10 million COVID-19 vaccines administered in Canada, case counts remain high

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Canada hit the 10-million milestone Monday morning for total COVID-19 vaccines administered and is closing in fast on getting a first dose to one in four Canadians.

With Ontario reporting almost 67,000 new vaccinations Monday morning, Canada surpassed the 10-million mark. About 9.1 million people have now received at least one dose, including about 915,000 who have received both required doses.

However, the daily case count in provinces across the country remain high, with Ontario reporting 4,447 new cases and 19 deaths. The province also reports a record test positivity rate of 10.5 per cent, up from the 9.2 per cent a day ago.

Ontario’s Health Department is reporting that 2,202 people are hospitalized with the disease, although the government notes that more than 10 per cent of hospitals did not submit data. There are 755 people in intensive care and 516 on ventilators.

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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to consider invoking the federal Emergencies Act given the dire pandemic outlook in Ontario.

In a letter to Trudeau, Singh says such a declaration could help ensure a more co-ordinated delivery of vaccines to those who need them most. Singh says it would also allow workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by taking paid sick days and time off to get vaccinated.

The NDP leader says in Toronto, the wealthiest neighbourhoods have higher rates of vaccination than neighbourhoods where racialized and working-class people live _ areas that have higher levels of COVID-19 positivity.

Quebec is reporting 1,092 new COVID-19 cases and 15 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus. Despite the notable drop in new, daily infections, health officials reported 686 hospitalizations, a rise of three, and 183 people in intensive care, a rise of eight.

New restrictions between Ontario and Quebec went into effect Monday, limiting travel between the provinces in order to reduce the spread of virus variants.

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Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting three new cases of COVID-19.

Health officials say two new cases are linked to travel within Canada, and the other is a close contact of a previously identified infection. There are now 25 active reported cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Nunavut’s chief public health officer says all those currently infected with COVID-19 in Iqaluit are adults.

Dr. Michael Patterson also says about three-quarters of them are in their 20s and 30s. Nunavut is reporting six new cases of COVID-19, all in Iqaluit, bringing the city’s total to 28 cases.

Patterson declared an outbreak in the city on April 16, after its first case was reported on April 14. The city of about 8,000 people, the only place in Nunavut with active cases, is under a strict lockdown with schools, non-essential businesses and government offices closed.

Manitoba is lowering the age eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines. Anyone 40 and over can now get the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The change follows similar moves by Ontario and Alberta on the weekend.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna doses are available for First Nations people in Manitoba aged 34 and up and for others aged 54 and up. The province reported 108 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths.

New Brunswick is reporting nine new cases of COVID-19. Health officials say the hard-hit Edmundston region has six new cases while the Moncton, Fredericton and Bathurst areas each have one new case. There are 158 active reported cases in the province and 21 patients are hospitalized with the disease, including eight in intensive care.

Nova Scotia is reporting 15 new cases of COVID-19 and now has 63 active cases. Eight of the cases are in the Halifax area, six are in the eastern zone and one is in the western area of the province. Seven of the 15 cases are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada, five are close contacts of previously reported cases and three are under investigation.

Prince Edward Island is increasing travel restrictions in an effort to control the number of COVID-19 cases in the province. All non-resident travel to the Island from outside Atlantic Canada is on hold until at least May 17.

The province is reporting three new cases of COVID-19, all involving people who arrived from outside the Atlantic region. Rotational workers and truck drivers who arrive in the province will need to isolate until they receive a negative COVID-19 test even if they are vaccinated.

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