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

Top headlines:

  1. Daily U.S. death tolls tops 3,000
  2. Health care workers in long-term care homes will be among the first Ontarians in line next week to receive vaccine at hospitals in Toronto and Ottawa. Here’s the rollout plans across Canada so far
  3. Poorer countries worry about barriers to vaccine access, as wealthy countries begin to roll out their programs

In Canada, there have been at least 442,070 cases reported. In the last week 45,800 new cases were announced, 6% more than the previous week. There have also been at least 355,735 recoveries and 13,109 deaths. Health officials have administered more than 14,008,190 tests.

Open this photo in gallery:

New deaths in Canada, Dec. 10The Globe and Mail

Worldwide, there have been at least 68,894,596 cases confirmed and 1,569,374 deaths reported.

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 Lockdown rules and reopening Mask-wearing rules Back to school guide Essential resources


Photo of the day

Open this photo in gallery:

Pharmacy supervisor Kevin Weissman displays a special glove that is needed to handle the Pfizer vaccine when removed from a freezer unit at LAC USC Medical Center on Thursday.MIKE BLAKE/Reuters


Coronavirus in Canada


In Ottawa, a request by the provinces to dramatically increase federal health transfers to the provinces was front and centre at today’s first ministers’ meeting.

  • Quebec Premier François Legault demanded specifics on vaccines, saying it is urgent to know how many doses the provinces will receive and when.
  • The Conference Board of Canada projects that the total cost of health care will reach $246-billion in 2025. This month’s federal economic update said the Canada Health Transfer will be $49.1-billion that year, meaning the federal percentage would decline to about 20 per cent.

Still in Ottawa, the parliamentary budget watchdog said the federal government’s lack of details in its $100-billion stimulus plan is cause for concern and exposes the Finance Minister to significant lobbying efforts.

COVID-19: Jean Claude Dianzenza Bahati, father of nine and a health care aide, died so suddenly of the coronavirus that his family didn’t even get to hold a bedside vigil or have a teary goodbye over FaceTime. His death left layers of devastation.


Coronavirus around the world


Coronavirus and business

Hudson’s Bay Co. is taking the Ontario government to court in a bid to ease lockdowns on non-essential retail during the crucial holiday shopping season in Toronto and Peel Region, which include some of the country’s top-performing malls.

Also today: The parent company of Sobeys is planning to accelerate the expansion of its e-commerce business as the pandemic drives demand for online shopping.

As well: B.C. antibody developer AbCellera raises expected IPO price amid huge investor demand.

And: The pandemic has made worse the existing systemic barriers faced by businesses owned by Indigenous women.


Globe opinion

  • Gary Mason: “I’m sorry, Mr. Kenney, but those are the numbers for which you must be held to account. Questions about your failed pandemic response this fall aren’t anti-Albertan at all; they are questions you should expect as Premier.”
  • Jane Philpott, Kieran Moore and Ethan Toumishey: “An appropriate, equitable and fair compensation system with a transparent accountability process for monitoring potential AEFIs (adverse events following immunization) associated with COVID-19 immunization could increase public confidence in vaccines and promote uptake.”

More reporting


Information centre

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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