Canada added a file 14,456 new circumstances of COVID-19 on Wednesday because the federal authorities revealed expanded help advantages to assist these impacted by the speedy unfold of Omicron.
The brand new infections brings Canada’s whole variety of COVID-19 circumstances to 1,922,227. One other 27 deaths linked to COVID-19 had been introduced Canada-wide as effectively, pushing the loss of life toll to 30,112.
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To this point, greater than 1.8 million sufferers have recovered after being identified with COVID-19, and 65,807,168 vaccinations have been administered thus far.
The brand new day by day infections tallied on Wednesday characterize the very best ever new infections recorded in a single day thus far because the pandemic, in response to International Information knowledge.
Presently, the info additionally factors to Canada registering one other pandemic excessive: a seven-day common of 8,930 circumstances as of Dec. 21.
Wednesday’s figures come amid rising considerations from authorities and public well being officers over the unfold of the brand new, highly-contagious Omicron COVID-19 variant.
In a press briefing Wednesday, Canada’s chief public well being officer Dr. Theresa Tam mentioned that there have been no less than 2,360 confirmed circumstances of the variant recognized within the nation thus far.
Because the variant was first recognized in Canada, provinces like Ontario, B.C. and Quebec have re-enacted strict public well being restrictions within the final a number of weeks to curb a speedy rise in COVID-19 circumstances.
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In response to the general public well being measures — which embody limiting the capacities of eating places and shops by 50 per cent — the federal authorities on Wednesday launched an enlargement to the eligibility of its new Canada Employee Lockdown Profit (CWLB).
The enlargement now permits for any employee to use for the $300-per-week program if their office has been hit with the capacity-limiting restriction of fifty per cent or extra.
The expanded eligibility solely applies till Feb. 12, 2022, whereas the the CWLB lasts till Could 7, 2022.
You’ll additionally have to have misplaced 50 per cent or extra of your earnings because of capability limits with a view to apply for the profit, in response to the federal government.
“We’re quickly increasing eligibility for key packages. For the Canada Employee Lockdown Profit and the Native Lockdown program, it is possible for you to to use if you happen to’re topic to capacity-limiting restrictions,” introduced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Wednesday.
“Right here’s the underside line: we want, all of us, (to) do what it takes so Canadians are protected and to have what it is advisable climate the storm.”
Final Thursday, there have been greater than 43,000 lively COVID-19 circumstances throughout Canada — a quantity that has almost doubled in lower than per week, standing now at simply over 82,000.
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“In lower than per week, we’ve seen a speedy acceleration of epidemic exercise in places throughout Canada,” mentioned Tam.
“Whereas Delta continues to be spreading in lots of areas, Omicron is more and more answerable for a speedy rise in case counts.”
Tam warned that infections in Canada could possibly be increased by the start of the brand new yr except the unfold is slowed.
Trudeau, in the meantime, urged Canadians to “hunker down within the coming weeks.”
“I do know no person desires to be on this state of affairs proper now, however Canadians have proven we’re there for our neighbours, we’re there for our most susceptible, we’re there for our front-line health-care employees … we all know that as lengthy and darkish as winters will be, spring is coming and spring might be higher if we hunker down within the coming weeks,” Trudeau mentioned.
With Canada reporting its highest-ever single-day excessive in new circumstances, a number of provinces have additionally launched day by day case counts not seen in months.
Ontario reported its highest single-day rely since late April with over 4,380 new COVID circumstances on Wednesday, pushing their provincial whole to greater than 661,500.
Circumstances within the province have greater than doubled since final week, with new circumstances within the province standing at simply over 1,800 final Wednesday.
In Quebec, circumstances of COVID-19 are rising “exponentially” in response to Premier Francois Legault Wednesday.
About 6,361 new circumstances of COVID-19 had been formally recorded on Wednesday, although Legault mentioned that the province had recorded about 9,000 new circumstances, a few of which might be added to Thursday’s official whole.
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Wednesday marks the fifth straight day Quebec has reported a file variety of infections.
“Previously week, the variety of COVID circumstances has tripled. We’ve at the moment about 9,000 new circumstances, and we count on hospitalizations to proceed to extend,” mentioned Legault in a press convention.
“Our objective stays the identical: to guard our hospitals in order that we are able to proceed to deal with all those that want it.”
British Columbia on Wednesday additionally smashed its earlier single-day file of latest COVID-19 circumstances with 1,474 extra infections on Dec. 22.
Within the Prairies, case counts have additionally drastically elevated.
Alberta confirmed over 1,300 new circumstances of COVID-19, of which 522 had been confirmed to be the Omicron variant.
Manitoba reported its highest one-day soar in new COVID-19 circumstances since late Could, with 400 new infections and two extra deaths Wednesday.
Officers in Saskatchewan added 105 extra circumstances of COVID-19 on Wednesday, in addition to another loss of life.
Provinces in Atlantic Canada have additionally seen a record-shattering week for his or her case counts.
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Provinces take new measures to stem impression of Omicron variant
Nova Scotia broke its day by day case rely file for the seventh day in a row on Wednesday with 537 new circumstances. New Brunswick added a file 237 new circumstances on Wednesday — the very best because the pandemic started.
Newfoundland and Labrador added one other 60 circumstances on Wednesday, whereas P.E.I. posted its highest single-day improve with 33 new circumstances.
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