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

Top headlines:

  1. Trudeau won’t state a position on COVID-19 patent waivers
  2. Canada’s economy shed 207,000 jobs in April amid a third wave
  3. Here’s how to know if you’re at risk of developing a rare blood clot after the AstraZeneca shot

There have been 1,273,171 cases of COVID-19 reported in Canada. 24,529 people have died and another 1,166,428 have recovered. There are currently 3,973 patients in hospitals due to COVID-19, 1,397 of whom are in the ICU. At least 15,325,173 single doses of vaccine have been administered to date, about 85 per cent of the country’s available supply.

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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 chartsTracking vaccine dosesLockdown rules and reopeningVaccine distribution planFour vaccines approved in CanadaEssential resources


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Coronavirus in Canada


In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would not state a position on the subject of patent waivers for COVID-19 vaccines.

  • The Prime Minister avoided directly responding to questions from reporters and instead said that Canada is working to build a consensus at the World Trade Organization, where the issue is being debated.
  • A coalition of members of Parliament from different parties held a news conference on Friday urging Trudeau to support the waiver first proposed by India and South Africa in October.
  • The measure has the support of more than 100 countries, but is languishing at the WTO, where it requires unanimous support from 164 members to pass.

COVID-19 vaccines: I got my first shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. How do I know if I’m at risk of developing a rare blood clot?

COVID-19 vaccines: Despite mixed messages on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, many are still eager to get their shot.

COVID-19 and Ramadan: For Muslims around the world, this Ramadan marks the second during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, it comes squarely in the third wave, with gatherings held in ways that respect pandemic restrictions.


Coronavirus around the world

  • The World Health Organization has approved emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China’s Sinopharm. The move opens the possibility that millions of doses of the shot could be included in the UN-backed COVAX program.
  • As more than 4,000 people die of COVID-19 each day in India, the number of “COVID orphans” – young children who have lost parents to coronavirus – is growing by the dozens every day.

Coronavirus and business

After postponing its annual marketing event, Prime Day, in Canada over workplace outbreaks of COVID-19, Amazon did not respond to questions about how many of its workers are currently infected or isolating because of COVID-19. The company declined to respond to questions about access to paid sick-leave benefits.

  • Peel Region, which has one of the highest community COVID-19 positivity rates in Canada, is home to a number of Amazon’s major fulfillment centres.
  • The region’s public health unit partly closed three Amazon fulfillment centres – two in Brampton and one in Caledon – in the last two weeks under its order to shut workplaces with five or more cases of COVID-19.

Also today: Canada’s labour recovery saw a setback as the economy shed 207,000 jobs in April amid the third wave of COVID-19.

And: The head of the World Trade Organization says that support from the United States on COVID-19 vaccine patent waivers will encourage further talks on the issue.


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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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