manufacturing sales fell 1.5 per cent in July to $59.6 billion, the agency says.
  • Anti-vaccine protesters have taken to wearing yellow stars and holding pictures of Anne Frank in an effort to compare pandemic measures to the Holocaust during which millions of Jews, Roma, gay and disabled individuals were murdered by the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler.
  • Worldwide, there have been 225,934,549+ cases, 4,651,777+ deaths and 5,770,157,250+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 14

  • Ontario reported 577 new cases reported today for a total of 575,796 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,624 deaths. There are 147 new cases in Toronto, 67 in Peel Region, 65 in York, 57 in Hamilton and 73 in Windsor-Essex. There are 363 in hospital. There are 192 in intensive care, 119 on a ventilator. There have been 560,069 cases resolved, up 683.
  • So far, there have been 21,212,026 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,195,431 fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario is now aiming to have 90 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. That will mean another 1.5 million jabs to be delivered. The province is also preparing to deliver vaccines at some 550 clinics at schools.
  • The province says it’s moving forward with offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain groups. So far, more than 30,000 third doses have been given. 
  • There have been 146,455+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,502+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,227+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 15,278+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 21,133 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,567,148. There are 17,141 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care homes with 29 resident cases, 22 staff. So far, 4,001 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ontario’s vaccine certificate system will cover “higher-risk” indoor spaces where masks can’t be worn at all times, officials say. The province has amended its list to apply to the following settings: restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, delivery and takeout); nightclubs, including outdoor areas; meeting and event spaces like banquet halls and convention centres; sports and fitness facilities and gyms, with the exception of youth recreational sports; sporting events; casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments; concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas; strip clubs, bath houses and sex clubs; racing venues; indoor areas of waterparks; areas of commercial TV, where studio audiences will be treated as patrons who have to be fully vaccinated. 
  • Businesses and organizations covered by the list will be required to cross-reference vaccination receipts with identification (including options like a driver’s license, birth certificate or passport), and make sure the receipt shows any patron has been fully vaccinated for 14 days.
  • Provincial offences officers will visit businesses and organizations starting this week to raise awareness and understanding of the new requirements. 
  • If individuals or businesses don’t comply, they could be charged or fined. 
  • There are exemptions including when a patron enters an indoor area solely to use a washroom, pay for an order or access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route. Or when a patron enters an indoor area to place or pick up an order (including placing a bet or picking up winnings at a horse racing track), to purchase admission, to make a retail purchase, and for the “necessary purposes of health and safety.” Children under 12 years old are exempt as are patrons under 18 entering the indoor premises of a recreational facility solely to participate in an organized sport. Weddings, funerals, rites or ceremonies, when the patron is not attending the associated social gathering (for example, the reception after a wedding ceremony) are also exempt. Finally patrons with a written document from a physician or a nurse stating they are exempt from vaccination for medical reasons.
  • Ontario school boards have received more details for unvaccinated staff who must take twice-weekly rapid COVID-19 tests before coming to work. A memo sent to boards by the deputy education minister said testing is to be done at home, and no more than 48 hours before coming to work. There should be at least three days between tests, the memo said. It listed Monday and Thursday, Friday and Tuesday, or Sunday and Wednesday as examples of a regular schedule for testing.
  • Kingston police and bylaw officers are “dismayed” that large parties continued over the weekend, despite an emergency order from the City of Kingston that quadrupled the possible fine for contravening the Reopening Ontario Act from $500 to $2,000. From Thursday to Sunday, police and bylaw officers issued 140 charges and fines, according to a news release Monday. Police logged six nuisance parties, which resulted in $12,000 worth of fines under the new rules, while bylaw reported three nuisance parties and two aggravated nuisance parties and distributed fines totalling $13,500.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 25 new cases for a total of 28,966 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 398 active cases and there have been 27,974 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, one in ICU. There are nine outbreaks. So far, 1,569,994 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 732,243 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 633 new cases of COVID-19 today. There have been 399,058 confirmed cases and 11,312 people have died. There have been 381,505 recoveries. There are 230 people in hospital, including 78 in intensive care. There were 21,079 tests on Sept. 12. There have been 12,801,537 doses administered in Quebec so far.
  • In the Outaouais, there has been 13,329 cases so far, up 93. There have been 215 deaths. There are 263 active cases and 12,851 recoveries. There are nine in hospital and three in intensive care. So far there have been 571,831 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • New Brunswick has 35 new cases of COVID-19, including cases at two more schools.
  • Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 66 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and as a result the province is delaying Phase 5 of its COVID-19 reopening plan until at least Oct. 4.
  • Manitoba has 56 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.
  • Saskatchewan reported 506 new cases on Tuesday, along with two deaths.
  • Alberta’s chief medical health officer says the decision to lift almost all COVID-19 public-health restrictions in early July set the province on the trajectory towards the current wave of the pandemic. Instead Hinshaw said it’s clear the province is dealing with a “crisis.”
  • Meanwhile Albertans will be able to print off a card-sized copy of their vaccination record Thursday. The province reported 1,434 new cases today with nine deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,551,072+ cases with 27,238+ deaths and 1,481,813+ recoveries. There are 42,021+ active cases.
  • New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds the Conservative (32 per cent) and Liberal (30 per cent) parties in a statistical deadlock, with each garnering support from three-in-ten voters. The NDP appear poised to increase their vote share, currently supported by 21 per cent of Canadians after receiving 16 per cent of the vote in 2019. Regionally, the Liberals hold on to a key five-point advantage in Ontario but have ceded ground in British Columbia. The Tories and NDP lead the Liberals in B.C. by double digits. In Quebec, the Bloc Quebecois has pulled into a tie with the Liberals.
  • Veterinarians are at a crisis point, with a dire staffing shortage amplified by the pandemic puppy craze, says Jan Robinson, chief executive officer for the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the body that licenses vets and accredits their clinics. 
  • Worldwide, there have been 225,389,505+ cases, 4,642,054+ deaths and 5,736,218,898+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Vladimir Putin is self-isolating because of a possible exposure to COVID-19.

Sept. 13

  • Ontario reported 600 new cases reported today for a total of 575,219 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,617 deaths. There are 147 new cases in Toronto, 67 in Peel Region, 65 in York, 57 in Hamilton and 73 in Windsor-Essex. There are 289+ in hospital. The province says a technical issue has prevented the release of today’s data on hospitalization. There are 189 in intensive care, 116 on a ventilator. There have been 559,386 cases resolved, up 627.
  • So far, there have been 21,167,527 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,109,582 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,452+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,225+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 14,884+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 19,125 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,546,015. There are 9,242 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in long term care residence with 31 resident cases, 21 staff. So far, 4,001 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 52 new cases for a total of 28,941 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 408 active cases and there have been 27,939 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, one in ICU. There are nine outbreaks. So far, 1,569,994 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 732,243 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 639 new cases of COVID-19 today. There have been 398,425 confirmed cases and 11,305 people have died. There have been 380,825 recoveries. There are 227 people in hospital, including 75 in intensive care. There were 22,429 tests on Sept. 11. There were 27,233 vaccine doses administered or a total of 12,782,825 doses administered in Quebec.
  • In the Outaouais there has been 13,325 cases so far, up 47. There have been 215 deaths. There are 258 active cases and 12,763 recoveries. There are seven in hospital and five in intensive care. So far there have been 571,059 vaccine doses administered in the region.
  • Health officials in New Brunswick are reporting 122 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. The province imposed a mask mandate for schools and hinted a vaccine passport might be coming.
  • Saskatchewan set a new high mark for single-day positive cases with 449 and added four more deaths from COVID-19.
  • Alberta reported 4,740 new cases of COVID-19 and 18 new deaths as the province released three days of data on Monday. Alberta Health lists 198 people being treated in intensive care beds, the highest number the province has experienced. Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) data differs slightly, listing 202 ICU patients.
  • British Columbia’s vaccine passport comes into effect today. The card will be needed to dine indoors, go to the gym or watch a movie in a theatre. The province also ordered all health care workers to get vaccinated. The mandate comes on a day B.C. health officials announced 1,984 new cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths since Friday. The vaccine requirement will come into effect on Oct. 26 and will apply to everyone who works in a health-care facility, including students, physicians, residents and contractors.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,538,093+ cases with 27,170+ deaths and 1,471,725+ recoveries. There are 39,198+ active cases.
  • An organization calling itself Canadian Frontline Nurses organized small protests in front of hospitals across Canada including at the Civic campus in Ottawa. The protests prompted calls for safe zones around health care institutions to protect workers and patients. Somerset Count, Catherine Mckenney was one who made such a call.
  • Worldwide, there have been 224,792,464+ cases, 4,633,281+ deaths and 5,563,863,148+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Current evidence does not appear to support a need for booster shots in the general public right now, according to an international group of vaccine scientists, including some from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization.

Sept. 12

  • Ontario reported 784 new cases reported today for a total of 574,619 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,611 deaths. There are 147 new cases in Toronto, 67 in Peel Region, 65 in York, 57 in Hamilton and 73 in Windsor-Essex. There are 289 in hospital with 184 in intensive care, 107 on a ventilator. There have been 558,759 cases resolved, up 770.
  • So far, there have been 21,167,527 vaccinations delivered in Ontario. There are 10,109,582 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,450+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,225+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 14,646+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,625 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,526,890. There are 9,122 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care residence with 32 resident cases, 17 staff. So far, 3,998 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • in Ontario, at least 208 students in the Windsor area have been sent home from exposure to positive COVID-19 cases.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 61 new cases for a total of 28,889 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 394 active cases and there have been 27,901 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, one in ICU. There are nine outbreaks. So far, 1,565,077 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 729,563 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec reported 757 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. There have been 397,786 confirmed cases and 11,301 people have died. There are 213 people in hospital, including 75 in intensive care. There were 27,233 vaccine doses administered or a total of 12,570,901 doses administered in Quebec. So far, 88 per cent of the eligible population has received one dose of vaccine, and 81 per cent have received two doses.
  • On Monday Quebec is going to start using rapid testing to detect cases of COVID-19 in 72 schools across the province. Most are in areas with a high number of active cases, including the Montreal neighbourhoods of Parc-Extension and Montréal-Nord, as well as Chomedey in Laval. About 20 per cent of schools across the province are reporting cases of COVID-19, which accounts for about 600 schools.
  • The Quebec government says it is confident a “large majority” of health-care workers will comply with its mandatory vaccination policy which comes into effect Oct. 15. About 30,000 staff in the private health system and 25,800 in the public system remain unvaccinated. Among the public sector, 92 per cent of workers have received one dose and 88 per cent have received two.
  • In P.E.I., Dr. Heather Morrison has made the decision to cancel classes at several Charlottetown schools following six confirmed coronavirus cases among people under the age of 19.
  • Saskatchewan confirmed 420 new cases on Sunday, the second time in three days the province has added more than 400 new cases. There were three deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,538,093+ cases with 27,170+ deaths and 1,471,725+ recoveries. There are 39,198+ active cases.
  • The latest Canadian data shows that from late July to late August — while the more-contagious delta variant was circulating widely — unvaccinated individuals were 36 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than those who were fully vaccinated.
  • Worldwide, there have been 224,583,120+ cases, 4,629,394+ deaths and 5,677,103,019+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found those who were not fully vaccinated were at least 10 times more likely to be hospitalized or die of COVID-19 than those who were fully vaccinated.
  • In the U.K., the latest public health report shows that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are getting infected — and infection rates in certain age groups are even higher among fully vaccinated individuals.
  • Authorities in Britain will not require vaccine passports for nightclubs and other crowded events in England.
  • Los Angeles County school officials have ordered vaccinations for all students aged 12 and over, becoming the largest school district in the United States to take that step. 

Sept. 10

  • Ontario reported 848 new cases reported today for a total of 572,978 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,590 deaths, up 11. There are 159 new cases in Toronto, 73 in Peel Region, 72 in York, 55 in Hamilton and 66 in Windsor-Essex. There are 361 in hospital with 177 in intensive care, 113 on a ventilator. There have been 557,265 cases resolved, up 770.
  • So far, there have been 21,062,281 vaccinations in all. There are 10,109,582 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,444+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,225+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 14,051+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 28,247 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,476,997. There are 13,296 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care residence with 32 resident cases, 17 staff. So far, 3,996 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 50 new cases for a total of 28,753 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 594, up one. There are 328 active cases and there have been 27,831 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, one in ICU. There are eight outbreaks. So far, 1,560,670 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 727,446 are fully vaccinated.
  • COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for all teachers and staff members of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board.
  • Quebec has added 879 new cases for a total of 396,034. So far, there have been 378,721 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,301 deaths. There are 207 people in hospital. There are 72 in intensive care units. The province completed 28,442 test samples on Sept. 8. So far, 12,706,193 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,189 cases so far, up 24. There have been 215 deaths. There are 233 active cases and 12,741 recoveries. There are six in hospital, four in intensive care. So far, 568,059 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • A 68-year-old Gatineau, Que., woman has filed a complaint to the body that oversees western Quebec’s health authority after writhing on the floor of the Hull Hospital’s emergency room for hours with a perforated appendix. CBC has more.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador reports 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • New Brunswick reports 24 new cases while neighbouring Nova Scotia reports 11.
  • There are 105 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Friday and one more person has died from the illness. 
  • Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw has admitted the decision to change the province’s approach to COVID-19 from a pandemic approach to an endemic one was “too early.” Alberta Health says intensive units in the province are at 130 per cent capacity.
  • Saskatchewan will now require those with a positive COVID-19 test to go into quarantine for 10 days. Those unvaccinated people in close contact with the case will also be required to quarantine. Those who are fully vaccinated will have to self-monitor for symptoms. The province is also pausing non-essential and elective procedures to clear space in hospitals. There were 432 cases reported today, along with one death.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,533,466+ cases with 27,134+ deaths and 1,468,198+ recoveries. There are 38,134+ active cases.
  • Statistics Canada says employment rose by 90,000 (0.5 per cent) in August, the third consecutive monthly increase. Employment is within 156,000 (0.8 per cent) of its February 2020 level, the closest since the onset of the pandemic. August employment gains were concentrated in full-time work with 69,000 jobs filled. The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 7.1 per cent in August, the lowest since the onset of the pandemic.
  • National net worth, the sum of national wealth and Canada’s net foreign asset position, increased by 4.6 per cent to reach $15,649.3 billion at the end of the second quarter, StatsCan reports. Within this review the agency reported that, on a seasonally adjusted basis, total credit market borrowing rose sharply to $63.8 billion in the second quarter, more than double the amount of borrowing in the first quarter, and well above the previous record set in the third quarter of 2020 (up $37.5 billion). Demand for mortgage loans was $57.2 billion, driving the overall increase and eclipsing the previous record for mortgage borrowing in the fourth quarter of 2020, as mortgage rules were tightened in June and rates remained low compared with historical levels. Demand for non-mortgage loans by households was $6.6 billion, also double the previous quarter. Overall, mortgage borrowing made up 89.7 per cent of the net additions to credit market debt. 
  • From March 2020 to the beginning of June 2021, there were an estimated 23,547 excess deaths in Canada, StatsCan says. There were 6.7 per cent more deaths than what would be expected were there no pandemic, after accounting for changes in the population, such as aging. 
  • Advance polls for the federal election are now open. There are some differences from years past, Elections Canada spokesperson Réjean Grenier says. Polling stations may have been held at schools or community buildings, but Grenier says that due to COVID-19 protocols, it has meant many schools can’t be used and some landlords didn’t want electors in their buildings, he said. People should take their voter information card along with identification, such as a driver’s license. 
  • The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is recommending a third dose of mRNA vaccine for people with compromised immune systems.
  • Worldwide, there have been 223,318,139+ cases, 4,608,243+ deaths and 5,618,487,517+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • BioNTech is set to request approval across the globe to use its COVID-19 vaccine in children as young as five over the next few weeks and preparations for a launch are on track, the biotech firm’s two top executives told Der Spiegel.

Sept. 9

  • Ontario reported 798 new cases reported today for a total of 572,130 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,579, up 10 deaths. There are 159 new cases in Toronto, 73 in Peel Region, 72 in York, 55 in Hamilton and 66 in Windsor-Essex. There are 365 in hospital with 185 in intensive care, 115 on a ventilator. There have been 556,495 cases resolved, up 772.
  • So far, there have been 21,062,281 vaccinations in all. There are 10,109,582 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,440+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,225+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 13,303+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 29,684 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,448,750. There are 14,130 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care residence with 28 resident cases, 19 staff. So far, 3,995 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 61 new cases for a total of 28,703 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 318 active cases and there have been 27,792 cases resolved. There are six in hospital, one in ICU. There are eight outbreaks. So far, 1,560,670 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 727,446 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec has added 703 new cases for a total of 395,155. So far, there have been 378,021 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,297 deaths. There are 198 people in hospital. There are 70 in intensive care units. The province completed 25,410 test samples on Sept. 7. So far, 12,674,368 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,165 cases so far, up 26. There have been 215 deaths. There are 243 active cases and 12,707 recoveries. There are five in hospital, two in intensive care. So far, 566,699 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,529,300+ cases with 27,106+ deaths and 1,463,843+ recoveries. There are 38,351+ active cases.
  • The average cost per hospitalization of a COVID-19 patient in Canada is estimated to be $23,000, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. That price tag goes for both ICU and non-ICU patients. By comparison, it is three times higher than the average cost of someone hospitalized for a heart attack, $8,000, and almost as costly as it is to hospitalize a kidney transplant patient, $27,000. The nearly $1 billion spent on hospitalized COVID-19 patients excludes Quebec hospitalizations, according to the data.
  • Worldwide, there have been 222,862,499+ cases, 4,600,959+ deaths and 5,591,844,591+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 8

  • Ontario reported 554 new cases reported today for a total of 571,332 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,569, up 16 deaths. There are 149 new cases in Toronto, 46 in Peel Region, 41 in York, 21 in Hamilton and 47 in Windsor-Essex. There are 375 in hospital with 194 in intensive care, 115 on a ventilator. There have been 555,723 cases resolved, up 770.
  • So far, there have been 21,023,890 vaccinations in all. There are 10,089,234 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,437+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,223+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 13,008+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 21,840 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,419,066. There are 13,944 test results pending.
  • There are seven outbreaks in long term care residence with 27 resident cases, 23 staff. So far, 3,993 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 32 new cases for a total of 28,642 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 288 active cases and there have been 27,761 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, one in ICU. There are seven outbreaks. So far, 1,560,670 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 727,446 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec has added 600 new cases for a total of 394,452. So far, there have been 377,531 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,296 deaths. There are 178 people in hospital. There are 71 in intensive care units. The province completed 21,000 test samples on Sept. 6. So far, 12,643,822 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,139 cases so far. There have been 215 deaths. There are 228 active cases and 12,696 recoveries. There are five in hospital, two in intensive care. So far, 563,713 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,525,646+ cases with 27,067+ deaths and 1,461,524+ recoveries. There are 37,055+ active cases.
  • The Bank of Canada kept its key interest rate target on hold Wednesday as it warned the fourth wave of the pandemic and supply bottlenecks could weigh on the economic recovery which is expected to strengthen in the second half of the year. The central bank held its target for the overnight rate at 0.25 per cent and said it will also maintain its quantitative easing program by buying bonds at a target pace of $2 billion per week.
  • New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute is showing rising support for mandatory vaccinations to enter public spaces as Canadians – the vast majority of whom are vaccinated – look for ways to end the fourth wave and renewed restrictions. Three-quarters of those surveyed say provincial governments should use regulatory measures to increase vaccination, while one-in-three say governments should use incentives.
  • Worldwide, there have been 222,112,738+ cases, 4,590,004+ deaths and 5,551,129,696+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The World Health Organization is urging countries to postpone booster doses until the end of the year to allow low-income countries to start to see vaccination levels use significantly. WHO head Tedros Ghebreyesus called upon wealthy countries to do their part in providing vaccines to low-income countries.
  • Vaccinated people who get infected with coronavirus anyway and suffer severe symptoms tend to be older – 80 on average – and also suffer from other conditions such as obesity or diabetes, Yale University researchers have reported.
  • Children now represent more than a quarter of weekly COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  • The United Kingdom has recorded 191 more coronavirus-related deaths and 38,975 new infections in the latest 24-hour period. In the last seven days, infection numbers have risen 15.3 per cent on the week before, while the weekly death count is up 26.1 per cent. So far, 133,674 people have now died from COVID. Nearly two-thirds of the UK population are fully vaccinated.

Sept. 7

  • Ontario reported 564 new cases reported today for a total of 570,778 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,553 deaths. There are 156 new cases in Toronto, 100 in Peel Region, 59 in York, 71 in Hamilton and 68 in Windsor-Essex. There are 295 in hospital with 192 in intensive care, 113 on a ventilator. There have been 554,953 cases resolved.
  • So far, there have been 20,950,000 vaccinations in all. There are 10,049,092 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,435+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,223+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 12,647+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 17,118 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,397,226. There are 8,733 test results pending.
  • There are nine outbreaks in long term care residence with 31 resident cases, 25 staff. So far, 3,989 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 28 new cases for a total of 28,610 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 296 active cases and there have been 27,721 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital, one in ICU. There are five outbreaks. So far, 1,558,229 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 726,266 are fully vaccinated.
  • More than 42,000 students are back in class in the Ottawa Catholic School Board. The OCSB says its schools are safe. Upgrades include more than 1,000 portable HEPA air filter units, UV ceiling lights in 200 classrooms and unit ventilators in 220 portables. The board has spent $26 million in overall COVID-19 mitigation practices in schools, with $15 million of that going toward improved ventilation.
  • Students in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board return on Thursday.
  • Carleton University has implemented a COVID-19 screening system that includes a daily symptom screening, spot checks of results, vaccination attestations and QR code check-ins as students return to class. Students in residence, commuters, faculty and staff have to complete the daily screening on the cuScreen platform, which results in a green or red pass  — green means they can safely go to campus, and red means they have to stay home.
  • The National Capital Commission (NCC) has reopened a stretch of Colonel By Drive that had been closed during the summer allowing people to stay active during the pandemic.
  • Three more vaccination clinics in Ottawa have closed down as a majority of residents have received their jabs. The clinics at the Nepean Sportsplex and Ottawa City Hall delivered their final doses Monday. The clinic for post-secondary students at the University of Ottawa’s Minto Sports Complex also ended Monday.
  • Quebec has added 2,489 new cases over the long weekend for a total of 393,852. So far, there have been 377,099 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,293 deaths. There are 171 people in hospital. There are 68 in intensive care units. The province completed 17,887 test samples on Sept. 5. So far, 12,619,301 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,008 cases so far, up 23. There have been 215 deaths. There are 186 active cases and 12,607 recoveries. There are four in hospital, two in intensive care. So far, 558,351 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • The Legault government announced that all health and social services workers in Quebec must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15 or face suspension without pay. The new mandatory vaccination requirement applies to public and private sectors workers and goes a step further from the previous mandate for only workers who deal with patients for more than 15 minutes. Anyone visiting a hospital must present their vaccine passport. The government, however, will make some exceptions. For example, an unvaccinated person who wishes to visit a dying loved one will be allowed to enter the hospital. 
  • New Brunswick is reporting 54 new cases of COVID-19 over the Labour Day long weekend, along with one more death. Meanwhile Nova Scotia reported 29 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days.
  • Manitoba is reporting six more deaths and 36 new cases of the virus Tuesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,515,696+ cases with 27,021+ deaths and 1,452,950+ recoveries. There are 35,726+ active cases.
  • Saskatchewan reported 305 new cases and one more death.
  • Alberta reported 4,903 new cases and 17 new deaths from the virus over the Labour Day long weekend.
  • B.C. health officials announced 2,425 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 more deaths over the Labour Day long weekend.
  • Canada has reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from across the globe, and let them skip quarantine.
  • After a late afternoon campaign event in London, Ont., some people in a noisy throng of anti-vaccination supporters threw gravel at Justin Trudeau as he walked out of the microbrewery to his campaign bus. The event capped a day of angry protests by small crowds at each stop.
  • Worldwide, there have been 221,263,863+ cases, 4,578,722+ deaths and 5,515,130,117+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 6

  • On Sept. 7, Canada will open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from across the globe, and let them skip the country’s 14-day quarantine requirement. Unvaccinated foreigners who are minors will be allowed to enter Canada with their fully vaccinated parents or guardians, but those 12 or older must quarantine. Unvaccinated children under 12 can skip quarantine, but must follow a strict set of rules for 14 days. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 55 new cases for a total of 28,553 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 320 active cases and there have been 27,582 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, two in ICU. There are three outbreaks. So far, 1,543,133 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 718,506 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec has 530 new COVID-19 cases Monday, according to the province’s health ministry. There have been 393,340 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. There have been 11,193 deaths so far. There are 160 in hospital, 64 in intensive care. There have been 12,603,858 vaccination doses delivered in the province so far; 563,242 in the Outaouais.
  • Facing a Delta variant-led fourth wave, Alberta has cancelled plans to end routine COVID-19 swab testing amid a rising fourth wave, as it also ramps up coronavirus sewage monitoring to cover most of the province by Oct. 1. Alberta is also working with out-of-province staffing agencies to bring in contract nurses, as hospitals contend with staff shortages and full beds due to the surging fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,515,6967+ cases with 27,021+ deaths and 1,452,950+ recoveries. There are 35,726+ active cases.
  • National and provincial medical groups are decrying an increase in “bullying, attacks and violence” directed at health-care workers, as hospitals are targeted by large groups of anti-vaccine protesters and those opposed to mandatory vaccination.
  • Worldwide, there have been 220,957,255+ cases, 4,571,729+ deaths and 5,480,646,636+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday said nationwide coronavirus curbs would be lifted on Wednesday, with exception of the biggest city of Auckland, as the country aims to control an outbreak of the delta variant. Ardern said the lockdown that began last week would continue in Auckland until at least Sept. 14.

Sept. 5

  • Ontario reported 811 new cases for a total of 569,633 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,548 deaths. There are 156 new cases in Toronto, 100 in Peel Region, 59 in York, 71 in Hamilton and 68 in Windsor-Essex. There are 266 in hospital with 179 in intensive care, 104 on a ventilator. There have been 553,549 cases resolved, up 573 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,950,000 vaccinations in all. There are 10,049,092 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,431+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,223+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 12,467+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 22,410 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,360,908. There are 8,469 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in long term care residence with 31 resident cases, 23 staff. So far, 3,987 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 49 new cases today for a total of 28,412 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 268 active cases and there have been 27,582 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, one in ICU. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,543,133 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 718,506 are fully vaccinated.
  • The Escapade festival is requiring anyone in attendance to show proof they’ve been fully immunized against COVID-19. It’s confirming people’s status with the CANImmunize app.
  • The union representing the city’s firefighters says it has concerns with the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy rolled out Friday by the City of Ottawa. CBC has more.
  • The local Shakespearean troupe, A Company of Fools, has returned to seven Ottawa-area parks in the waning days of summer with 12 performances of a mash-up of love scenes from some of the Bard’s most popular plays including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  
  • In Canada, there have been 1,511,212+ cases with 27,006+ deaths and 1,449,550+ recoveries. There are 34,656+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 220,463,230+ cases, 4,564,655+ deaths and 5,443,863,696+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 3

  • Ontario reported 807 new cases for a total of 567,878 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,536 deaths, up six. There are 175 new cases in Toronto, 136 in Peel Region, 85 in York, 46 in Hamilton and 72 in Windsor-Essex. There are 326 in hospital with 169 in intensive care, 105 on a ventilator. There have been 552,248 cases resolved, up 738 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,871,664 vaccinations in all. There are 10,006,367 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,428+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 11,319+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 28,786 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,312,239. There are 13,055 test results pending.
  • There are six outbreaks in long term care residence with 34 resident cases, 19 staff. So far, 3,986 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives have prorogued the legislature until after the federal election, a move the Opposition called an “abdication of responsibility” as the province fights a fourth wave of COVID-19. The government said Friday that the legislature will return on Oct. 4, two weeks after Canadians head to the polls.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 49 new cases today for a total of 28,412 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 268 active cases and there have been 27,582 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, one in ICU. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,543,133 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 718,506 are fully vaccinated.
  • The City of Ottawa will require all staff, volunteers, contractors and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 1. If they refuse and don’t have a medical reason, they won’t be allowed to keep working. The policy requires workers to have their first shot by Sept. 15 and second shot by Oct. 15, allowing the two weeks for immunity to build by Nov. 1. Only a “valid medical reason” from a doctor or nurse practitioner will allow workers to continue in their job without a COVID-19 vaccine. Those that refuse will have to attend a mandatory education session and if they still won’t get a shot, will have to go on vacation, take a leave of absence, or be dismissed.
  • Eighty per cent of the city’s eligible residents are now fully vaccinated. Ottawa Public Health has a target of 90 per cent.
  • Quebec added 750 new cases for a total of 391,363. So far, there have been 374,807 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,291 deaths. There are 147 people in hospital. There are 49 in intensive care units. The province completed 21,178 test samples on Sept. 1. So far, 12,521,666 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 13,008 cases so far, up 23. There have been 215 deaths. There are 186 active cases and 12,607 recoveries. There are four in hospital, two in intensive care. So far, 558,351 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • Pools and beaches in Gatineau are closed because of COVID-19 cases in staff. The city says splash pads remain open to give the public a chance to cool off.
  • Politicians and health care are slamming mass protests outside hospitals across B.C. earlier this week. According to police estimates, thousands of demonstrators gathered outside hospitals in Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, Victoria, Prince George, Nanaimo and in other Canadian cities. The protests were organized by Canadian Frontline Nurses, a group founded by two Ontario nurses who have promoted conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and attended rallies in the U.S. for those who think the pandemic is a “fraud.” 
  • Manitoba reported 56 new cases of COVID-19.
  • Saskatchewan reported 418 new COVID-19 cases along with two more deaths. 
  • Alberta is making masks mandatory in indoor public spaces, setting a curfew on liquor sales and offering $100 to unvaccinated people who get the COVID-19 vaccine, all in an effort to stem a fourth-wave surge. The measures come into effect on Saturday. There were 1,401 new cases reported Friday and five more deaths.
  • British Columbia recorded another 671 new cases and three more deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,507,051+ cases with 26,991+ deaths and 1,446,567+ recoveries. There are 33,493+ active cases.
  • Reported daily COVID-19 caseloads in Canada could reach 15,000 new cases daily, unprecedented highs later this month if current levels of virus transmission are not reduced, new federal modelling data shows. On the eve of the Labour Day weekend, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam took aim at young adults, describing an “urgent need” for more people between the ages of 18 and 39 to get vaccinated in order to prevent a rapid worsening of Canada’s COVID-19 situation. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that 5.2 million eligible Canadians have not yet received any COVID-19 vaccination, while another 2.5 million are partially vaccinated.
  • Data released by PHAC shows that 74 per cent of those between the ages of 18 and 29 and 77 per cent of those in their 30s have been fully vaccinated, versus 82 per cent of those in their 40s and even higher percentages of older age groups.
  • The Angus Reid Institute says a new poll shows most parents of school-aged children are comfortable sending their kids to in-person learning. Three-quarters of those with a child 12 to 17, and two-thirds of parents with a child aged five to 11, say they are comfortable putting their kids back in classrooms. Three-quarters with older kids, and four-in-five with kids five to 11 believe vaccines should be mandatory for school staff including teachers.
  • Canada will donate more than 1.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to three African countries — Nigeria, Kenya and Niger — through the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility.
  • Worldwide, there have been 219,273,783+ cases, 4,546,104+ deaths and 5,396,408,743+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Sept. 2

  • Ontario reported 865 new cases for a total of 567,071 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,530 deaths, up 14. There are 175 new cases in Toronto, 104 in Peel Region, 91 in York, 89 in Hamilton and 48 in Windsor-Essex. There are 320 in hospital with 162 in intensive care, 105 on a ventilator. There have been 551,510 cases resolved, up 681 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,827,809 vaccinations in all. There are 9,961,702 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,425+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 10,994+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 27,293 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,283,453. There are 13,835 test results pending.
  • There are six outbreaks in long term care residence with 28 resident cases, 17 staff. So far, 3,986 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • New modelling released by Ontario’s COVID-19 science advisory table says more than 85 per cent of the eligible population needs to be vaccinated to avoid a lockdown this fall. The table said Ontarians also need to reduce contacts to about 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels until vaccination levels are high enough to protect the population. To reduce contacts, the table recommends reducing indoor density, maintaining physical distancing, limiting large gatherings; continuing indoor mask policies and working from home and implementing policies that accelerate vaccination (e.g. certificates, mandates, outreach). The table confirmed that Ontario is in the fourth wave of the pandemic and it said its modelling predicts the resulting spike in cases will be “substantial.”
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 39 new cases today for a total of 28,412 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 237 active cases and there have been 27,582 cases resolved. There are eight in hospital, one in ICU. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,543,133 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 718,506 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ottawa’s medical officer of health, Dr. Vera Etches, is optimistic the city can keep things under control this fall as children head back to school and a fourth wave of infection caused by the Delta variant emerges. The key, she says, is vaccination, wearing masks and limiting gatherings.
  • Quebec added 699 new cases for a total of 390,613. So far, there have been 374,266 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,289 deaths. There are 138 people in hospital. There are 42 in intensive care units. The province completed 22,128  test samples on Aug. 31. So far, 12,486,612 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,985 cases so far, up 27. There have been 215 deaths. There are 186 active cases and 12,584 recoveries. There are four in hospital. So far, 558,351 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • Manitoba reported 36 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, including 24 in people who were not fully vaccinated. Starting next Tuesday, capacity at large, outdoor gathering sizes will be reduced to 500 from 1,500, and proof of vaccination will be required to dine in at food courts and to enter indoor areas at a gallery or museum, Manitoba’s chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced Thursday. Roussin also said wedding receptions held in licensed premises — or unlicensed venues that have applied for a temporary licence — will be under the same rules at restaurants,  meaning guests will need to show proof of vaccination to take part in the festivities, starting Tuesday.
  • Saskatchewan reported 267 new COVID-19 cases and one death on Thursday.
  • Alberta reported 1,339 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. Five additional COVID-19 deaths were also reported. Today, 70 per cent of the province’s eligible population has received two shots of a COVID-19 vaccine. About 78.2 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one dose.
  • B.C. is reporting six deaths and 801 new cases.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,503,018+ cases with 26,962+ deaths and 1,443,808+ recoveries. There are 32,248+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 218,612,128+ cases, 4,546,176+ deaths and 5,356,196,098+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the U.S. told Americans to “reconsider travel” to Canada mainly for the benefit of those not yet vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • Yikes: B.1.621, also known as mu, has been dubbed the latest variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO). “The mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” reads the WHO’s latest weekly epidemiological update. That means those with some level of immunity to earlier strains, either by previous infection or vaccination, might be susceptible to infection from mu.
  • And in South African scientists have detected a new coronavirus variant with multiple mutations but are yet to establish whether it is more contagious or able to overcome the immunity provided by vaccines or prior infection. The new variant, known as C.1.2, was first detected in May and has now spread to most South African provinces and to seven other countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania, according to research which is yet to be peer-reviewed. C.1.2 isn’t deemed a variant of interest or concern yet by the WHO, but researchers are pushing the organization to watch it closely.

Sept. 1

  • Ontario reported 656 new cases for a total of 566,206 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,516 deaths, up 13. There are 158 new cases in Toronto, 59 in Peel Region, 76 in York, 73 in Hamilton and 50 in Windsor-Essex. There are 339 in hospital with 163 in intensive care, 96 on a ventilator. There have been 550,829 cases resolved, up 650 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,792,657 vaccinations in all. There are 9,964,336 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,341+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 10,543+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 27,572 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,256,160. There are 12,846 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in long term care residence with 30 resident cases, 17 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that the province will distribute a vaccine passport starting Sept. 22 to fully vaccinated people. People will use a pdf version of the receipts given after receiving a vaccination. On Oct. 22, it will shift to certificates that include QR codes containing much of the same information included on the vaccines receipts that are already available. This will be distributed on an app. The passport will be needed to enter: restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, delivery and takeout); nightclubs, including outdoor areas; meeting and event spaces like banquet halls and convention centres; sports and fitness facilities and gyms with the exception of youth recreational sports; sporting events; casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments; concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas; strip clubs, bath houses and sex clubs and racing venues. It will not be needed to enter grocery stores or retail stores. “Fully vaccinated” here means having had two doses, with the most recent at least 14 days prior.
  • The leaders of 14 hospitals in Ontario’s central region have come up with a joint COVID-19 vaccination policy that they say will ultimately lead to unpaid leave or termination for unvaccinated staff. As of Sept. 7, all employees, credentialed staff, contractors, students and volunteers will have to provide proof of full vaccination or undergo regular testing and an education session. The hospitals are Humber River Hospital, Mackenzie Health, Trillium Health Partners, Georgian Bay General Hospital, Halton Healthcare Services Corporation, Headwaters Health Care Centre, Oak Valley Health, North York General Hospital, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Stevenson Memorial Hospital, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and William Osler Health System.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 20 new cases today for a total of 28,373 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 225 active cases and there have been 27,555 cases resolved. There are 10 in hospital, one in ICU. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,543,133 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 718,506 are fully vaccinated.
  • The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has mandated masks for children in kindergarten and vaccines for volunteers. The board has yet to rule on mandatory vaccinations for staff.
  • Quebec added 690 new cases for a total of 389,914. So far, there have been 373,897 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,288 deaths. There are 138 people in hospital. There are 40 in intensive care units. The province completed 20,854 test samples on Aug. 30. So far, 12,458,771 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,958 cases so far, up 17. There have been 215 deaths. There are 171 active cases and 12,572 recoveries. There are seven in hospital. So far, 556,884 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec’s COVID-19 vaccination passport, digital or paper documentation is now required for people to take part in much of public life including restaurants, movie theatres, gyms, team sports, indoor pools and more.  
  • New Brunswick announced 11 new cases today and 127 active cases, as the province mulls a vaccine passport of its own.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting seven new cases.
  • Manitoba has a new premier after Brian Pallister officially resigned this morning. The new interim leader is Kelvin Goertzen. A new leader of the Tory party will be selected in two months. There are 57 new COVID-19 cases and one death in the province today.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,499,165+ cases with 26,932+ deaths and 1,440,926+ recoveries. There are 31,307+ active cases.
  •  Health Canada issued an alert Tuesday night telling Canadians not to consume animal health products such as the anti-parasite drug ivermectin at any time because of the serious dangers the drugs pose to humans. The department is also recommending against the use of the human version of ivermectin.
  • Worldwide, there have been 217,947,269+ cases, 4,523,702+ deaths and 5,318,039,926+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 31

  • Ontario reported 525 new cases for a total of 565,550 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,503 deaths, up 10. There are 120 new cases in Toronto, 60 in Peel Region, 30 in York, 42 in Hamilton and 60 in Windsor-Essex. There are 336 in hospital with 158 in intensive care, 93 on a ventilator. There have been 550,179 cases resolved, up 680 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,757,954 vaccinations in all. There are 9,942,834 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,341+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,501+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 9,779+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 19,643 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,228,588. There are 13,044 test results pending.
  • There are eight outbreaks in long term care residence with 29 resident cases, 20 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • The Ontario government says its screening guidelines for back to school will no longer include runny noses, sore throats and headaches as symptoms associated with COVID-19. The screening form now lists just five symptoms — fever and/or chills, coughing or barking cough, shortness of breath, decrease or loss of taste or smell and nausea as well as vomiting and/or diarrhea.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 14 new cases today for a total of 28,353 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 227 active cases and there have been 27,533 cases resolved. There are 10 in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,538,329 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 715,666 are fully vaccinated.
  • In a letter to families, the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board says it is mandating mask use for all students, including those in kindergarten. Under provincial guidelines masks are mandatory for Grades 1 to 12 but are only recommended or kindergarten students. 
  • Quebec added 425 new cases for a total of 389,224. So far, there have been 373,538 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,286 deaths. There are 131 people in hospital. There are 36 in intensive care units. The province completed 16,453 test samples on Aug. 29. So far, 12,427,239 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,941 cases so far, up 19. There have been 215 deaths. There are 177 active cases and 12,549 recoveries. There are seven in hospital. So far, 555,786 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,496,256+ cases with 26,918+ deaths and 1,438,243+ recoveries. There are 31,095+ active cases.
  • Real gross domestic product expanded 0.7 per cent in June, Statistics Canada says, following two consecutive monthly declines, placing total economic activity 1.5 per cent below February 2020’s pre-pandemic level. Overall, 15 of 20 industrial sectors were up as both services-producing (+0.7 per cent) and goods-producing industries (+0.9 per cent) rose. Preliminary information indicates an approximate 0.4% decrease in real GDP for July giving back about half of June’s gain. The main decreases were in manufacturing, construction and retail trade. The continued easing of public health restrictions initiated in June supported a second strong monthly increase in accommodation and food services.
  • Worldwide, there have been 217,290,198+ cases, 4,513,413+ deaths and 5,267,695,288+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 30

  • Ontario reported 694 new cases for a total of 565,025 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,498 deaths, up 10. There are 121 new cases in Toronto, 104 in Peel Region, 98 in York, 74 in Hamilton and 74 in Windsor-Essex. There are 226 in hospital with 160 in intensive care, 93 on a ventilator. There have been 549,499 cases resolved, up 540 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,726,778 vaccinations in all. There are 9,923,606 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,329+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,500+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 9,699+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 18,561 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,208,945. There are 6,973 test results pending.
  • There are six outbreaks in long term care residence with 13 resident cases, 13 staff. So far, 3,978 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • More than 350 emergency physicians across Ontario have signed an open letter demanding that the province give more substantial pay increases to critical-care nurses, who’ve worked on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year and a half.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 45 new cases today for a total of 28,339 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 229 active cases and there have been 27,517 cases resolved. There are 10 in hospital. One is in intensive care. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,538,329 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 715,666 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Keith Egli have written the province in. support of a vaccine passport for Ontario.
  • Quebec added 1,569 new cases over the weekend for a total of 388,799. So far, there have been 373,109 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,285 deaths. There are 125 people in hospital. There are 37 in intensive care units. The province completed 16,422 test samples on Aug. 28. So far, 12,399,452 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,955 cases so far, up 66. There have been 215 deaths. There are 173 active cases and 12,534 recoveries. There are seven in hospital. So far, 554,785 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec’s immunization committee (CIQ) is recommending people who are immunocompromised or who are undergoing dialysis be given a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Health Minister Christian Dubé said Monday afternoon an Android version of the Quebec’s vaccine passport app will be available in the coming hours. Only two days remain until the system is set to take effect, on Sept. 1. The app is currently only available for download on Apple devices through the company’s App Store.
  • Nova Scotia reported 31 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the number of active cases to 71.
  • Saskatchewan has added two more deaths and 199 new cases on Monday.
  • Alberta reported 3,056 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend along with seven more deaths. Alberta feed stores say they’re receiving a deluge of callers asking to buy ivermectin due to misinformation that suggests the livestock dewormer can be used to treat COVID-19 in humans. Lance Olson, manager of Lone Star Tack & Feed Inc., located just outside of Calgary, said false claims circulating about the animal medication have brought the wrong kind of attention to his business. Different forms of ivermectin are used to treat parasites, such as intestinal worms or lice, in both animals and humans.
  • B.C. health officials reported 1,853 new cases over the past three days, along with seven deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,486,436+ cases with 26,890+ deaths and 1,431,581+ recoveries. There are 27,965+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 216,881,824+ cases, 4,507,286+ deaths and 5,233,379,966+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • New Zealand reported its first recorded death linked to U.S. drugmaker Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, the health ministry said on Monday, after a woman suffered a rare side-effect leading to inflammation of the heart muscle or myocarditis. The health ministry said other medical issues at the same time could have influenced the outcome after vaccination.
  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the Level 3 travel advisory for Canada on Monday, which indicates “a high level of COVID-19 in the country.”
  • Meanwhile, the European Union has recommended that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there.

Aug. 29

  • Ontario reported 740 new cases for a total of 564,331 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,488 deaths. There are 141 new cases in Toronto, 63 in Peel Region, 63 in York, 106 in Hamilton and 78 in Windsor-Essex. There are 214 in hospital with 158 in intensive care, 98 on a ventilator. There have been 548,959 cases resolved, up 561 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,709,011 vaccinations in all. There are 9,911,914 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,328+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,500+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 9,130+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 22,890 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,190,384. There are 8,739 test results pending.
  • There are six outbreaks in long term care residence with 12 resident cases, 11 staff. So far, 3,978 residents have died.
  • Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 30 new cases today for a total of 28,294 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 199 active cases and there have been 27,502 cases resolved. There are seven in hospital. One is in intensive care. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,532,357 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 712,094 are fully vaccinated.
  • The Ottawa Redblacks lost their first home game of the COVID-19 era Saturday night to the B.C. Lions 24-12.
  • Quebec added 579 new coronavirus infections since Saturday, breaking the province’s streak reporting over 600 cases in recent days. No new deaths were reported Sunday. The data are based on 17,649 analyzed tests, resulting in a positivity rate of 2.6 per cent. There are 126 people in hospital care for COVID-19, 36 are in intensive care.
  • Thousands of demonstrators gathered Saturday to protest COVID-19 restrictions including the new provincial vaccine passport. There were some health-care workers were among the ranks.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,486,436+ cases with 26,890+ deaths and 1,431,581+ recoveries. There are 27,965+ active cases.
  • All direct passenger flights from Morocco to Canada have been suspended by Transport Canada because of an increased risk of COVID-19 exposure.
  • Worldwide, there have been 216,263,664+ cases, 4,498,977+ deaths and 5,188,761,765+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 27

  • Ontario reported 781 new cases for a total of 562,975 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,489 deaths. There are 185 new cases in Toronto, 96 in Peel Region, 93 in York, 66 in Hamilton and 67 in Windsor-Essex. There are 306 in hospital with 158 in intensive care, 87 on a ventilator. There have been 547,823 cases resolved, up 625 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,641,600 vaccinations in all. There are 9,867,920 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,105+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,500+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,222+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 8,732+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 30,063 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,138,966. There are 11,588 test results pending.
  • There are five outbreaks in long term care residence with 11 resident cases, 13 staff. So far, 3,977 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 47 new cases today for a total of 28,239 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 185 active cases and there have been 27,461 cases resolved. There are four in hospital. One is in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,532,357 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 712,094 are fully vaccinated.
  • There will be no in-person extracurriculars or indoor assemblies this fall, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board told parents Thursday evening. And elementary students will stick to their cohorts when classes resume next month. Most secondary students will take four courses each semester, with two subjects per week. Lunch rules will vary by school. According to the board, the high vaccination rate among secondary students influenced its decisions. Students who have opted to learn remotely will have a similar schedule to last year.
  • Ontario will announce a form of proof-of-vaccine certification for the province, sources tell CBC News. The plan is expected to be revealed early next week.
  • Quebec added 612 new cases for a total of 387,230. So far, there have been 371,623 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,285 deaths. There are 126 people in hospital. There are 36 in intensive care units. The province completed 20,621 test samples on Aug. 25. So far, 12,301,776 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,829 cases so far, up 25. There have been 215 deaths. There are 118 active cases and 12,496 recoveries. There is one in hospital. So far, 550,750 vaccine doses have been delivered in the Outaouais.
  • The Journal de Montréal has reported that a group of hackers was able to obtain the QR codes of Premier François Legault, Mayor Valérie Plante, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé, as well as those of provincial opposition leaders Dominique Anglade and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
  • Another 258 cases were reported in Saskatchewan on Friday, the biggest one-day jump since May 8, when there were 271 new cases. Two more people have died.
  • Alberta reported 1,168 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, and four deaths including two people in their 50s, and two above the age of 80. Alberta Health Services is postponing some non-urgent surgeries in the North and Edmonton health zones to increase capacity for COVID-19 patients.
  • Fourteen Edmonton Elks players have now contracted COVID-19 since the team returned from their game against the B.C. Lions last week.
  • British Columbia health officials are reporting 867 new cases of COVID-19, along with three new deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,482,668+ cases with 26,864+ deaths and 1,428,919+ recoveries. There are 26,885+ active cases.
  • Health Canada has approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents 12 to 17. Health Canada estimates that as of Aug. 21, nearly 77 per cent of Canadians aged 12 to 17 had received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, with 63.6 per cent fully vaccinated.
  • On the election campaign, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau today announced a billion-dollar fund to help provinces create their own vaccine passports — credentials people vaccinated against COVID-19 can show to businesses to make everyday activities safer.
  • Later, after being dogged by anti-vaccine protesters throughout, a Liberal event in Bolton, Ont. with Trudeau, was cancelled because of security concerns that arose after a large crowd of vocal and angry protesters showed up.
  • Worldwide, there have been 214,128,601+ cases, 4,467,928+ deaths and 5,066,064,119+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 26

  • Ontario reported 678 new cases for a total of 561,975 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,472 deaths. There are 144 new cases in Toronto, 102 in Peel Region, 97 in York, 48 in Hamilton and 78 in Windsor-Essex. There are 302 in hospital with 165 in intensive care, 89 on a ventilator. There have been 547,198 cases resolved, up 513 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,605,405 vaccinations in all. There are 9,793,814 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 146,025+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,500+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,221+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 8,246+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 27,815 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,108,903. There are 14,507 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with 10 resident cases, nine staff. So far, 3,976 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario public health officials say they believe the province will be able to immunize 90 per cent of its population fully against COVID-19. Dr. Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health, says the province has an “aspirational goal” of vaccinating 90 per cent of eligible Ontarians as part of what the province calls its “Last Mile Strategy.” If reached, Ontario could be free of pandemic waves in six to eight months, he says.
  • Chartwell Retirement Residences, Extendicare, Responsive Group Inc., Revera Inc. and Sienna Senior Living will require all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 12. The group says employees who aren’t fully vaccinated on that date will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence. Vaccination will also be required for new hires, students and other personnel working with the companies.
  • The Toronto District School Board, the largest in the province, will require staff and visitors to be fully vaccinated. The policy would be in place, if possible, before schools reopen on Sept. 9. The Ottawa-Carleton District School has delayed a decision on its plans for the fall. It will meet Aug. 31.
  • The city of Mississauga will require staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31, following a similar initiative in Toronto. 
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 17 new cases today for a total of 28,192 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 158 active cases and there have been 27,441 cases resolved. There are three in hospital. No one is in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,527,595 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 709,200 are fully vaccinated.
  • OPH says the risk of COVID-19 infection for the unvaccinated or those who have received their first dose less than two weeks ago is 22 times higher than the risk for fully vaccinated people.
  • Local health units in Ontario could come up with their own vaccine passport if the province continues to resist, according to the head of a group representing local public health agencies in the province. Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, the Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) and president of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (ALPHA), told CBC his health unit is “prepared” to explore its own vaccine passport. Peel Region is also considering such a move.
  • Quebec added 603 new cases for a total of 386,618. So far, there have been 371,164 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,285 deaths. There are 119 people in hospital. There are 36 in intensive care units. The province completed 19,796 test samples on Aug. 24. So far, 12,263,015 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,804 cases so far, up 25. There have been 215 deaths. There are 108 active cases and 12,481 recoveries. There is one in hospital. So far, 548,934 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,479,309+ cases with 26,855+ deaths and 1,427,007+ recoveries. There are 25,447+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 214,128,601+ cases, 4,467,928+ deaths and 5,066,064,119+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 25

  • Ontario reported 660 new cases today for a total of 561,297 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,472 deaths. There are 151 new cases in Toronto, 52 in Peel Region, 93 in York, 86 in Hamilton and 51 in Windsor-Essex. There are 283 in hospital with 161 in intensive care, 92 on a ventilator. There have been 546,685 cases resolved, up 572 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,566,473 vaccinations in all. There are 9,793,814 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 145,918+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,500+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,221+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 8,030+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 26,406 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,081,088. There are 13,055 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with 10 resident cases, seven staff. So far, 3,976 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 19 new cases today for a total of 28,175 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 156 active cases and there have been 27,426 cases resolved. There are three in hospital. No one is in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,527,595 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 709,200 are fully vaccinated.
  • A third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to residents of Ottawa most at risk of serious illness, including individuals who are severely immunocompromised.
  • Ottawa’s Bluesfest and CityFolk organizers are staging two live music events in September featuring Barenaked Ladies, Tom Cochrane and Our Lady Peace Sept. 16-18 and Sept. 23-25.
  • Quebec added 550 new cases for a total of 386,015. So far, there have been 370,858 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,284 deaths. There are 110 people in hospital. There are 33 in intensive care units. The province completed 18,442 test samples on Aug. 23. So far, 12,227,000 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,804 cases so far, up 25. There have been 215 deaths. There are 108 active cases and 12,481 recoveries. There is one in hospital. So far, 546,753 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • The Northwest Territories has issued its first territorywide mask mandate in the face of growing COVID-19 numbers. Chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola said masks will be mandatory in all indoor public spaces starting Thursday.mThis comes after the territory recorded its first death from COVID-19.
  • B.C. health officials announced 698 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death on Wednesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,476,149+ cases with 26,849+ deaths and 1,424,629+ recoveries. There are 24,671+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 213,617,953+ cases, 4,458,558+ deaths and 5,200,706,750+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 24

  • Ontario reported 486 new cases today for a total of 560,637 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,471 deaths. There are 128 new cases in Toronto, 83 in Peel Region, 45 in York, 45 in Hamilton and 47 in Windsor-Essex. There are 295 in hospital with 156 in intensive care, 85 on a ventilator. There have been 546,113 cases resolved, up 541 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,526,219 vaccinations in all. There are 9,793,814 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 145,839+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,500+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,221+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 7,665+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 17,369 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,054,682. There are 11,370 test results pending.
  • There are five outbreaks in long term care residence with eight resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,976 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • The Ontario government has announced that some high school students will be given take-home tests as part of a pilot project when classes resume in September. Officials said the project will be aimed at staff and students who are vaccinated, asymptomatic high-risk contacts due to an outbreak. Students and staff do not need to disclose their vaccination status and participation in the take-home tests are voluntary, the ministry of education said. Those may seek testing at a local assessment centre or the option to isolate. The testing pilot project will launch the week of Sept. 7. — for eight weeks — ending on Oct. 29. It will focus on 13 of the 34 local public health units across the province including Ottawa.
  • Ontario could have 1,300 daily COVID-19 infections in three weeks if cases continue to increase at the current rate, the head of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table says.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 16 new cases today for a total of 28,156 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 152 active cases and there have been 27,411 cases resolved. There are four in hospital. No one is in intensive care. There are three outbreaks. So far, 1,522,323 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 705,903 are fully vaccinated.
  • Mayor Jim Watson wants all City of Ottawa staff vaccinated against COVID-19 and he has asked the city manager to develop a plan to implement the new rules.
  • Algonquin College has announced that it requires proof of vaccination for all students, employees, contractors and visitors across its three eastern Ontario campuses for the fall 2021 term.
  • Quebec added 345 new cases for a total of 385,465. So far, there have been 370,486 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,283 deaths. There are 102 people in hospital. There are 29 in intensive care units. The province completed 12,351 test samples on Aug. 22. So far, 12,197,188 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,765 cases so far, up 48 over the weekend. There have been 215 deaths. There are 82 active cases and 12,468 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 545,327 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec will require students in primary and secondary schools in Montreal, Laval, Montérégie, Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Capitale-Nationale, Outaouais, the Eastern Townships and Mauricie, to wear masks at all times while indoors when they return to class in less than a week. Across the province, students will have to wear masks in busses and in common areas. Teachers will not be required to wear masks if they can maintain the two-metre distance.
  • For high school students, a vaccination passport will be required in all regions in Quebec for indoor sports activities and for those outdoors involving frequent, prolonged contact. Students will not need a vaccination passport to take part in sports or other activities that are part of the physical education program. 
  • Quebec also revealed details of its vaccine passport which takes effect Sept. 1. It will block people who aren’t fully vaccinated from restaurants, taverns, organized team sports and a host of other activities announced Tuesday, ranging from paint ball and movie theatres to aquatic parks and zoos. People can download a mobile phone app or obtain a paper record.
  • British Columbia has introduced a mask mandate for students Grade 4 to Grade 12 in school and pn buses. The province is also reintroducing a mask mandate for all indoor public spaces.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,473,624+ cases with 26,814+ deaths and 1,422,576+ recoveries. There are 24,234+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 212,855,315+ cases, 4,447,156+ deaths and 4,991,267,099+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The Paralympics have begun in Tokyo as the city and the country of Japan continue to battle a surge in COVD-19 cases caused by the Delta variant.

Aug. 23

  • Ontario reported 639 new cases today for a total of 560,151 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,453 deaths. There are 124 new cases in Toronto, 51 in Peel Region, 91 in York, 64 in Hamilton and 36 in Windsor-Essex. There are 204 in hospital with 151 in intensive care, 82 on a ventilator. There have been 545,572 cases resolved, up 502 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,489,564 vaccinations in all. There are 9,770,389 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 145,705+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,496+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,206+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,656+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 19,866 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,037,313. There are 7,322 test results pending.
  • There are three outbreaks in long term care residence with seven resident cases, 10 staff. So far, 3,974 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Dr. David Fisman, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, has resigned from the province’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, alleging the group has delayed publication of its pandemic projections for the fall due to political interference — a charge the table has denied.
  • The Toronto Blue Jays say those wishing to enter Rogers Centre will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test starting Sept. 13. The Toronto International Film Festival is also imposing a vaccination mandate or proof of a negative test. Mirvish Productions too will only allow fully vaccinated people into its venues for its upcoming season, which includes a Canadian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the return of musical hits Hamilton and Come From Away.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 22 new cases today for a total of 28,140 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 165 active cases and there have been 27,382 cases resolved. There are five in hospital, one in intensive care. There are three outbreaks. So far, 1,522,323 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 705,903 are fully vaccinated.
  • People attending ticketed events at the TD Place stadium and arena in Ottawa will have to follow COVID-19 vaccine rules starting next month, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), announced on Monday.
  • Quebec added 376 new cases for a total of 385,120. So far, there have been 370,115 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,280 deaths. There are 99 people in hospital. There are 31 in intensive care units. The province completed 14,407 test samples on Aug. 21. So far, 12,162,213 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,765 cases so far, up 48 over the weekend. There have been 215 deaths. There are 82 active cases and 12,468 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 544,420 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Most CEGEP students in Quebec are returning to school in-person today after spending more than a year away from post-secondary classrooms. 
  • Nova Scotia is keeping its current border policy of isolation based on vaccination status and testing will in place for travellers coming from provinces and territories outside of Atlantic Canada. And on Wednesday, the border policy will also apply to people coming from New Brunswick because of a rise of COVID-19 activity in that province. Fully vaccinated people will not have to isolate. Nova Scotia added 17 new cases over the weekend; New Brunswick added 58 new cases today.
  • Manitoba added 109 new COVID-19 cases over the past three days.
  • Alberta reported 1,972 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, along with five more deaths.
  • British Columbia will issue citizens a vaccine card that can be used to gain entry to a variety of venues, public events and ‘non-discretionary’ activities. It will come into force Sept. 13 for those with one dose of vaccine. By Oct. 24, people will have to be fully vaccinated for seven days. The province reported 1,711 new cases over the past three days, along with 16 deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,465,866+ cases with 26,789+ deaths and 1,415,820+ recoveries. There are 23,257+ active cases.
  • Nine members of the Edmonton Elks football team have tested positive leading to the cancellation of this week’s game with the Toronto Argonauts.
  • Statistics Canada says credit card debt declined by 18 per cent in the year from February 2020 up until the end of January 2021. Credit card balances had been growing steadily almost without exception since 2000, going up on average by more than 20 per cent per year. At the turn of the millennium, Canadians owed $13.2 billion on their credit cards. By February 2020, that figure was $90.6 billion. But as of January, it was down to $74 billion, a decline of more than $16 billion, the biggest drop since 1999. Other forms of debt also declined, to the point where May 2020 to May 2021 saw the first annual drop in overall non-mortgage debt in more than three decades.
  • Mortgage debt, however, has increased substantially. It rose by $18 billion in April alone, Statistics Canada reported earlier this summer, the biggest monthly increase ever and more than enough to wipe out all that diligent paying down of credit cards. in June, Canadians added $23.6 billion worth of mortgage debt, a 1.4 per cent jump from May’s numbers. This is the largest monthly increase ever on record. In all, Canadians owe more than $2 trillion on their homes. 
  • Retail sales were up 4.2 per cent to $56.2 billion in June, led by higher sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores, Statistics Canada reports. The rise coincided with the easing of public health restrictions, which limited non-essential retail activities, in many regions.
  • Worldwide, there have been 211,620,637+ cases, 4,428,641+ deaths and 4,918,856,137+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A third dose of Pfizer ‘s COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots, findings published by the country’s Health Ministry show.
  • World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that COVID-19 booster shots should be delayed as priority should be given to raising vaccination rates in countries where only one per cent or two per cent of the population has been inoculated. If vaccination rates are not raised globally, stronger variants of the coronavirus could develop, he said.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finally given full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. The hope is this will encourage more Americans to get vaccinated. It is estimated that about 30 per cent of unvaccinated people were waiting for this approval before getting the shot.

Aug. 22

  • Ontario reported 722 new cases today for a total of 559,512 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,453 deaths. There are 178 new cases in Toronto, 63 in Peel Region, 70 in York, 101 in Hamilton and 88 in Windsor-Essex. There are 197 in hospital with 141 in intensive care, 79 on a ventilator. There have been 545,070 cases resolved, up 391 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,466,975 vaccinations in all. There are 9,754,737 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 145,705+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,496+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,206+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,656+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,075 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 17,017,447. There are 10,716 test results pending.
  • There are three outbreaks in long term care residence with seven resident cases, 10 staff. So far, 3,974 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 25 new cases today for a total of 28,118 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 149 active cases and there have been 27,376 cases resolved. There are five in hospital, one in intensive care. There are three outbreaks. So far, 1,514,207 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 700,259 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec added 463 new cases for a total of 384,844. So far, there have been 368,938+ recoveries. There has been a total of 11,279 deaths. So far, 12,044,336+ vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,465,866+ cases with 26,789+ deaths and 1,415,820+ recoveries. There are 23,257+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 212,251,510+ cases, 4,437,894+ deaths and 4,948,858,352+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 20

  • Ontario reported 650 new cases today for a total of 558,101 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,450 deaths, up two. There are 108 new cases in Toronto, 63 in Peel Region, 62 in York, 46 in Hamilton and 43 in Windsor-Essex. There are 197 in hospital with 135 in intensive care, 77 on a ventilator. There have been 544,204 cases resolved, up 444 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,386,811 vaccinations in all. There are 9,700,285 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 145,705+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,496+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,206+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,656+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 28,635 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,968,276. There are 12,398 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with three resident cases, 10 staff. So far, 3,975 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 26 new cases today for a total of 28,075 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 143 active cases and 27,339 recoveries. There are two in hospital, one in intensive care. There are three outbreaks. So far, 1,514,207 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 700,259 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec added 527 new cases for a total of 383,718. So far, there have been 368,938 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,279 deaths. There are 87 in hospital, 30 in intensive care. The province completed 20,653 tests on Aug. 18. So far, 12,044,336 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,717 cases so far, three today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 55 active cases and 12,433 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 539,498 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,462,906+ cases with 26,783+ deaths and 1,414,266+ recoveries. There are 21,857+ active cases.
  • TD Bank said Friday it will ask staff to register their vaccination status with the bank by Sept. 30 and require full vaccination for all workers entering offices on or after Nov. 1. CIBC set an Oct. 31 deadline for its Canadian and U.S. employees to be vaccinated and told staff “if you haven’t yet been vaccinated and are able, now is the time.” BMO, which will also use an Oct. 31 deadline, said its policy will apply to all North American employees and contractors eligible for vaccination. Those who remain unvaccinated after that date will be required to complete twice-a-week COVID-19 testing and comply with alternative health and safety measures to enter a BMO location. Scotiabank told staff Friday that it is moving in the direction of making vaccinations mandatory for all Canadian-based employees and contractors later in the fall.
  • Sun Life Financial Inc., Shopify Inc., the City of Toronto, the Toronto Transit Commission and several universities, including Carleton and uOttawa, and health care facilities throughout Canada, have requested staff and other attendees such as students be vaccinated.
  • Worldwide, there have been 209,561,882+ cases, 4,397,871+ deaths and 4,817,426,060+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Canada’s land border with the United States will remain closed until at least Sept. 21. The U.S. says this is because of rising case counts and the virulence of the Delta variant.

Aug. 19

  • Ontario reported 531 new cases today for a total of 557,451 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,448 deaths, up 17. There are 108 new cases in Toronto, 63 in Peel Region, 62 in York, 46 in Hamilton and 43 in Windsor-Essex. There are 176 in hospital with 127+ in intensive care, 78+ on a ventilator. There have been 543,422 cases resolved, up 345 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,341,063 vaccinations in all. There are 9,670,921 fully vaccinated.
  • There have been 145,705+ cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,496+ by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,206+ by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,656+ cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 26,213 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,939,641. There are 13,142 test results pending.
  • There are three outbreaks in long term care residence with one resident case, 10 staff. So far, 3,975 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Toronto Mayor John Tory has announced that City of Toronto employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Oct. 30.  It currently does not apply to TTC and Toronto police employees.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 19 new cases today for a total of 28,049 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 128 active cases and 27,328 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,507,129 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 695,698 are fully vaccinated.
  • New statistics show between July 4 and Aug. 7, 112 cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa involved unvaccinated residents, six cases were in residents who had received their first dose but were not yet protected and 36 cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ottawa residents who had received one dose. Dr. Vera Etches says there were 14 “breakthrough” cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated residents. The Delta variant is driving the increase in COVID-19 cases in Ottawa and Ontario this summer. Ottawa Public Health reports 60 per cent of people who have tested positive over the past month had the Delta variant.
  • Etches also encouraged businesses in the city to establish vaccine policies “that a very minimum promotes that people are vaccinated.” So far, 84 per cent of Ottawa residents 12 and older have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 77 per cent are fully vaccinated. Dr. Etches wants 90 per cent of Ottawa residents fully vaccinated to protect against the COVID-19 variant.
  • Quebec added 436 new cases for a total of 383,191. So far, there have been 368,629 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,277 deaths. There are 91 in hospital, 27 in intensive care. The province completed 18,155 tests on Aug. 17. So far, 12,000,867 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,703 cases so far, up four today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 55 active cases and 12,433 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 537,335 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,460,175+ cases with 26,761+ deaths and 1,412,636+ recoveries. There are 20,778+ active cases.
  • Royal Bank of Canada will require employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to work in the bank’s offices, joining Morgan Stanley and other firms in restricting access to some locations as the Delta variant spreads.
  • As of June 15, early 95,000 Canadian health-care workers have been infected with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic with 43 deaths reported. The figures were released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
  • Worldwide, there have been 209,561,882+ cases, 4,397,871+ deaths and 4,817,426,060+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 18

  • Ontario reported 485 new cases today for a total of 556,920 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,431 deaths, up three. There are 174 in hospital with 127+ in intensive care, 78+ on a ventilator. There have been 543,422 cases resolved, up 345 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,295,518 vaccinations in all. There are 9,641,986 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,705 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,496 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,206 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,656 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 26,307 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,913,428. There are 11,474 test results pending.
  • There are two outbreaks in long term care residence with one resident case, five staff. So far, 3,976 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Unvaccinated Tory MPPs will be expelled from caucus, according to the premier’s office. Sixty-nine of the government’s 71 members, including Premier Doug Ford, are fully vaccinated. PC caucus members must provide proof of vaccination or medical exemption by 5 p.m. on Thursday. The unvaccinated MPPs have not been identified, but a report in the Toronto Star said one was a veteran MPP from a rural area and the other was relatively new and from the GTA. CTV has more.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 19 new cases today for a total of 28,030 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 127 active cases and 27,310 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,507,129 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 695,698 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec added 436 new cases for a total of 382,755. So far, there have been 368,360 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,278 deaths. There are 88 in hospital, 28 in intensive care. The province completed 18,619 tests on Aug. 16. So far, 11,955,029 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,699 cases so far, up seven today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 59 active cases and 12,425 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 532,815 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,457,698+ cases with 26,719+ deaths and 1,411,268+ recoveries. There are 19,711+ active cases.
  • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.7 per cent in July, up from a 3.1 per cent gain in June. Excluding gasoline, inflation increased 2.8 per cent year over year. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.6 per cent in July, the fastest pace since January 2021, Statistics Canada says. Prices rose at a faster pace year over year in six of the eight major components in July, with shelter prices contributing the most to the increase. Prices for clothing and footwear as well as alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis slowed in July compared with June.
  • Elections Canada won’t require poll workers in the federal election to be vaccinated despite the ongoing pandemic. Other safety measures, like wearing masks and following distancing guidelines, will be required for poll workers and campaign workers at the polls. The polling stations will be c leaned regularly. Masks will be available for those who don’t have them. About 250,000 will be sought to volunteer to work on the election. It still expects the majority of ballots to be cast in person, rather than by mail. Election Day, Sept. 20, could coincide with a peak of the current fourth wave of COVID-19.
  • Elections Canada says it expects about five million to vote by mail.
  • Fans of the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs and Toronto FC, who want to attend a game in Toronto, must show proof of either vaccination against COVID-19 or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
  • Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin faces a charge of sexual assault dating from an incident in the 1980s. Fortin was once in charge of Canada’s vaccine delivery system.
  • Worldwide, there have been 208,942,452+ cases, 4,387,825+ deaths and 4,778,093,095+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Some hubris: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for COVID-19, according to his office, who said the Republican is in good health and experiencing no symptoms. Abbott, who was vaccinated in December and has refused calls to reinstate mask mandates as the highly contagious Delta variant surges in Texas, was isolating in the governor’s mansion in Austin and receiving monoclonal antibody treatment. 
  • A research paper that languished in publishing limbo for a year and a half contains meticulously collected data and photographic evidence that the outbreak stemmed from infected wild animals—which prevailed until speculation that SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a nearby lab gained traction.
  • The U.S. is recommending a booster vaccination for all Americans. The World Health Organization says the world should be fully vaccinated before boosters are considered.

Aug. 17

  • Ontario reported 348 new cases today for a total of 556,435 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,428 deaths, up 10. There are 163 in hospital with 127 in intensive care, 78 on a ventilator. Today there are 85 new cases in Toronto, 45 in Peel Region, 32 in York Region, 34 in Hamilton and 41 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 543,077 cases resolved, up 280 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,254,502 vaccinations in all. There are 9,612,865 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,694 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,183 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,539 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 17,408 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,887,121. There are 10,829 test results pending.
  • There are two outbreaks in long term care residence with one resident case, five staff. So far, 3,976 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario is recommending booster shots for certain vulnerable people include transplant patients those being actively treated for hematological cancers, people who take specific medications called anti-CD20 agents. These groups can receive a third dose at least eight weeks after their second shot.
  • Third doses will also be offered to long-term care residents, First Nations elder care lodges and “higher-risk” retirement homes. These groups can receive a third dose a minimum of five months after their last.
  • The Ministry of Education said it intends to implement a vaccination status disclosure policy for publicly funded school board employees, as well as staff in private schools and licensed child-care settings. The province is also making such policies mandatory for post-secondary institutions, licensed retirement homes, women’s shelters, congregate group homes and day programs for adults with developmental disabilities, children’s treatment centres and other services for children with special needs, and licensed children’s residential settings.
  • Ontario will also expand eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine to all youth turning 12 in 2021, citing the examples of Alberta and British Columbia, which made the same move several months ago and identified no associated risks.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 14 new cases today for a total of 28,011 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 134 active cases and 27,284 recoveries. There are four in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,500,108 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 690,285 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec added 323 new cases for a total of 382,319. So far, there have been 368,106 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,242 deaths. There are 88 in hospital, 27 in intensive care. The province completed 13,956 tests on Aug. 15. So far, 11,910,834 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,692 cases so far, up 34 today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 61 active cases and 12,416 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 532,815 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Because of rising cases, Quebec will require all health-care workers to be vaccinated. As well, students in CEGEPs and universities will be required to wear masks not only in common areas, but when seated in class, too. In Quebec, 91 per cent of health-care workers have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 84 per cent have received two. 
  • Nova Scotians elected a majority Conservative government Tuesday, ending Liberal rule in the province. This is the first time in six provincial elections during the pandemic to see a party tossed out of power.
  • B.C. health officials announced 501 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death on Tuesday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,455,971+ cases with 26,704+ deaths and 1,410,095+ recoveries. There are 19,172+ active cases.
  • Most Canadians support some use of either carrot or stick – though more prefer the stick – to increase vaccination rates as a fourth wave of the pandemic threatens to further delay a return to some semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy, a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute shows.
  • Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says the government will demand that virtually all federal public servants get a COVID-19 shot and warned of workplace repercussions for those who defy the rule. The government is negotiating the plan with public sector unions. The two largest, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), support the mandate in principle.
  • Justin Trudeau says Canada will buy another 40 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine over the next two years and possibly into 2024. He says there are also options that would grant access to as many as 65 million doses.
  • Worldwide, there have been 208,077,174+ cases, 4,375,474+ deaths and 4,741,781,390+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. experts are expected to recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received their second dose of the shot, to ensure lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant spreads across the country.
  • Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern put New Zealand under strict lockdown after the country’s first case in six months was reported in the largest city of Auckland.
  • Japan has extended its state of emergency in Tokyo and other regions and announced new measures covering seven more prefectures to counter a spike in COVID-19 cases threatening the medical system. The current state of emergency, the fifth of the pandemic so far, was to expire on Aug. 31 but will now last until Sept. 12. Tokyo announced 4,377 new cases on Tuesday, after a record 5,773 on Friday.
  • Health officials in South Africa on Monday reported 7,983 new cases of COVID-19 and 299 additional deaths.

Aug. 16

  • Ontario reported 526 new cases today for a total of 556,087 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,418 deaths. There are 108 in hospital with 119 in intensive care, 66 on a ventilator. Today there are 128 new cases in Toronto, 83 in Peel Region, 66 in York Region, 52 in Hamilton and 46 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 542,797 cases resolved, up 321 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,213,876 vaccinations in all. There are 9,583,506 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,692 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,178 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,245 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 15,784 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,869,713. There are 6,085 test results pending.
  • There are two outbreaks in long term care residence with four resident cases, five staff. So far, 3,986 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • COVID-19 immunization clinics will run in Ontario schools and nearby locations as the academic year begins, the province announced Monday in a bid to reach unvaccinated youth who are set to gather in classrooms next month. Local public health units and boards will be required to host the clinics.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 14 new cases today for a total of 28,011 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 134 active cases and 27,284 recoveries. There are four in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,500,108 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 690,285 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec added 1,163 new cases over the weekend for a total of 381,996. So far, there have been 367,830 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,242 deaths. There are 82 in hospital, 27 in intensive care. The province completed 14,634 tests on Aug. 14. So far, 11,865,650 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,658 cases so far, up 10 today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 44 active cases and 12,399 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 531,581 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • As it reported 40 new cases confirmed over the last three days, New Brunswick Public Health says a “high number” of the new cases are among people who are not fully vaccinated.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting nine new cases of COVID-19 and 10 recoveries on Monday, the first update since Aug. 13.
  • Manitoba reports 77 new cases and three more deaths due to COVID-19 over the past three days.
  • Some 74 of the 85 new COVID-19 cases Saskatchewan reported Monday were people who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
  • According to University of Calgary researchers who have collected data on COVID-19 infection among pregnant women in Alberta, there have been 900 new COVID-19 cases in pregnant people since April and the case rate is rising rapidly. Alberta’s COVID-19 cases could jump to 4,000 a day among unvaccinated people by this time next month, according to researchers.
  • B.C. health officials announced Monday there were 1,434 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death over the past 72 hours.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,451,969+ cases with 26,701+ deaths and 1,408,243+ recoveries. There are 17,025+ active cases.
  • The Conservative Party of Canada has released its full 160-page election platform. It promises billions in new spending to prop up the economy that has been hard hit during the pandemic. The Conservative leader also has spoken about mandatory vaccinations for federal bureaucrats saying he was opposed to the idea.
  • Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said the plan to bring in mandatory vaccinations for federal public servants was not intended to punish those so far unvaccinated. He also He also announced if re-elected, the Canada Recovery Hiring Program will be extended until March 2022.
  • NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is promising to pry money out of the pockets of CEOs who saw their compensation rise even as their companies received federal business aid.
  • Worldwide, there have been 207,434,515+ cases, 4,366,332+ deaths and 4,695,774,983+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A new study suggests younger children may be more likely to transmit COVID-19 compared with older children, with the highest odds of transmission being observed from children three years old and younger.

Aug. 15

  • A federal election will be held on Sept. 20. The call was made after Justin Trudeau asked Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament. The election will take place as Canada coped with a fourth wave of the pandemic fuelled by the surge in cases caused by the Delta variant.
  • Ontario reported 511 new cases today for a total of 555,561 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,418 deaths. There are 98 in hospital with 116 in intensive care, 71 on a ventilator. Today there are 116 new cases in Toronto, 69 in Peel Region, 64 in York Region, 48 in Hamilton and 27 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 542,476 cases resolved, up 270 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,187,843 vaccinations in all. There are 9,563,420 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,688 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,177 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,182 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 19,192 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,853,929. There are 7,490 test results pending.
  • There are two outbreaks in long term care residence with four resident cases, five staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 13 new cases today for a total of 27,977 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 137 active cases and 27,247 recoveries. There are four in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,489,140 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 681,119 are fully vaccinated.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,450,992+ cases with 26,701+ deaths and 1,407,375+ recoveries. There are 16,916+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 207,003,521+ cases, 4,359,466+ deaths and 4,579,529,853+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 14

  • Ontario reported 578 new cases today for a total of 555,050 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,418 deaths, up two. There are 136 in hospital with 111 in intensive care, 72 on a ventilator. Today there are 153 new cases in Toronto, 67 in Peel Region, 64 in York Region, 57 in Hamilton and 42 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 542,206 cases resolved, up 260 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,146,936 vaccinations in all. There are 9,532,105 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,666 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,178 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,119 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,468 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,834,737. There are 10,036 test results pending.
  • There are two outbreaks in long term care residence with four resident cases, five staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) — a group that includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more — is asking the province to establish a COVID-19 proof of vaccination system, something the premier has refused to do.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 19 new cases today for a total of 27,964 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 129 active cases and 27,242 recoveries. There are four in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,489,140 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 681,119 are fully vaccinated.
  • B.C. confirms 717 new infections on Friday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,449,851+ cases with 26,698+ deaths and 1,407,048+ recoveries. There are 16,105+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 206,483,160+ cases, 4,350,152+ deaths and 4,637,769,397+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The Chicago school system, the third-largest in the United States with more than 360,000 students, will require all its teachers and other employees to be fully vaccinated by mid-October unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption.
  • New York City will require proof of vaccination of at least one dose. The policy, which applies to restaurants, bars and similar venues, starts on Monday. Inspections and enforcement begins Sept. 13.
  • San Francisco is requiring patrons at indoor restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues to show they are fully vaccinated. The rule will take effect Aug. 20.

Aug. 13

  • Ontario reported 510 new cases today for a total of 554,472 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,416 deaths, up four. There are 123 in hospital with 111 in intensive care, 72 on a ventilator. Today there are 129 new cases in Toronto, 61 in Peel Region, 33 in York Region, 41 in Hamilton and 41 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 541,946 cases resolved, up 264 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,047,911 vaccinations in all. There are 9,456,663 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,656 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,176 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 6,019 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,586 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,811,269. There are 9,807 test results pending.
  • There are three outbreaks in long term care residence with three resident cases, 11 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario’s minister of long-term care, Rod Phillips, says the province is strongly considering COVID-19 booster shots for staff and residents of nursing homes, but isn’t ready to mandate vaccination.
  • Students and staff at Carleton University will need to be fully vaccinated to be on campus. Capital Current has more.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 21 new cases today for a total of 27,945 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 114 active cases and 27,238 recoveries. There are four in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,489,140 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 681,119 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is reporting 426 new cases for a total of 380,833. So far, there have been 367,029 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,242 deaths. There are 80 in hospital, 287 in intensive care. The province completed 17,844 tests on Aug. 11. So far, 11,714,626 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,658 cases so far, up 10 today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 44 active cases and 12,399 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 526,104 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • New Brunswick Public Health announced 11 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and revealed nearly 19,000 eligible youth still aren’t vaccinated, just 3½ weeks before school starts.
  • Alberta public health measures set to expire on Monday will remain in place for another six weeks, while newly announced back-to-school guidelines don’t mandate in-class masks but will include school-based vaccinations, Alberta’s top public health doctor announced Friday. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, also announced that mandatory isolation for 10 days for those with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result will also continue until Sept. 27. 
  • Everyone working in long-term care and assisted living facilities in British Columbia will now be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,447,439+ cases with 26,692+ deaths and 1,406,010+ recoveries. There are 14,737+ active cases.
  • Canada is donating all 10 million doses of the single-dose vaccine that it purchased from Johnson & Johnson but won’t use to low- and middle-income countries.
  • Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the country is in a fourth wave of the pandemic as variants of the virus continue to spread, namely among the unvaccinated.. “We have been closely monitoring increases in COVID-19 activity across the country. The latest national surveillance data indicate that a fourth wave is underway in Canada and that cases are plotting along a strong resurgence trajectory,” she said on Thursday.
  • The federal government will soon require that all public servants and those working in some federally regulated industries (including airlines and railways, among others) be fully vaccinated . The government says it also “expects” that employers in federally regulated sectors — such as banking, broadcasting and telecommunication — will require vaccination for employees. There are more than 300,000 federal public servants and hundreds of thousands more people are working in industries that fall under the federal labour code.
  • Worldwide, there have been 205,794,505+ cases, 4,340,437+ deaths and 4,606,091,989+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. regulators say transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to better protect them as the Delta variant continues to surge.
  • Israeli Health Ministry experts recommended on Thursday dropping the minimum age of eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccine booster from 60 to 50. Israelis aged 60 and up began receiving the booster two weeks ago, and more than 700,000 seniors have received third shots.
  • Twenty-seven people on a Carnival cruise have tested positive just before the ship stopped in Belize City this week, according to the Belize Tourism Board.

Aug. 12

  • Ontario reported 513 new cases today for a total of 553,962 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,412 deaths. There are 116 in hospital with 113 in intensive care, 76 on a ventilator. Today there are 105 new cases in Toronto, 64 in Peel Region, 70 in York Region, 29 in Hamilton and 27 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 541,682 cases resolved, up 256 today.
  • So far, there have been 20,047,911 vaccinations in all. There are 9,456,663 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,641 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,176 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,873 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 22,896 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,787,683. There are 9,372 test results pending.
  • There are three outbreaks in long term care residence with three resident cases, nine staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Students, staff and faculty at Queen’s University will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to step on campus this fall. The Kingston, Ont., institution joins uOttawa, Western and the University of Toronto in imposing such a mandate.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 21 new cases today for a total of 27,924 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 97 active cases and 27,234 recoveries. There are four in hospital, one in intensive care. There are two outbreaks. So far, 1,481,718 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 675,285 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is reporting 369 new cases for a total of 380,407. So far, there have been 366,812 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,242 deaths. There are 81 in hospital, 28 in intensive care. The province completed 17,494 tests on Aug. 10. So far, 11,664,191 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,640 cases so far, up five today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 30 active cases and 12,395 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 524,015 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Nova Scotia is reporting seven new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,445,305+ cases with 26,688+ deaths and 1,405,064+ recoveries. There are 13,533+ active cases.
  • Researchers at Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN) say findings from a study released Wednesday suggest a third-dose vaccine booster is the “best way to increase protection” in organ transplant recipients from serious consequences from COVID-19.
  • Worldwide, there have been 204,986,180+ cases, 4,329,089+ deaths and 4,563,092,882+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • California will become the first state in the U.S. to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
  • Australia’s capital is going into lockdown for a week from Thursday after a single case of COVID-19 was detected and the virus was found in wastewater. Canberra joins Sydney, Melbourne and several cities in New South Wales state in lockdown because of the Delta variant.

Aug. 11

  • Ontario reported 324 new cases today for a total of 553,449 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,412 deaths, up three. There are 108 in hospital with 108 in intensive care, 70 on a ventilator. Today there are 90 new cases in Toronto, 47 in Peel Region, 29 in York Region, 29 in Hamilton and 26 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 541,426 cases resolved, up 204 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,998,744 vaccinations in all. There are 9,418,632 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,632 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,177 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,725 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 24,772 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,764,787. There are 8,233 test results pending.
  • There are three outbreaks in long term care residence with four resident cases, 13 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • The provincial government has released guidelines around testing and self-isolation for those who might be exposed to the virus — with the rules dependent on vaccination status. Vaccinated Ontarians will be subject to fewer restrictions and more lenient isolation requirements compared to people who are unvaccinated.
  • The province also released specific guidelines for how local public health units should approach confirmed cases and outbreaks in schools. It has defined an outbreak in a school or child-care setting as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students, staff or other visitors, where at least one case can be linked to the school or facility, including related transportation like a bus. Measures to deal with cases or outbreaks will largely be handled by the local public health unit, and can be scaled up or down depending on the specific situation and risks, the province says.
  • The University of Toronto and Western University are now requiring students and staff to be full vaccinated to be on campus this fall. The University of Ottawa is also requiring full vaccination to be on campus.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 10 new cases today for a total of 27,903 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 82 active cases and 27,228 recoveries. There are two in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,481,718 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 675,285 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is reporting 365 new cases for a total of 380,038. So far, there have been 366,670 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,242 deaths. There are 67 in hospital, 22 in intensive care. The province completed 18,274 tests on Aug. 9. So far, 11,618,690 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,635 cases so far, up 13 today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 25 active cases and 12,392 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 521,632 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec won’t require students in primary and secondary schools to wear masks when they are sitting at their desks this fall as the province seeks to create a more normal classroom setting for the coming academic year. Teachers will also not be required to wear masks if they can maintain the two-metre distance, and students will no longer need to stay in their classroom bubbles throughout the day.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has dropped its mask mandate replaced by a patchwork of mask policies and recommendations. Some places are requiring patrons and staff to wear masks, while others are allowing people to make their own decisions. Some businesses and organizations have more specific rules, and are requiring masks in some instances but not in others. “Masking is still strongly recommended, especially when you are not always able to physically distance from others and you don’t know their vaccination status,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.
  • Alberta confirmed 501 new cases Wednesday, out of about 8,600 tests. The provincial positivity rate sat at about 5.9 per cent. As of Wednesday, there were 138 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, including 31 being treated in intensive care. One additional death was reported.
  • The Winnipeg Jets says it will require fans and staff to be fully vaccinated to attend home games in the upcoming NHL season in person.
  • Another 536 people have been infected, British Columbia health officials said Wednesday. One more death was reported.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,443,433+ cases with 26,683+ deaths and 1,404,202+ recoveries. There are 12,546+ active cases.
  • The federal government is working on a form of vaccine passport that would enable international travel by Canadians.
  • Conservative MP David Yurdiga, who represents Fort McMurray, Alta. in the Commons, said a government plan to study the value of making vaccination mandatory for federal bureaucrats was “another example of the Liberals using severe government overreach for political gain.” His leader, Erin O’Toole, says all Canadians should get vaccinated so that the country can turn the page on COVID-19 but would not address Yurdiga’s comments.
  • The latest available federal public health data shows roughly 90 per cent of all COVID-19 cases reported in Canada since the start of the country’s vaccination program in mid-December have been among unvaccinated individuals. Just 0.5 per cent have been reported among people who’ve been fully vaccinated.
  • Worldwide, there have been 204,333,042+ cases, 4,319,500+ deaths and 4,521,304,074+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The U.S. government will deliver nearly 837,000 Pfizer vaccines to Caribbean nations as the region with limited resources struggles with a spike in COVID-19 cases amid violent anti-vaccine protests. The Bahamas will receive 397,000 doses, followed by more than 305,000 doses for Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados will receive 70,200 doses, with 35,100 slated for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 17,550 for Antigua and 11,700 for St. Kitts and Nevis.
  • Australia’s second-biggest city Melbourne will stay locked down for a second week after Victoria state reported 20 new COVID-19 cases as it struggles to stamp out infections caused by the highly infectious delta variant. In Sydney, which is in Week 7 of its own lockdown, New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian reported another 344 new infections in the past 24 hours. He told reporters the surge in cases is “expected to continue.”
  • South Korea’s daily increase in coronavirus infections has exceeded 2,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, continuing an alarming spread despite the enforcement of strict virus restrictions in large population centres.
  • France reported 30,920 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, the first time daily new infections have been above 30,000 since April. 
  • Chile has started giving booster shots of a COVID-19 vaccine to people over 55 years old who had already received two vaccine doses.

Aug. 10

  • Ontario reported 321 new cases today for a total of 553,125 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,409 deaths, up two. There are 100 in hospital with 109 in intensive care, 72 on a ventilator. Today there are 90 new cases in Toronto, 47 in Peel Region, 29 in York Region, 29 in Hamilton and 26 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 541,222 cases resolved, up 200 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,950,437 vaccinations in all. There are 9,381,122 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,594 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,174 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,400 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 16,479 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,740,015. There are 10,066 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with seven resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • The Ontario Long-term Care Association said that a provincial vaccine mandate would be the most effective way to curb the threat posed by the highly-infectious delta variant. The Ontario Medical Association and Registered Nurses Association of Ontario have also made similar calls on the government. The association also urged the province and its “relevant scientific partners” to explore the possibility of booster shots for residents, staff and essential caregivers ahead of an emerging fourth wave of the illness.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 10 new cases today for a total of 27,893 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 75 active cases and 27,225 recoveries. There are two in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,475,708 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 670,614 are fully vaccinated.
  • The University of Ottawa is mandating COVID-19 vaccination for the vast majority of its students, staff and faculty, along with anyone visiting campus. As of Sept. 7, those groups will be required to have had at least one vaccine dose, with a second required by Oct. 15. The decision is due to the continued risk posed by COVID-19 and variant strains, the university said in a statement on Tuesday.
  • Quebec is reporting 234 new cases for a total of 379,673. So far, there have been 366,523 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,241 deaths. There are 62 in hospital, 18 in intensive care. The province completed 13,325 tests on Aug. 8. So far, 11,580,477 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,635 cases so far, up 13 today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 25 active cases and 12,392 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 519,766 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec’s vaccine passport will be implemented starting Sept. 1 in places with high capacity and a high rate of contact, such as festivals, bars, restaurants, gyms and training facilities to avoid the widespread closures that marked the first waves of COVID-19 in the province. Health Minister Christian Dube says the government is still considering whether weddings and funerals will be included as events that require vaccine passports. So far they will not be required in retail stores and schools.
  • New Brunswick has eight new cases of COVID-19, all in the Moncton region. There are 64 active cases in the province.
  • Manitoba’s COVID-19 website shows 31 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths on Tuesday.
  • Saskatchewan added 65 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths on Tuesday.
  • Alberta Health confirmed 279 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, along with two more deaths. The number of active cases sits at 3,463.
  • Another 395 cases were reported in British Columbia on Tuesday, along with no additional deaths.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,442,087+ cases with 26,678+ deaths and 1,403,357+ recoveries. There are 12,052+ active cases.
  • Canada has signed agreement with drug manufacturer Moderna to build an mRNA vaccine production facilities in this country. The announcement is part of what appears to be a pre-election spending spree by the Liberal government.
  • Worldwide, there have been 203,596,283+ cases, 4,307,668+ deaths and 4,467,933,386+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 9

  • Ontario reported 325 new cases today for a total of 552,804 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,407 deaths. There are 94 in hospital with 113 in intensive care, 70 on a ventilator. Today there are 90 new cases in Toronto, 47 in Peel Region, 29 in York Region, 29 in Hamilton and 26 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 541,022 cases resolved, up 192 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,902,159 vaccinations in all. There are 9,343,260 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,593 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,174 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,380 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 15,805 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,723,536. There are 4,719 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with seven resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting five new cases today for a total of 27,883 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 73 active cases and 27,217 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,475,708 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 670,614 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is reporting 759 new cases over the weekend for a total of 379,439. So far, there have been 366,340 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,242 deaths. There are 55 in hospital, 14 in intensive care. The province completed 13,678 tests on Aug. 7. So far, 11,538,007 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,622 cases so far, up three today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 22 active cases and 12,385 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 518,728 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,438,743+ cases with 26,669+ deaths and 1,401,767+ recoveries. There are 10,307+ active cases.
  • Canada has opened its borders to non essential travel into the country by fully vaccinated Americans who also present a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past three days. The federal government has extended the ban on direct flights from from India until Sept. 21.
  • Worldwide, there have been 202,970,177+ cases, 4,298,791+ deaths and 4,435,943,141+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 8

  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 16 new cases today for a total of 27,878 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 77 active cases and 27,208 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,465,890 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 662,918 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario reported 423 new cases today for a total of 552,479 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,407 deaths, up six. There are 89 in hospital with 115 in intensive care, 76 on a ventilator. Today there are 109 new cases in Toronto, 57 in York Region, 51 in Peel Region, 42 in Hamilton and 29 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 540,830 cases resolved, up 232 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,872,210 vaccinations in all. There are 9,318,953 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,592 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,173 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,223 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 14,963 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,707,731. There are 7,234 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with six resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • New Brunswick is reporting 20 new cases of COVID-19 over two days.
  • As Saskatchewan changes its vaccination stratregy to mobile and pop-up clinics and away from mass immunization sites and drive-thru sites, the province reported 130 new cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan on Saturday, with 628 cases active. The province has the lowest vaccination rate among the 10 provinces at about 63 per cent. The lowest rate is in Nunavut.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,438,219+ cases with 26,663+ deaths and 1,401,482+ recoveries. There are 10,074+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 202,596,172+ cases, 4,292,103+ deaths and 4,338,380,632+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. researchers studied Kentucky residents with a lab-confirmed coronavirus infection in 2020, the vast majority of them between October and December. They compared 246 people who got reinfected in May or June of this year with 492 similar survivors who stayed healthy. The survivors who never got vaccinated had a significantly higher risk of reinfection than those who were fully vaccinated, even though most had their first bout of COVID-19 just six to nine months ago. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends full vaccination, meaning both doses of two-dose vaccines, for everyone, even if they have been infected once already.
  • In a separate study published Friday in JAMA Network Open, Rush University researchers reported just one vaccine dose gives the previously infected a dramatic boost in virus-fighting immune cells, more than people who have never been infected get from two shots.
  • Other recent studies published in Science and Nature show the combination of a prior infection and vaccination also broadens the strength of people’s immunity against a changing virus.
  • Iran has reported more new infections and deaths across the country than on any other single day since the pandemic began. Health authorities logged over 39,600 new cases and 542 deaths from the virus. The daily death toll on Sunday shattered the previous record, set in November. The new all-time highs push Iran’s total number of infections over 4.1 million and pandemic deaths to more than 94,000, the most in the Middle East. Only 3.3 per cent of the population of 80 million has been fully vaccinated.
  • The EU has about 60 per cent of residents have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Aug. 7

  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 12 new cases today for a total of 27,862 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 64 active cases and 27,205 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,465,890 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 662,918 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario reported 378 new cases today for a total of 552,056 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,401 deaths, up nine. There are 138 in hospital with 111 in intensive care, 81 on a ventilator. Today there are 94 new cases in Toronto, 62 in York Region, 38 in Peel Region, 30 in Hamilton, 20 in Durham Region and 20 in the Region of Waterloo. There have been 540,608 cases resolved, up 191 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,825,240 vaccinations in all. There are 9,280,698 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,564 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,174 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,182 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 20,858 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,692,768. There are 7,558 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with six resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Quebec Premier François Legault may force health-care workers to get fully vaccinated against the disease. “We are not ruling out anything to protect the population and not confine Quebec again,” said Legault’s office in a written statement Thursday. Such a mandate would only be for health-care workers and not other public sector employees.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,437,701+ cases with 26,654+ deaths and 1,401,224+ recoveries. There are 9,823+ active cases.
  • Health Canada is updating the product information for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to acknowledge very rare reports of Bell’s palsy following vaccination.
  • Worldwide, there have been 201,271,096+ cases, 4,272,990+ deaths and 4,342,358,798+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 6

  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 18 new cases today for a total of 27,850 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 65 active cases and 27,192 recoveries. There are three in hospital, one in intensive care. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,458,877 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 657,660 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario reported 340 new cases today for a total of 551,678 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,392 deaths, up 18, 16 occurred more than six weeks ago. There are 114 in hospital with 110 in intensive care, 76 on a ventilator. Today there are 80 new cases in Toronto, 41 in York Region, 36 in Peel Region, 23 in Windsor-Essex and 22 in the Region of Waterloo. There have been 540,407 cases resolved, up 149 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,764,199 vaccinations in all. There are 9,231,765 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,559 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,170 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,137 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,448 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,671,910. There are 8,227 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with six resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,985 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit in the Belleville, Ont., area reported 13 cases over two days and 24 known active cases after warning about exposure to COVID-19 at parties.
  • Quebec is reporting 218 new cases for a total of 378,680. So far, there have been 365,881 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,241 deaths. There are 57 in hospital, 15 in intensive care. The province completed 18,221 tests on Aug. 4. So far, 11,399,618 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,622 cases so far, up three today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 22 active cases and 12,385 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 514,226 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • CEGEP and university students in Quebec will all be back in class in September without distancing or masks, Higher Education Minister Danielle McCann announced in a statement on Friday.
  • Alberta reported 369 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday along with one additional death. In a letter to Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said she agrees with the Canadian Paediatric Society’s description of the province’s move to end restrictions as an “unnecessary and risky gamble.” Hajdu said recent modelling for Alberta forecasts a more serious resurgence in cases fuelled by the Delta variant, and all governments need to take reasonable steps to protect Canadians. Hajdu said she wants to better understand the rationale and science behind Alberta’s decision. Last week, the province ended contact tracing and said close contacts of people who test positive for COVID-19 are not required to isolate. And starting Aug. 16, those infected will no longer need to quarantine. Alberta is doing this so it can better respond to other pressing public health issues. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he won’t “take a lecture” from Hajdu on how to handle COVID-19.
  • B.C. health officials announced 464 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the seven-day rolling average of new cases to its highest since the end of May. There are 2,411 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,436,182+ cases with 26,637+ deaths and 1,400,582+ recoveries. There are 8,963+ active cases.
  • More than half of Canadians agree with mandatory vaccinations for people who can be vaccinated to stop the spread of COVID-19 variants, according to a new poll from Nanos Research. CTV has more.
  • Officials with the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Elks say the team has cancelled its scheduled walkthrough and media availability in Ottawa because of COVID-19 protocols.
  • Worldwide, there have been 201,271,096+ cases, 4,272,990+ deaths and 4,342,358,798+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 5

  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 11 new cases today for a total of 27,832 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 52 active cases and 27,187 recoveries. There are two in hospital. There is one outbreak. So far, 1,458,877 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 657,660 are fully vaccinated.
  • Carleton University has changed its position and will now require students to be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine for certain activities. Vaccines will be required to live in residence, take a music class or represent the school in athletics, according to the university update tweeted Thursday afternoon.
  • Festival organizers say a $5.7 million infusion from the provincial government will pave the way for a revival of major musical and cultural events in the region. CBC has more.
  • Ontario reported 213 new cases today for a total of 551,338 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,374 deaths, up 14, 12 occurred between February and May 2021. There are 113 in hospital with 110 in intensive care, 77 on a ventilator. Today there are 44 new cases in Toronto, 31 in Peel Region, 18 in York Region, 18 in Hamilton and 17 in Windsor-Essex. There have been 540,258 cases resolved, up 183 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,710,224 vaccinations in all. There are 9,189,535 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,543 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,168 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 5,094 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 23,494 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,648,462. There are 8,669 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with six resident cases, 12 staff. So far, 3,983 residents have died.
  • Ontario’s updated guidance on COVID-19 protocols for child-care centres, including allowing singing indoors and letting visitors in the centres. Other measures: the focus should be on hand washing rather than having to clean a shared toy, group sensory materials — such as water tables — are allowed, staff can now move between locations and age groups, though it’s not encouraged, and staff don’t have to wear masks outside or face shields when working with kids in Grade 1 and up who are wearing a mask.
  • A bright light: Niagara Health has no COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital, the first time this has happened since September 2020.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Quebec is reporting 305 new cases for a total of 378,462. So far, there have been 365,750 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,240 deaths. There are 60 in hospital, 16 in intensive care. The province completed 16,762 tests on Aug. 3. So far, 11,345,587 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,619 cases so far, up four today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 20 active cases and 12,384 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 512,601 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec will implement a vaccine passport system, Premier François Legault announced today. Details of the system will be released soon, Legault said. But he said the rising case numbers in Quebec and the prospect of more hospitalizations and deaths have made the vaccine passport system necessary. The system will allow the province to avoid the widespread closures that have marked its pandemic response to date, he said.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,434,738+ cases with 26,618+ deaths and 1,399,968+ recoveries. There are 8,152+ active cases.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked the clerk of the Privy Council to look into making vaccines mandatory for federal employees. The government is also looking into making vaccines mandatory in federally regulated industries, such as the airline, banking and rail sectors.
  • Canada’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam says that voting during the pandemic could be done safely. “I think that safety protocols have been put in place for different elections throughout Canada during the last month, so I think that can continue to be provided,” she told a media conference. “So I think that there’s definitely ways to vote safely.” Tam said voters should cast mail-in ballots only if they feel they are at risk.
  • Chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault says Elections Canada is ready for a vast increase in the number of Canadians choosing to vote by mail during the pandemic. Elections officials anticipate up to five million voters could opt for mail-in ballots, compared to fewer than 50,000 in the 2019 election.
  • The latest data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds the Liberal Party holding a five-point advantage over the opposition Conservatives, as pandemic management rises in the minds of Canadians as an issue critical to them, and the country.
  • Worldwide, there have been 200,652,700+ cases, 4,263,709+ deaths and 4,303,303,528+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said Wednesday.
  • Seven U.S. states with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates account for half of the country’s new cases and hospitalizations in the last week, the White House said on Thursday. The states are Florida, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, according to President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 co-ordinator, Jeff Zients, who spoke at a news briefing. Florida and Texas account for a third of new cases.
  • Israel, Germany and France will go ahead with COVID-19 vaccine boosters in September, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organization (WHO) to hold off until more people are vaccinated across the globe.

Aug. 4

  • Ottawa Public Health is removing seven cases from the city’s total which now stands at reporting one new case for a total of 27,821 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 43 active cases and 27,185 recoveries. There is no one in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,450,733 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 650,851 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ontario reported 139 new cases today for a total of 551,125 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,360 deaths, up 11. There are 112 in hospital with 108 in intensive care, 76 on a ventilator. Today there are 26 new cases in Toronto, 19 in the Region of Waterloo, 18 in Peel Region, 15 in York Region and 12 in Hamilton. There have been 540,075 cases resolved, up 155 today.
  • So far, there have been 19,652,011 vaccinations in all. There are 9,143,402 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,538 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,164 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 4,909 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 17,115 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,624,968. There are 8,788 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with nine resident cases, 10 staff. So far, 3,983 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ontario will allow students to participate in “high-contact indoor sports” such as basketball and hockey when the school year resumes, the education minister said Wednesday.
  • Stephen Lecce also announced a $25 million investment in providing Hepa filters for schools that need them to ensure high quality ventilation.
  • Quebec is reporting 184 new cases for a total of 378,157. So far, there have been 365,654 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,240 deaths. There are 58 in hospital, 17 in intensive care. The province completed 15,705 tests on Aug. 2. So far, 11,297,295 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,611 cases so far. There have been 215 deaths. There are 18 active cases and 12,378 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 508,916 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Quebecers accounted for 92 per cent of new COVID-19 cases from July 1 to 24, the province’s health ministry says. Quebec officials say that if cases keep rising the province will implement vaccine passports starting Sept. 1. As of Aug. 3, 83 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and older in Quebec has received one dose of a vaccine; 67 per cent has received two doses. That level is not good enough to fend off a surge in Delta variant infections. From July 1 to Aug. 4, Quebec has seen an increase of 301 Delta variant cases, compared to 199 of the Alpha strain, 21 of the Beta and 44 of Gamma.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,430,483+ cases with 26,592+ deaths and 1,397,451+ recoveries. There are 6,440+ active cases.
  • The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) are jointly calling for COVID-19 vaccinations to be made mandatory for health-care workers.
  • Worldwide, there have been 199,142,755+ cases, 4,240,279+ deaths and 4,182,407,510+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • U.S. President Joe Biden has called on resistant Republican governors in Florida and Texas to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules aimed at containing the more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variant. He backed city and private mandates requiring people to be vaccinated to go about some daily activities. The U.S. has seen 35,251,200+ cases and 614,368+ deaths.

Aug. 3

  • Ontario reported 164 new cases today, 168 Aug. 1. There have now been 550,986 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,349 deaths. There are 79 in hospital with 108 in intensive care, 76 on a ventilator. Today there are 45 new cases in the Toronto, 23 in York Region and 22 in Peel Region. There have been 539,920 cases resolved, up 155 today and 129 on Aug. 1.
  • So far, there have been 19,591,917 vaccinations in all. There are 9,095,394 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,533 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,163 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 4,816 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 11,658 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,596,338. There are 3,694 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with nine resident cases, 10 staff. So far, 3,980 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • The province has announced a $25 million investment two provide heap filters to schools.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting one new case for a total of 27,828 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 42 active cases and 27,193 recoveries. There is no one in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,450,733 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 650,851 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is reporting 175 new cases for a total of 377,733. So far, there have been 365,558 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,241 deaths. There are 58 in hospital, 18 in intensive care. The province completed 10,943 tests on Aug. 1. So far, 11,247,155 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,611 cases so far. There have been 215 deaths. There are 18 active cases and 12,378 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 510,479 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,433,775+ cases with 26,607+ deaths and 1,399,424+ recoveries. There are 7,744+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 199,803,078+ cases, 4,251,050+ deaths and 4,189,419,089+ vaccine doses have been administered.

Aug. 2

  • Ontario pharmacists say thousands of doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are set to expire in early August.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting seven new cases for a total of 27,820 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 50 active cases and 27,184 recoveries. There is no one in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,436,274 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 650,851 are fully vaccinated.
  • Ottawans made more than 11,000 more calls to the city’s bylaw office between April 2020 and March 2021 than in the previous 12-month period — an increase of 20 per cent — with a good chunk of the increase coming from complaints about noise, pets, property maintenance and construction work. The CBC has more.
  • Quebec is reporting 501 new cases since July 30 for a total of 377,798. So far, there have been 365,451 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,241 deaths. There are 61 in hospital, 17 in intensive care. The province completed 10,906 tests on July 31. So far, 11,370,519 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,597 cases so far. There have been 215 deaths. There are 11 active cases and 12,371 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 506,924 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,430,483+ cases with 26,592+ deaths and 1,397,451+ recoveries. There are 6,440+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 198,519,853+ cases, 4,228,484+ deaths and 4,141,283,988+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Florida reported 21,683 new cases of COVID-19, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to federal health data released Saturday. The state has become the new national epicentre for the virus, accounting for a fifth of new cases in the U.S. as the highly contagious Delta variant takes hold.

Aug. 1

  • Ontario reported 218 new cases today. There have now been 550,654 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,347 deaths, up two. There are 78 in hospital with 110 in intensive care, 78 on a ventilator. There are 40 new cases in Toronto, 33 in Peel Region, 23 in York Region, 16 in Middlesex-London and 14 in Hamilton. There have been 539,640 cases resolved, up 155.
  • So far, there have been 19,519,781 vaccinations in all. There are 9,035,335 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,531 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,163 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 4,802 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 14,122 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,584,680. There are 4,368 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with nine resident cases, seven staff. So far, 3,980 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting five new cases for a total of 27,820 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 51 active cases and 27,176 recoveries. There is no one in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,436,274 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 638,393 are fully vaccinated.
  • Starting today, bars and restaurants in the Outaouais, and across the province, can serve alcohol until 1 a.m. Stadiums, venues and festivals can increase capacity to 15,000 spectators outdoors, up to 7,500 indoors with a maximum of 500 people a section. Events during which people remain seated in designated spaces can now welcome up to 250 indoors, 500 outdoors. This applies to sports events, meetings, conventions and ceremonies. The changes come because more than 60 per cent of eligible Quebecers have now received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Quebec is holding a lottery for $2 million in cash and scholarships to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The province’s portal for proof of vaccination will include an option to opt in to the lottery. The first weekly draw will take place Aug. 6. Those who have been previously vaccinated are also eligible for the cash prizes.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,430,483+ cases with 26,592+ deaths and 1,397,451+ recoveries. There are 6,440+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 198,182,570+ cases, 4,222,338+ deaths and 4,111,724,694+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • More than 99.999 per cent of fully vaccinated Americans have not had a breakthrough case resulting in hospitalization or death, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • This comes as Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon in the U.S. as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots. Fauci also said he doesn’t foresee additional lockdowns in the U.S. because he believes enough people are vaccinated to avoid a recurrence of last winter. However, he said not enough people are inoculated to “crush the outbreak.”.

July 31

  • Ontario reported 258 new cases today. There have now been 550,436 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,345 deaths, up six. There are 105 in hospital with 112 in intensive care, 83 on a ventilator. There are 53 new cases in Toronto, 33 in York Region, 28 in the Region of Waterloo, 27 in Hamilton and 26 in Peel Region. There have been 539,485 cases resolved, up 137.
  • So far, there have been 19,459,198 vaccinations in all. There are 8,985,638 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,538 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,161 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 4,741 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 19,112 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,570,558. There are 5,546 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with nine resident cases, seven staff. So far, 3,980 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting four new cases for a total of 27,815 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 51 active cases and 27,171 recoveries. There is one in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,436,274 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 638,393 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is holding a lottery for $2 million in cash and scholarships to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The province’s portal for proof of vaccination will include an option to opt in to the lottery. The first weekly draw will take place Aug. 6. Those who have been previously vaccinated are also eligible for the cash prizes.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,430,483+ cases with 26,592+ deaths and 1,397,451+ recoveries. There are 6,440+ active cases.
  • Two travellers who arrived in Toronto from the United States have been fined for providing fake COVID-19 proof of vaccination documents and lying about pre-departure tests. The Public Health Agency of Canada says the travellers also didn’t comply with requirements to stay at a government-authorized hotel or to get tested upon arrival. The agency says in a news release Friday that the travellers arrived last week and have been handed four fines totalling $19,720 each.
  • Worldwide, there have been 197,665,605+ cases, 4,214,090+ deaths and 4,076,687,867+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A new study has found differences in which COVID-19 symptoms are experienced shortly after infection based on age and sex. The researchers looked at 18 different symptoms, including loss of smell, chest pain, persistent cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and chills or shivers. For example, participants 16 to 39 the most relevant early symptom was loss of smell, followed by chest pain, abdominal pain and shortness of breath. Persistent cough, chest pain and loss of smell were even more relevant among participants aged 40 to 59 years.

July 30

  • Ontario reported 226 new cases today. There have now been 550,178 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,339 deaths, up 11. There are 108 in hospital with 117 in intensive care, 77 on a ventilator. There are 62 new cases in Toronto, 35 in the Region of Waterloo, 24 in Peel Region, 13 in York Region, 13 in Hamilton and 13 in Halton Region. There have been 539,348 cases resolved, up 148.
  • So far, there have been 19,377,608 vaccinations in all. There are 8,919,362 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,536 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,493 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,161 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 4,565 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 20,993 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,551,446. There are 6,956 test results pending.
  • There are five outbreaks in long term care residence with 16 resident cases, seven staff. So far, 3,980 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting 10 new cases for a total of 27,811 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 50 active cases and 27,168 recoveries. There is one in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,436,274 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 638,393 are fully vaccinated.
  • Quebec is reporting 125 new cases for a total of 377,297. So far, there have been 365,105 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,241 deaths. There are 60 in hospital, 17 in intensive care. The province completed 15,892 tests on July 28. So far, 11,018,278 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,596 cases so far, no new cases reported today. There have been 215 deaths. There are 10 active cases and 12,371 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 501,005 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec is now at the beginning of a wave of Delta cases, with the ultra-contagious variant projected to become predominant in the province by the end of August, says a top official with the provincial public health laboratory. The Montreal Gazette has more.
  • The concern is echoed by Canada’s top health officials who are also warning the country could be seeing the beginning of a fourth COVID-19 wave driven by the more infectious Delta variant. Health officials are looking at the 18 to 39 age demographic as the key to addressing a possible fourth wave.
  • Quebec is holding a lottery for $2 million in cash and scholarships to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The province’s portal for proof of vaccination will include an option to opt in to the lottery. The first weekly draw will take place Aug. 6. Those who have been previously vaccinated are also eligible for the cash prizes.
  • Albertans who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to enter isolation starting in less than three weeks, the province’s chief medical officer of health said Wednesday. While a recent rise in COVID-19 cases has caused some anxiety, increasing vaccination rates are limiting the threat of severe outcomes and strains on the health-care system, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, says. As a result, the province will start making COVID-19 protocols similar to those of the flu and other communicable diseases.
  • British Columbia has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in the Central Okanagan. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the spread of the delta variant in the area is alarming, but she believes the new measures will help flatten the spike in numbers.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,429,577+ cases with 26,575+ deaths and 1,397,037+ recoveries. There are 5,965+ active cases.
  • Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is extending pandemic aid programs by an extra month. Wage and rent subsidies for businesses, and income support for workers out of a job or who need to take time off to care for family or stay home sick, will last until Oct. 23. The government is also freezing rates for the wage and rent subsidies at current levels, holding off on the previously planned decline.
  • Worldwide, there have been 196,847,238+ cases, 4,203,020+ deaths and 4,034,510,029+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • A new study shows the Delta variant produced similar amounts of virus in vaccinated and unvaccinated people if they get infected — hence the U.S. federal guidance recommending most fully vaccinated Americans wear masks indoors. Experts say that vaccination makes it less likely that you’ll catch COVID-19 — but the data suggests those who get the bug could spread it as unvaccinated people do.

July 29

  • Ontario reported 218 new cases today. There have now been 549,952 cases. The province has seen a total of 9,328 deaths, up three. There are 105 in hospital with 121 in intensive care, 79 on a ventilator. There are 38 new cases in Toronto, 38 in Peel Region, 25 in Hamilton, 19 in the Region of Waterloo and 13 in Grey Bruce. There have been 539,200 cases resolved, up 169.
  • So far, there have been 19,293,701 vaccinations in all. There are 8,851,757 fully vaccinated.
  • The province says there have been 145,508 cases of infection by the Alpha (B1117) variant, 1,492 by the Beta (B1351) variant, 5,161 by the Gamma (P1) variant and 4,421 cases of the Delta (B1617) variant.
  • Ontario completed 19,425 tests in the past 24 hours for a total of 16,530,453. There are 8,054 test results pending.
  • There are four outbreaks in long term care residence with 14 resident cases, four staff. So far, 3,979 residents have died.
  • Ontario is now in Stage 3 of reopening. This means activities such as indoor dining can resume, gyms can open for the first time in months, along with nightclubs, museums, galleries, cinemas and sports facilities for fans.
  • More than 80 per cent Ontarians aged 12 and older — those who are currently eligible for a vaccine in the province — have had at least one dose, the Ministry of Health said. That means one of three conditions the province has set for moving beyond Step 3 of its reopening plan has now been met. The government has also said 75 per cent of people 12 and older must have received their second dose, and no public health unit can have less than 70 per cent of eligible people fully vaccinated.
  • Ottawa Public Health is reporting eight new cases for a total of 27,801 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The death total is 593. There are 51 active cases and 27,157 recoveries. There are two in hospital. There are no outbreaks. So far, 1,427,785 have received at least one dose of vaccine. So far, 631,795 are fully vaccinated.
  • Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa’s medical officer of health, is optimistic the city will reach its ambitious COVID-19 vaccination target off 90 per cent fully vaccinated even with “real barriers” of vaccine accessibility and hesitancy. Right now, because children under 12 cannot be vaccinated the city has about 70 per cent of the general population fully protected. Etches said vaccines still need to be combined with mask-wearing rules to keep transmission rates low. She told a media conference that the Delta variant now ravaging the U.S. still accounts for only 45 of the 9,140 total confirmed or suspected variants of concern reported in Ottawa, or 0.5 per cent.
  • Quebec is reporting 138 new cases for a total of 377,172. So far, there have been 365,018 recoveries. There has been a total of 11,240 deaths. There are 62 in hospital, 20 in intensive care. The province completed 13,793 tests on July 27. So far, 10,949,586 vaccine doses have been delivered.
  • In the Outaouais, there have been 12,596 cases so far, up six. There have been 215 deaths. There are 11 active cases and 12,370 recoveries. There are no cases in hospital. So far, 498,499 have been vaccinated with at least one dose in the Outaouais.
  • Quebec is holding a lottery for $2 million in cash and scholarships to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The province’s portal for proof of vaccination will include an option to opt in to the lottery. The first weekly draw will take place Aug. 6. Those who have been previously vaccinated are also eligible for the cash prizes.
  • In Canada, there have been 1,428,683+ cases with 26,570+ deaths and 1,396,636+ recoveries. There are 5,477+ active cases.
  • Worldwide, there have been 196,200,776+ cases, 4,192,223+ deaths and 3,996,036,786+ vaccine doses have been administered.
  • American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, a two-time world pole vault champion at the Olympics, has tested positive for COVID-19. 
  • Google, Facebook and Netflix have announced their plans to require vaccines for their on-site employees in the United States. Global News has more.
  • Israel will offer a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who have already been vaccinated making Israel the first country to offer a third dose of a Western vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale.
  • International governments and companies have pledged more than $4 billion US to educate 175 million children around the world and prevent a generation’s chances being blighted by the coronavirus pandemic.

For the period from June 2, 2021 to July 30, 2021 please see https://capitalcurrent.ca/tracking-covid-19/

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