Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday
CBC
The latest:
Quebec is starting to expand booster shot eligibility to its general adult population on Tuesday in an effort to combat the rampant Omicron coronavirus variant.
All adults aged 18 and over will be able to book an appointment to receive their third COVID-19 vaccine shot before the end of January. The provincial government outlined a schedule by age group starting today until Jan. 21 after it shortened the interval between second and third shots from six to three months.
Quebecers aged 55 and over are the first group to be eligible starting Tuesday, with minimum age requirements decreasing in five-year increments over the rest of the month.
The province on Monday reported 15,293 cases of COVID-19 and 15 additional deaths, with 1,396 people in hospital.
The Canadian Armed Forces announced on Monday they were deploying up to 200 personnel, mostly in Montreal and nearby regions, to help speed up the provincial vaccination drive.
Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair said in a tweet on Monday that officials "continue to assess what other federal resources can be utilized to help the province combat COVID-19."
-From The Canadian Press and CBC News, last updated at 7:25 a.m. ET
With testing capacity strained, experts say true case counts are likely far higher than reported. Hospitalization data at the regional level is also evolving, with several provinces saying they will begin to report more precise data that separates the number of people in hospital because of COVID-19 from those in hospital for another medical issue who also happen to test positive for COVID-19. For more detail on what is happening in your community, click through to the regional coverage below.
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia expanded its eligibility for booster COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday. Public health says anyone aged 30 and older who received their second dose of vaccine at least 24 weeks ago is eligible for a booster. The update came as the province reported 1,020 new COVID-19 cases since Friday, with 36 people reported to be in hospital.
In New Brunswick, health officials on Monday reported 2,548 new cases since Friday and two additional deaths, with 51 people in hospital.
Prince Edward Island health officials on Monday reported 161 COVID-19 cases.
Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday reported 519 new cases of COVID-19, one additional death and one hospitalization as health officials tightened restrictions.
In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford announced a shift to remote learning on Monday — less than a week after his government insisted in-person classes would resume after only a two-day delay. The update came as the province announced thousands of hospital procedures would be delayed as the province tightened restrictions in the face of a wave of Omcrion cases.
