Coronavirus Update: ‘V-Day’; First Canadians vaccinated against COVID-19

Good evening. On Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET, the Globe’s science reporter Ivan Semeniuk and health reporter Kelly Grant will answer reader questions on Facebook Live. Send your vaccine questions to audience@globeandmail.com.

Here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

1. Long-term care resident, nurse among first Canadians to be vaccinated
2. Ottawa announced $485-million for international COVID-19 vaccination efforts
3. Not-Amazon.ca – a directory of local retail alternatives – steps up to rival Amazon and Walmart

In Canada, there have been at least 460,738 cases reported. In the last week 44,183 new cases were announced, 1% fewer than the previous week.

There have also been at least 373,253 recoveries and 13,431 deaths. Health officials have administered more than 14,349,701 tests.

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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 charts • Lockdown rules and reopening • Canada’s vaccine distribution plan • Developing/approved vaccines • Pfizer’s vaccine, explained • Essential resources

Photo of the day

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Coronavirus in Canada

• A long-term care resident in Quebec and a nursing home worker in Ontario received Canada’s first COVID-19 vaccinations today. Ontario’s Doug Ford said it marked the “beginning of the end” of the pandemic, while Quebec’s health minister said it was a “a very, very big day” for the province.
• In Ontario, the TDSB announced it closed nine schools until January over COVID-19 outbreaks.
• Alberta hospitals, already overwhelmed, are bracing for more COVID-19 patients even as new restrictions take effect. Some patients are being double-bunked in intensive care rooms designed for one. Meanwhile, the province expects its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines tomorrow.
• Saskatchewan banned household visits and will begin limited retail capacity starting Christmas Day. Meanwhile, Regina public schools are moving from in-class to online, raising concerns of learning loss.

In Ottawa, the federal government announced $485-million in new money to help the international effort to ensure access to a coronavirus vaccine among less wealthy countries.

Coronavirus around the world

• A new variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, health officials in Britain have confirmed, as the government moves to tighten restrictions.
• The U.S. coronavirus death toll surpassed 300,000, as the country’s first inoculation was given out.
• Most of Europe is rolling out new restrictions as the infection and death numbers continue to break new records.

Coronavirus and business

The owner of three cornerstone Bay Street health clubs in Toronto filed for creditor protection last week in a bid to make a deal to keep the centres going until the pandemic ends.

Also today: In Florida, 3.6 million Canadians visited last year, making up a quarter of its foreign tourists. Now, with the border closed, the loss of Canadian ‘snowbirds’ is being felt by vacation rentals, restaurants and shops.

And: Canada Post moved up deadlines for pre-Christmas parcel delivery within Canada in response to high holiday volumes.

Globe opinion

• Cathal Kelly: “Now that there is a vaccine, people who aren’t high on the danger list will attempt to buy a spot at the front of the line. What wasn’t so obvious was that the NHL would be the first person/organization to get curb-stomped over it.”
• André Picard: Focusing on ‘immunity passports’ could distract us from the real goal
• David Eddie: Let me draw from my philosophy degree here to handle the anti-maskers...

More reporting

• I have an autoimmune disease. Should I take the COVID-19 vaccine?
• Uncertainty about vaccine shipments looms, Procurement Minister Anita Anand says in a video.
• Zoomed-out, Meet-maxed, or Webex-weary? 10 tips to make virtual team meetings more engaging
• Parenting SOS: How do we make it through this holiday season stuck at home?
• OPEC trims 2021 oil demand outlook again as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers
• Ontario Superior Court suspends jury trials in most parts of province until February
• Toronto’s Mirvish Productions hopes to welcome subscribers back to theatres in fall 2021

Information centre

• General inoculation starts in April and all Canadians are expected to be vaccinated by December 2021. Here’s what we know so far about the federal and provincial vaccine rollout plans.
• When will a COVID-19 vaccine be available in Canada? How well do they 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.
• A self-isolation explainer; 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: Canadian 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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