Today, The Globe and Mail is launching an extensive examination of a Brampton, Ont., neighbourhood that is one of the most impacted by COVID: L6P.
Inside L6P: The sacrifices of a neighbourhood on the move amid COVID
- When COVID-19 first hit Canada, the country responded with a rallying cry: We are all in this together.
- Today, we know that well-meaning sentiment was, in many ways, false. It is undeniable that the experiences of Canadians over the past 15 months have been vastly different.
- The communities in L6P tell the story of the pandemic in Canada and our failures to contain the virus like no other. As it has faltered, so too has the rest of the country. How it recovers speaks to our collective future.
The story behind the project can be read in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Gujarati.
In the last 7 days, 35,033 cases were reported, down 26 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 286 deaths announced, down 15 per cent over the same period. At least 3,242 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,262,361 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 13th among 84 countries with a population of one million or more people.
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
Photo of the day
Workers exit a bus as they head in for their shift at the Amazon fulfillment centre in Brampton, Ont., on May 11, 2021. The L6P postal code area in Brampton has seen high test positivity rates for COVID-19, and many essential workers live in this area, or live in multigenerational households.Fred Lum/the Globe and Mail
Coronavirus in Canada
- In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford announced the province’s “slow and cautious” COVID-19 reopening plan. The province’s three-step rollout includes metrics for vaccination rates required for each step of changes to restrictions.
- Since May 18, 19 health care workers from Newfoundland and Labrador have worked in Ontario’s hospitals, responding to a plea from Premier Ford for help responding to a surge in COVID-19 infections.
- Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says Albertans who have been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks will no longer have to quarantine if they are exposed to a confirmed positive case and don’t have symptoms.
Inside L6P
- To understand how Brampton continued moving throughout the pandemic when much of the country went still, we spoke to a taxi driver, a warehouse worker and other members of the community who live in postal code L6P – where the test positivity rate has hovered above 20 per cent.
- Brampton resident Gundeep Singh writes of how the coronavirus swept through his household: “It felt as if a monster had entered our home, imprisoned us and was now feeding off of us.”
- Postal code L6P, in Brampton, Ont., has consistently seen one of Canada’s worst COVID positivity rates, painting a picture of starkly unequal pandemic experiences, divided by race, class and age. This is the story behind the project: Inside L6P
In Ottawa, the Transport Minister said Canada can’t commit to a date when travel restrictions will be eased. Changes to hotel quarantine or reopening the border will be determined by unspecified “data and evidence.”
Also today, Canadian researchers have launched a study looking at the safety of mixing COVID-19 vaccine doses. The federally funded study, which aims to recruit 1,300 people in six cities, could inform officials if it is possible to “mix and match” vaccines.
Coronavirus around the world
- UN bodies set up panel to help develop global plan to prevent spread of diseases from animals to humans
- Nepal battling devastating COVID-19 crisis as cases grow ‘out of control’
- U.S. President Joe Biden signs bill to counter spike in hate crimes against Asian Americans
Coronavirus and business
The Bank of Canada ranked household indebtedness and accelerating home prices among the biggest threats to the economy in the medium term.
- “Some people may be thinking that the kind of price increases we have seen recently will continue. That would be a mistake,” Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said at a news conference on Thursday.
Globe opinion
- Robyn Urback: Why are health care leaders promising ‘choice’ on second COVID-19 shots before we have firm clinical data?
- John Ibbitson: Republican supporters have no good reason to refuse COVID-19 vaccinations
More reporting
- Meet the Newfoundland and Labrador health care workers helping Ontario hospitals through COVID-19
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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