All Canadian provinces except for P.E.I. and the territories recorded new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, raising Canada’s total number of infections above 127,000.
The numbers, which were released by provincial health authorities, tally an increase of 539 new COVID-19 cases Friday, as well as six new deaths.
Canada’s total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 127,288 and the country’s death toll has been raised to 9,108.
Over 113,200 patients — or about 89 per cent of Canada’s cases — have recovered from the virus, while 6,257,967 tests have been administered.
In an update Friday, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, pointed to the pandemic as being a factor in an increase of drug-related overdoses and deaths.
“There are indications that the street drug supply is growing more unpredictable and toxic in some parts of the country, as previous supply chains have been disrupted by travel restrictions and border measures during COVID-19,” said Tam during a press conference Friday.
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“Public health measures designed to reduce the impact of COVID-19 may increase isolation, stress and anxiety and puts a strain on the supports for persons who use drugs.”
Tam then pointed to a sharp increase of overdose deaths in British Columbia, which she said saw a 136 per cent increase over the number of over deaths recorded in July of last year.
Provincially, Alberta recorded the highest daily increase in cases Friday with 158 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total infections to 13,476. No new deaths were recorded in the province.
Ontario reported 122 new cases of the virus on Friday, raising its total provincial cases to 41,935. Another six deaths were also recorded by the province on Friday, raising its COVID-19 death toll to 2,809.
British Columbia added 123 lab-confirmed cases of the virus on Friday — its highest ever single-day jump — raising the provincial total to 5,426 cases.
One additional case is considered as “epidemiologically linked,” which refers to patients who show symptoms of the virus and are in contact with those who have it but have never been tested for it.
Global News’ tally only counts lab-confirmed cases of the virus, not those that are epi-linked, of which there are 70 in total across B.C..
The province also did not report any additional deaths, with its fatalities standing at 204.
Quebec, the hardest-hit province in Canada, announced 98 new cases of the virus on Friday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 62,124. One additional death that health authorities said had occurred before Aug. 21 was also reported, though the provincial COVID-19 death toll remained at 5,750 because one previously announced fatality was declared non-coronavirus related.
Manitoba added 32 new COVID-19 cases on Aug. 28, raising its provincial total to 1,096 infections. The numbers include at least 15 probable cases of the virus, however.
Both Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia recorded two new cases of the virus on Aug. 28, while New Brunswick and Newfoundland added one new case each.
Saskatchewan’s total COVID-19 cases increased to 1,611 and Nova Scotia’s to 1,083. New Brunswick’s cases increased to 191 while Newfoundland and Labrador’s rose to 269.
Worldwide, cases of the new coronavirus have since surpassed 24.6 million, according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Over 833,000 have succumbed to the virus, with the United States and Brazil leading in both cases and deaths.
© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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