Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- A risk-assessment tool is being developed that will advise fully vaccinated Canadians what they can and cannot do, the country’s Chief Public Health Officer says
- Nova Scotia will soon be opening its borders to the rest of Canada, and will be requiring proof of vaccination for a modified quarantine
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, investor buying in Canadian real estate has increased, causing some to point to a possible connection with the overheated housing market
In the last 7 days, 6,088 cases were reported, down 30 per cent from the previous 7 days. There were 183 deaths announced, up one per cent over the same period. At least 1,015 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,373,875 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 10th 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 • Vaccine distribution plan • Four vaccines approved in Canada • Essential resources
Photo of the day
U.S. first lady Jill Biden comforts a nervous patient at the coronavirus disease vaccination clinic at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S., June 22, 2021.TOM BRENNER/Reuters
Coronavirus in Canada
- Many have complained about Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine booking system, but observers say that despite its faults, it is generating results. And: Hundreds fled Toronto’s homeless shelters for fear of contracting COVID-19 when the pandemic hit and dozens of encampments popped up throughout the city. Today, police and city workers descended upon Trinity Bellwoods Park to clear an encampment there.
- All of Quebec will be in the green pandemic-alert level next week – the lowest level in the province’s colour-coded COVID-19 response plan.
- A study by researchers from B.C. Children’s Hospital, the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health says the coronavirus risk at school for teachers and staff is the same as the risk of catching the virus in the community.
- Beginning June 23, if you live in Atlantic Canada you can travel to Nova Scotia without self-isolating, with modified rules for those travelling from New Brunswick. And, effective June 30, Nova Scotia will be open to the rest of Canada with a modified isolation period that is based on vaccination status.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says she’ll soon have advice to help fully vaccinated Canadians figure out what they can safely do, but she says much will depend on who you are and where you live.
- More than 7.5 million Canadians, or 20 per cent of the entire population, has now received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but there is still no guidance on what that means for personal behaviour.
Immunity: Globe and Mail science reporter Ivan Semeniuk talks to The Decibel podcast on what scientists have learned about the way our bodies develop immunity to the novel coronavirus, how long it might last and why we might be getting regular COVID-19 vaccines in the years to come.
Telemedicine: The sudden adoption of telemedicine in Canadian health care means the sector is saturated with technology startups that may struggle to stay afloat after the pandemic.
Coronavirus around the world
- Roughly 900 U.S. Secret Service employees tested positive for the coronavirus, government records show.
- An alarming surge in infections and deaths is being reported in Kenya. Dr. Patrick Amoth, acting director-general of Kenya’s health ministry, said the Delta variant was driving the upswing.
Coronavirus and business
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, investor buying in the real estate market has rebounded to 20.1 per cent of all purchases in Canada, according to data published in the Bank of Canada’s financial system review.
- Home prices have risen so quickly that cities that were once considered affordable are nearing the $1-million mark. More residents, including high-income earners, are unable to buy and are forced to rent.
Also today: The pandemic sent household wealth soaring, according to the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report.
Globe opinion
- The Editorial Board: Choosing one vaccine over another is bad news for Canada’s fight against COVID-19
More reporting
- Are all your colleagues quitting? As remote work erodes company culture, more employees find it easier to leave
- Carrick on money: For the first time in over a year, travel bookings are heating up. Here are some money-saving tips for the travel-hungry
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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