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Much of Canada is lifting lockdown measures and reopening risky indoor settings while experts warn fast-spreading coronavirus variants threaten to jeopardize recent progress and trigger a brutal third wave.
That variant, also known as B117, is estimated to be at least 50 per cent more transmissible and potentially more deadly and led to strict lockdowns in countries like Denmark, Ireland and the U.K., where it quickly became a dominant strain.
Alberta, which already has 149 cases of B117 and seven cases of the variant first identified in South Africa, also decided to reopen restaurants, bars and gyms this week despite the rapid rise in variant cases.
“It’s kind of like we’re playing chicken with COVID, which never struck me as being a great idea,” said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases physician and an associate professor at the University of Alberta faculty of medicine in Edmonton.
“There’s been enough demonstrated risk from the variants being able to become dominant strains over a period of time in multiple jurisdictions that I would have preferred to hold steady and monitor for a period longer.”
Meanwhile, those variants have caused a surge in cases so rapid in Newfoundland and Labrador, the province has imposed new lockdown measures and cancelled in-person voting for today’s election.
An election campaign sign is shown in St. John’s on Thursday. The outbreak has led to a lockdown of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the suspension of in-person voting across the province. (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)
Balancing return to ‘normal’ with threat of variants
Saxinger says that while Alberta and other provinces have done an effective job of monitoring for the variants as they emerge, she expects the number of variant cases will no doubt continue to grow as the economy reopens.
“Opening indoor dining is a mistake — plain and simple,” said Dr. Irfan Dhalla, a physician and University of Toronto medical professor who is also a vice-president at Unity Health Toronto.
“It’s pretty obvious that if we just went back to normal there would be a third wave and it would be absolutely brutal.”
Dhalla says officials are trying to answer the tricky question of how close to normal they can get, while trying to balance keeping cases low in the face of fast-spreading variants.
“Nobody knows the answer to that question with certainty, but I think everything we’ve seen over the last year tells us it’s better to err on the side of caution,” he said.
“The prudent thing to do would be to go slow and see what happens after a few weeks.”
Despite keeping its provincewide curfew in place, Quebec has also begun reopening businesses, museums, hair salons and malls — even though gathering in them will not be permitted.
Ontario also began rolling back restrictions this week, lifting stay at home orders in much of the province, allowing for non-essential businesses and even ski hills to reopen, while committing to further loosening measures in the coming weeks.
“This is not the time to really begin pulling back on restrictions,” Dr. Gerald Evans, chair of infectious disease in the department of medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., told The Current this week.
Signs for COVID-19 protocols are displayed as skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes at Mount Pakenham ski hill in Eastern Ontario as the business reopens on Thursday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
“Our expectation, when we look at the experience of other countries that have had that variant introduced, is we’re going to see a rise up in numbers and so you don’t want to complicate that by now suddenly rolling back restrictions.”
The decision to loosen restrictions in Ontario came at the same time health experts warned in a provincial scientific briefing that the spread of variants threatened to trigger a third wave of the pandemic, which could in turn lead to a third lockdown.
“We need to be watching how this unfolds and how it plays out before we make too many changes all at once,” said Dr. Susy Hota, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.
“The overall numbers look to be going down, but these variants are emerging and they will likely emerge rapidly and our ability to control transmission might change with that.”
Outbreak in Newfoundland sparked by B117
In a cautionary tale for the rest of the country, health officials in Newfoundand and Labrador confirmed late Friday that a massive outbreak of COVID-19 in St. John’s this week was caused by B117, leading strict lockdown measures to be reimposed.
The province reported 50 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, with the vast majority in the St. John’s region. Thousands of people are in isolation, while others faced renewed lockdown measures that shuttered schools and non-essential businesses.
Bruce Chaulk, the province’s chief electoral officer, announced during a press conference Friday that in-person voting in all 40 districts across the province had been suspended and the election would be solely by mail due to the outbreak.
“We know that if not controlled, it becomes a predominant strain within weeks of first appearance,” said Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s chief medical officer of health.
“This is concerning and serious. But we have the ability to overcome it.”
There are 260 active cases in the province, with 244 of those reported in the last five days. In contrast, the province had 395 total cases of COVID-19 in all of 2020.
“I actually worry more about those areas that have been spared through most of the pandemic,” said Hota.
“You don’t know what it’s like to deal with COVID until it hits you — and it hits hard.”
WATCH | Provinces reach for mix of reopening, COVID-19 precautions:
Three provinces — Ontario, Quebec and Alberta — have announced the easing of restrictions, some immediate, some phased in. Strict measures have reduced COVID-19 caseloads and some experts warn relaxing them could bring another spike in cases. 2:39
‘Mixed messaging’ between health experts, provinces
All of the provinces that moved toward reopening this week cited reduced caseloads as reasoning for their strategies, despite the fact that cases of the variants continue to rise.
At least three provinces have confirmed community spread of the variants and there have been more than 450 variant cases in Canada to date.
But at the federal level, dire warnings about reopening amid the spread of variants seems to conflict with what’s happening on the ground.
“Resurgence will happen really fast, so this is the time to be vigilant against the variants,” Canada’s Chief Public Health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said during a press conference Friday.
“We need to really be very cautious about easing public health measures at this time while vaccination is just beginning to accelerate.”
Dhalla says there’s a growing disconnect between provincial politicians and medical officers of health across the country, which is only adding to confusion for the public.
Customers enjoy indoor dining at Hunter’s Country Kitchen in Carstairs, Alta., Monday, as Alberta begins a plan to ease restrictions. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
“I think what we’re also starting to see is a little bit of mixed messaging again,” he said.
For example, in Toronto — where a stay-at-home order is in place until at least Feb. 22 — the medical officer of health said this week the city was on the verge of a “new pandemic” due to the spread of variants in the city, which has already found cases of variants first identified in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil.
“It was inevitable the variants of concern would emerge in Toronto,” Dr. Eileen de Villa said during a press conference.
“We are in a position of great uncertainty with respect to variants but what we know is alarming. I understand the value of preparing for the time we can lift restrictions. From a public health perspective in Toronto, that time is not now.”
Threat of variants kept restrictions in some provinces
British Columbia said last week it would be extending its public health restrictions indefinitely, despite recent signs that the province is driving transmission down even with at least 40 cases of variants detected.
“Right now, we need to stay the path,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said. “We need to protect the progress we have made and not squander our progress.”
A Vancouver waiter delivers wine to masked diners outdoors. In B.C., restrictions on gathering with people outside your household that were imposed in November remain in place with no end date. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
New Brunswick is another province sticking with strict public health measures despite having just four confirmed cases of B117. Parts of the province are under lockdown and non-essential travel discouraged in other regions.
“They are going to come to New Brunswick, if they’re not already here,” said chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell of the variants late last month after measures were imposed.
“We are in the middle of the second wave right now, but the third wave is going to be upon us very soon and that third wave is much worse than the first and second combined and this third wave is as a result of these new more transmissible, more contagious variants.”
Dr. David Fisman, an epidemiologist at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, says Canada is already starting to see the early warnings of a surge driven by variants and his research predicts a third wave could come as early as March.
“[B117] is doing here what it’s done in Denmark and the U.K. — the new strains are starting to outcompete the old strains,” he said. “Even though it’s a small minority of strains, they’re spreading better here than the old variants are spreading.”
Saxinger says stronger action needs to be taken “extremely early” to prevent a devastating third wave from variants in Canada and hesitating to act could jeopardize our ability to drive case numbers down — even with strict public health measures that have worked in the past.
“The leash just has to be very, very short,” she said.
“Because there’s no way we’re going to have enough vaccines into all the vulnerable populations over the next few months to be able to avert preventable deaths if there’s another big surge.”
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Hearing the familiar sounds of clacking sticks and pucks banging off the boards and glass while watching Columbus Blue Jackets prospects from the stands of a cold rink on a warm late-summer afternoon was not enough to wash away the lingering residuals of grief for Don Waddell on Saturday.
That, the Blue Jackets’ general manager acknowledged, will take more time than anyone can guess — weeks, months, perhaps an entire season and beyond.
What mattered is how spending the weekend attending the Sabres Prospects Challenge represented a start to what Waddell called among the first steps in refocusing on hockey and the future in the aftermath of the deaths of Columbus star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, who were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles on Aug 29.
“We got to play hockey,” Waddell said. “We’re not going to forget about Johnny and his family, the Gaudreau family.”
“Everybody knows that Johnny wants them to play hockey,” Waddell said. “And everybody’s rallying around that.”
The resumption of hockey in Columbus began last week, when most Blue Jackets players returned to their facility to be together and lean on each other at the urging of Waddell and team captain Boone Jenner. And it will continue on Thursday, when the team opens training camp, exactly three weeks since the Gaudreaus were killed.
“Tragic. Senseless. But now we got to focus on trying to get our team ready to play hockey this year,” Waddell said. “We all mourn and heal differently, but I think as a team being together like that is going to be critical for them to get moving forward.”
Waddell was general manager of the then-Atlanta Thrashers in 2003 when Dany Heatley lost control of his car and struck a wall, with the crash killing passenger and teammate Dan Snyder. In 2021, Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died during a July Fourth fireworks accident.
Waddell placed the emphasis on himself and coach Dean Evason — both newcomers to Columbus this offseason — to guide the team through what will be an emotional season.
“Now, do I think there’s going to be some dark days? I won’t be surprised,” Waddell said.
Reminders of the Gaudreaus’ deaths remain apparent, and reflected in Buffalo on Friday night. A moment of silence was held in tribute to the brothers before the opening faceoff of a game between the Blue Jackets and Sabres.
Afterward, Columbus prospect Gavin Brindley recalled the times he spent with Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus and as teammates representing the United States at the world hockey championships in the Czech Republic in May.
“He was one of the biggest mentors for me at the world championships,” Brindley said. “I couldn’t tell you how many times we hung out with Meredith, pictures on my phone. It’s just so hard to look back and see that kind of stuff.”
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association are providing the Blue Jackets help in the form of grief counseling, crowd security at vigils and addressing hockey issues, such as potentially altering the league’s salary cap rules to provide Columbus relief from having to reach the NHL minimum payroll because of the void left by Gaudreau’s contract.
“The Blue Jackets, I don’t think anybody’s focused from an organizational standpoint, from a hockey standpoint as to what comes next, because I think everybody’s still in shock,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told The Associated Press last week. “I don’t think anybody’s focused right now other than on the grieving part, which is understandable.”
Much of the burden has fallen to Waddell, who has been in discussions with the NHL and the NHLPA and dealing with outreach programs with the Blue Jackets’ partner OhioHealth, while also overseeing preparations for training camp and gauging his prospects in Buffalo.
There’s also his roster to attend to, which he said has two openings at forward, one involving Justin Danforth, who may miss the start of the season because of a wrist injury. Waddell didn’t have to mention the second opening.
Tiring and emotional as it’s been, Waddell found comfort being in his element, a rink, and looking ahead to the start of training camp.
“The guys are in really good shape. We’ve done a lot of testing already and they’re eager to get going,” Waddell said. “We have a reason to play for. And we’ll make the best of it.”
The Blue Jackets later Sunday signed veteran winger James van Riemsdyk to a one-year contract worth $900,000.
“James van Riemsdyk has been a very consistent, productive player throughout his career,” Waddell said. “Bringing him to Columbus will not only provide depth to our group up front, but also valuable leadership and another veteran presence in our dressing room.”
___
AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in New York contributed to this report.
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes was the target of abusive and racist comments on social media after a French league game.
The club condemned the abuse and expressed its “full support” Sunday for the Portugal left back, who was targeted following PSG’s 3-1 win against Brest on Saturday.
Mendes, who is Black, shared on his Instagram account a racist message he received.
During the match, Mendes brought down Ludovic Ajorque in the box for a penalty that Romain Del Castillo converted to give Brest the lead.
“Paris Saint-Germain doesn’t tolerate racism, antisemitism or any other form of discrimination,” the club said. “The racial insults directed at Nuno Mendes are totally unacceptable … we are working with the relevant authorities and associations to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
MONTREAL – Tadej Pogacar was so dominant on Sunday, Canada’s Michael Woods called it a race for second.
Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France champion from Slovenia, pedalled to a resounding victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.
The UAE Team Emirates leader crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Spain’s Pello Bilbao of Bahrain — Victorious to win the demanding 209.1-kilometre race on a sunny, 28 C day in Montreal. France’s Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quick-Step was third.
“He’s the greatest rider of all time, he’s a formidable opponent,” said Woods, who finished 45 seconds behind the leader in eighth. “If you’re not at your very, very best, then you can forget racing with him, and today was kind of representative of that.
“He’s at such a different level that if you follow him, it can be lights out.”
Pogacar slowed down before the last turn to celebrate with the crowd, high-five fans on Avenue du Parc and cruise past the finish line with his arms in the air after more than five hours on the bike.
The 25-year-old joined Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet as the only multi-time winners in Montreal after claiming the race in 2022. He also redeemed a seventh-place finish at the Quebec City Grand Prix on Friday.
“I was disappointed, because I had such good legs that I didn’t do better than seventh,” Pogacar said. “To bounce back after seventh to victory here, it’s just an incredible feeling.”
It’s Pogacar’s latest win in a dominant year that includes victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
Ottawa’s Woods (Israel Premier-Tech) tied a career-best in front of the home crowd in Montreal, but hoped for more after claiming a stage at the Spanish Vuelta two weeks ago.
“I wanted a better result,” the 37-year-old rider said. “My goal was a podium, but at the same time I’m happy with the performance. In bike racing, you can’t always get the result you want and I felt like I raced really well, I animated the race, I felt like I was up there.”
Pogacar completed the 17 climbs up and down Mount Royal near downtown in five hours 28 minutes 15 seconds.
He made his move with 23.3 kilometres to go, leaving the peloton in his dust as he pedalled into the lead — one he never relinquished.
Bilbao, Alaphilippe, Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) and Bart Lemmen (Visma–Lease) chased in a group behind him, with Bilbao ultimately separating himself from the pack. But he never came close to catching Pogacar, who built a 35-second lead with one lap left to go.
“It was still a really hard race today, but the team was on point,” Pogacar said. “We did really how we planned, and the race situation was good for us. We make it hard in the last final laps, and they set me up for a (takeover) two laps to go, and it was all perfect.”
Ottawa’s Derek Gee, who placed ninth in this year’s Tour de France, finished 48th in Montreal, and called it a “hard day” in the heat.
“I think everyone knows when you see Tadej on the start line that it’s just going to be full gas,” Gee said.
Israel Premier-Tech teammate Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpétue, Que., was 51st.
Houle said he heard Pogacar inform his teammates on the radio that he was ready to attack with two laps left in the race.
“I said then, well, clearly it’s over for me,” Houle said. “You see, cycling isn’t that complicated.”
Australia’s Michael Matthews won the Quebec City GP for a record third time on Friday, but did not finish in Montreal. The two races are the only North American events on the UCI World Tour.
Michael Leonard of Oakville, Ont., and Gil Gelders and Dries De Bondt of Belgium broke away from the peloton during the second lap. Leonard led the majority of the race before losing pace with 45 kilometres to go.
Only 89 of 169 riders from 24 teams — including the Canadian national team — completed the gruelling race that features 4,573 metres in total altitude.
Next up, the riders will head to the world championships in Zurich, Switzerland from Sept. 21 to 29.
Pogacar will try to join Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) as the only men to win three major titles in a season — known as the Triple Crown.
“Today gave me a lot of confidence, motivation,” Pogacar said. “I think we are ready for world championships.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.
