Coronavirus Update: Canada set to receive 1-million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine per week starting March 22

Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. Ford apologizes to Ontario MPP he accused of “jumping” the line for a vaccine
2. Canada set to receive one million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine per week starting March 22
3. Kenney says Albertans have choice over COVID-19 vaccine

In the last 7 days, 21,475 cases were reported, up 6 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 212 deaths announced, down 23 per cent over the same period. At least 1,926 people are being treated in hospitals and 850,053 others are considered recovered.

About 73 per cent of the 3,885,270 doses of vaccine distributed to provinces have been administered. That’s 7.4 doses for every 100 people in Canada.

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

Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts • Tracking vaccine doses • Lockdown rules and reopening • Vaccine distribution plan • Four vaccines approved in Canada • Essential resources

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Coronavirus in Canada

• In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford issued a private apology to Sol Mamakwa, the MPP for Kiiwetinoong, after accusing the legislator of “jumping the line” for COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday. Mr. Mamakwa, the only First Nations member of Ontario’s legislature, said he was invited by community leaders to get the shot, in a bid to help encourage Indigenous people to get the vaccine. Meanwhile, Peel ordered thousands of workers at an Amazon warehouse in Brampton to isolate after a possible exposure. Infections at the facility have spiked, even as the rate in the region has declined. And, Sudbury schools will move online and Sarnia-Lambton will move into lockdown amid a spike in cases in those regions.
• Premier Jason Kenney said people in Alberta will be able choose which COVID-19 vaccine they get, in part over religious concerns about the use of fetal cell lines in their development. The province’s top doctor said Alberta is determining the extent to which people will be able to choose a vaccine, but encouraged people to take the first vaccine they are offered.
• British Columbia Premier John Horgan says he would support COVID-19 vaccine passports for international travel, but isn’t convinced people in the province need similar proof for local events.
• Saskatchewan reported 77 new presumed COVID-19 variant cases in Regina, prompting officials to consider if more restrictions are needed.
• Prince Edward Island eased some COVID-19 restrictions as its circuit-breaker measures end.
• Quebec will allow gyms to reopen beginning March 26 as COVID-19 vaccination efforts ramp up in the province.

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Pfizer is set to deliver one million doses of its vaccine per week from March 22 to May 10, a supply increase that is “going to make a big difference” in the country’s inoculation campaign.

• The Prime Minister also expressed caution over COVID-19 vaccine passports, saying while it wouldn’t be out of place for international travel, an inoculation requirement for everyday activities in Canada raises “questions of equity” domestically.
• He said some Canadians cannot be vaccinated because of medical conditions, and noted people who are not prioritized for shots will have to wait much longer than others.

Vaccine priority groups: The expert panel that advises Ottawa’s vaccine prioritization is reconsidering its position that AstraZeneca’s shot should not be given to Canadians who are age 65 and over. The group met this week to review new data about the effectiveness of the vaccine in seniors and will issue a non-binding update soon.

COVID-19 vaccines: Health Canada said there is no scientific explanation to suggest a link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and blood clots. Other reasons could explain why some European patients developed blood clots after they received the AstraZeneca shot, the agency’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Supriya Sharma, said. “There’s not a good biological explanation about why a vaccine of this type, injected into a muscle, would cause that kind of adverse event,” said Dr. Sharma, in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Coronavirus around the world

• The World Health Organization approved an emergency-use listing of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, the third shot backed by the global health body.

Coronavirus and business

Canada’s economy added a net 259,200 positions in February, beating the consensus estimate of 75,000 jobs.

• The gain followed a sharp decline of 212,800 positions in January. The unemployment rate fell to 8.2 per cent from 9.4 per cent, Statistics Canada said on Friday.
• However, a year into the pandemic, the number of employed people in Canada is still down by 600,000, with nearly half a million people unemployed for more than six months.

Also today: Working from home is causing breakdowns. Ignoring the problem and blaming the pandemic is no longer an option.

Globe opinion

• Tanya Talaga: For Indigenous people, the urban-Northern divide has produced a tale of two vaccination efforts
• Elizabeth Renzetti: The vaccine game: Baffling rules, surprise winners
• Doug Saunders: Has the pandemic ended the world’s strongman surge? Brazil will be the big test
• Sandra Martin: The way we’ve treated seniors during the pandemic is shameful

More reporting

• Staffing shortages led to high mortality in long-term care in Ontario, an independent commission has heard.
• Hockey: Gary Bettman admits uncertainty over NHL’s return to normalcy

Information centre

• How well do vaccines work? Here’s what you need to know.
• Rob Carrick’s 10-point checklist of things you should have done by now to protect or improve your money situation. Tips for minimizing damage to your credit score; how to manage retirement anxiety during difficult times; and things to think about if you’re considering home delivery.
• Here are the expectations for self-isolation; tips for managing anxiety and protecting your mental health; and what to do if you think you have the virus. Wash your hands. How to break a bad habit (like touching your face). Is flying safe?
• The best foods to eat to maintain an immune system-friendly diet; and how to keep a healthy diet while working from home; four eating tips when working from home; and five mistakes that might cause you to gain unwanted weight. Here are the essentials to stock up on and how to shop safely for groceries; the best pantry staples and how to stop stress-eating.
• Find answers to your coronavirus and employment questions.

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

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