Coronavirus Update: Ottawa, airlines won’t say how often the COVID-19 vaccine status of air travellers is being checked

Good evening, here are the COVID-19 updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. How often is the COVID-19 vaccine status of air travellers checked?
2. B.C. officials stick to vaccine mandate for health-care workers
3. Toronto suspends nearly 250 workers who refused to get vaccinated

In the past seven days, 15,382 cases were reported, down 6 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 181 deaths announced, down 18 per cent over the same period. At least 1,875 people are being treated in hospitals.

Canada’s inoculation rate is 13th 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

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Coronavirus in Canada

• In British Columbia, health authorities are reaffirming their decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all health-care workers in the province. They’ve also allowed school districts to decide whether to require the vaccine for their staff.
• In Ontario, one nursing home has achieved a 100-per-cent COVID-19 vaccination rate among staff. Wellesley Central Place in Toronto, which had a COVID-19 outbreak early in the pandemic, hit its vaccination goal seven weeks ago. Meanwhile, the City of Toronto says it has suspended nearly 250 workers who haven’t complied with its vaccination mandate.
• In Quebec, health-care facilities have started suspending unvaccinated workers who refuse to be tested for COVID-19 at least three times per week. Health Minister Christian Dube says about 8,000 active workers have not been vaccinated, including about 5,000 who work directly with patients.

In Ottawa, the federal government is refusing to disclose how frequently it checks the vaccination status of air travellers.

• The Liberals have billed the initiative as a broad vaccine mandate, but, so far, the policy is only being enforced through random checks.
• “We made the decision to randomly check status for a short period in line with advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada. This also prevents further congestion in airports,” said Valérie Glazer, spokesperson for Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

Canada’s coronavirus cases: The Public Health Agency of Canada says COVID-19 cases are declining across the country, but not as quickly as before.

Pfizer COVID-19 pill: Pfizer says its experimental antiviral pill for COVID-19 cuts the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 per cent.

Coronavirus around the world

• British scientists have identified a version of a gene that may be associated with doubling the risk of lung failure from COVID-19.

Coronavirus and business

Manulife Financial Corp. is the first Canadian insurer to announce a dividend hike after Canada’s banking regulator lifted pandemic-related restrictions.

• Manulife announced on Friday that its board has approved a dividend increase of 18 per cent, or five cents per share, bringing its total quarterly dividend to 33 cents a share.
• The hike follows Thursday’s announcement by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions that temporary measures that had prohibited dividend hikes and share buybacks by financial institutions since March, 2020, were no longer in place, effective immediately.

Also today: The Canadian economy added 31,000 jobs in October as the country’s hiring pace slows.

Globe opinion

• The Editorial Board: Quebec made unvaccinated health workers an offer they couldn’t refuse. They refused
• Casey Plett: Don’t bank on a fully cashless society – even if the COVID-19 pandemic taught you differently

More reporting

• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tested positive this week for COVID-19, said he has “found a long-term immunization protocol” instead getting vaccinated. Rodgers also said he took advice from podcast host Joe Rogan.
• Telefilm revamps plan to usher in new era for Canadian film industry rocked by COVID-19 pandemic
• How the pandemic has made top advisors embrace technology and modernize their businesses

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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