Coronavirus: What’s Happening in Canada and Around the World Monday
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The last:
All Ontarians vaccinated against COVID-19 can now download their enhanced certificates, which include a QR code.
The provincial government said the scannable documents will allow faster entry to facilities requiring proof of vaccination.
The improved system officially goes into effect on Friday, but Ontarians can get their new vaccine certificates before that date and businesses can start using a new app to verify those codes.
Residents with birthdays between January and April were able to upload the enhanced vaccination certificate to the province’s COVID-19 website on Friday, and other cohorts gained access over the weekend.
Under Ontario’s vaccination certificate program, only those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 – or who have a valid medical exemption from a physician – can access certain settings.
They include theaters, gymnasiums, nightclubs and restaurant dining areas.
Ontario reported 373 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths on Monday. According to the provincial health minister, there were 168 people in ICU due to COVID-19. Christine Elliott noted, however, that not all hospitals report data on weekends.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan will transfer six COVID-19 patients to Ontario over the next 72 hours as the Prairie province faces immense strain on its healthcare system.
Saskatchewan’s hospitalization dashboard on Monday showed 85 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, surpassing previous highs. There are normally 79 intensive care beds in the province, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
– From the Canadian Press and CBC News, latest update 5:15 p.m. ET
What’s happening across Canada
What is happening in the world
As of late Monday morning, more than 240.8 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Tracker. The death toll worldwide stood at over 4.9 million.
In Europe, the UK reported its highest number of new COVID-19 cases in three months on Monday with 49,156 new infections.
The Italian president sharply criticized on Monday the violence that erupted amid protests over the country’s new coronavirus workplace health card requirement, saying it appeared to be aimed at jeopardizing Italy’s economic recovery.
President Sergio Mattarella spoke as riot police again clashed with protesters in the port in the northern city of Trieste, sometimes using water cannons to push them back.
Italy on Friday became the first major European economy to require all workers – from hairdressers to factory workers – to present proof of vaccination, a negative test in the past 48 hours or proof of having recently recovered COVID-19 to enter workplaces.
Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus infections in Russia has exceeded eight million, or more than five percent of the population, and the daily number of infections topped previous highs with 34,325 new infections over the course of the last day. The National Coronavirus Task Force also reported 998 new deaths from COVID-19 on Monday.
In the Americas, the NHL suspended San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.
In the Middle East, Saudi sports fans will be allowed to attend full capacity events at all stadiums and other sports facilities from Sunday, the country’s sports ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
In AfricaSouth Africa’s Medicines Regulatory Authority said on Monday it did not approve a request for emergency use for the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 firing at this time, citing concerns over its safety for people at risk of HIV.
Egypt will require public sector employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or take a weekly coronavirus test to be allowed to work in government buildings after November 15, a cabinet statement said on Sunday.
In the Asia Pacific region, Thailand will stop using the vaccine developed by Chinese company Sinovac when its current stock runs out, a senior official said. Thailand has used the vaccine extensively in combination with vaccines developed by the West.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that the country’s largest city, Auckland, would remain stranded for another two weeks as it seeks to control the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
– From The Associated Press and Reuters, latest update 7:15 p.m. ET
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