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Good evening, here are the COVID-19 updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- Ontario launches its digital COVID-19 vaccine passport app
- U.S. land borders will reopen to vaccinated Canadians on Nov. 8
- Canada is heading for flu season in the middle of a fourth wave of COVID-19
In the past seven days, 21,473 cases were reported, down 20 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 284 deaths announced, up 6 per cent over the same period. At least 2,408 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,613,638 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 14th among 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
Photo of the day
White flags representing people who have died of COVID-19 in Brazil cover a field as part of a protest against the government's health policies outside the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Activists said they placed 600 flags, each with a person's name, to represent the 600,000 death toll, announced the previous day.Eraldo Peres/The Associated Press
Coronavirus in Canada
- Ontario is launching its new QR code digital proof-of-vaccination app today – a week ahead of schedule. Here’s what you need to know about how it works. Premier Doug Ford also announced that he’s asked hospitals for their input on implementing vaccine mandates for staff. Meanwhile, advocates are pushing for an extension of the province’s pandemic rent freeze – set to expire at the end of the year.
- In New Brunswick, a pastor was in court today after public health officials accused his congregation of breaking COVID-19 health protocols.
- A homeless shelter in central Alberta is on the brink of closure as clients face threats of COVID-19 and drug overdoses. The temporary shelter in Red Deer opened last March due to the pandemic. “If Nov. 15 comes and we’re supposed to go, maybe we’ll have a revolution or something,” said Kath Hoffman, head of the group that operates the shelter.
- Saskatchewan is asking other provinces if they have health-care workers they could send, if needed, in the coming days to help struggling intensive care units. The province is looking for people who typically work in ICUs, including nurses, respiratory therapists and perfusionists – staff who operate heart-lung machines.
- Yukon is announcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for a wide range of workers. Premier Sandy Silver said that all government employees and front-line health-care workers, along with employees of partner groups that receive funding from the territory, will be required to be fully vaccinated as of Nov. 30.
In Ottawa, the federal government is weighing whether or not it should hand the responsibility of verifying passengers’ vaccination status to airport security agents, rather than airlines.
- Airlines have been lobbying the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to take responsibility for airport vaccination checks. It would mark a change from the current health protocol, where carriers are responsible for checking passengers’ COVID-19 test results.
- Last week, the Prime Minister announced that starting Oct. 30, all air, train and boat travellers over 12 would be required to show proof of vaccination.
Canada-U.S. border update: The United States will reopen its land borders to fully vaccinated Canadians on Nov. 8.
COVID-19: Canada’s top doctor, Dr. Theresa Tam, says a heavy flu season could put extra pressure on already fragile health-care systems. Surveillance data from the country’s health agency show higher infection rates expected for common seasonal viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus.
Coronavirus around the world
- In Italy, the arrival of strict COVID-19 measures was met by protests across the country. The so-called “Green Pass” requires all workers to show proof of immunization, a negative test, or recent recovery from COVID-19, to enter their workplace. It has sparked heated debate in the country.
Coronavirus and business
Canadian farmers and meat processors are urging Ottawa to quickly bring in more foreign workers to help ease the agriculture industry’s labour crisis.
- They want the federal government to raise caps and speed up applications for the temporary foreign worker program to allow them to increase production.
- Agriculture is one of many sectors struggling to add staff as the Canadian economy tries to recover from the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also today: Small businesses must plan now to benefit from the economic recovery.
Globe opinion
- Robyn Urback: Politicians who recently travelled now have a message for Canadians: Don’t travel
More reporting
- How the pandemic changed – and shaped – this season’s literary festivals
- Pandemic hobbyists-turned-designers spark renewed interest in creative handmade knitwear
Information centre
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s travel restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated people
- Waiting for a second dose? We answer your COVID-19 vaccine questions
- What is and isn’t ‘paid sick leave’ in Canada? A short primer
- Got a vaccine ‘hangover’? Here’s why
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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