Canada reported 6,415 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, as provinces continued to receive and administer doses of a vaccine against the virus.
Health authorities in the country’s provinces also reported 140 new deaths.
481,235To date, Canada has seen 481,235 infections and 13,799 fatalities related to COVID-19.
However, 391,946 people have recovered after contracting the respiratory illness, while 16,716,767 tests have been administered.
The new cases and deaths come as initial doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine continue to be delivered and administered in Canada’s provinces.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Maj-Gen. Dany Fortin, who is leading the charge on Canada’s distribution plans, said the country is also preparing a “dry run” for the delivery of a vaccine from American biotechnology company Moderna.
Fortin told reporters the rollout practice was similar to the one performed last week by the Canadian government for the Pfizer and BioNtech vaccine, which involved confirming vaccine orders, and testing shipping, tracking, delivery and storage.
According to Fortin, this will make it easier to deliver Moderna’s vaccines to locations identified by the provinces and territories so they can be rolled out quickly once approved by regulators.
Fortin said Canada is “taking deliberate steps to ensure the safe and efficient distribution of the Moderna vaccine across the country.”
Canada’s territories are waiting with bated breath for Health Canada to approve the Moderna candidate, as stringent shipping and storing requirements have prevented them from receiving doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Ontario reported 2,139 new infections and 43 more deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases and fatalities in the province to 146,535 and 4,035, respectively.
Story continues below advertisement
Quebec, meanwhile, saw 1,897 new cases and 42 more deaths.
To date, the province has reported 169,173 COVID-19 infections and 7,613 have died after testing positive for the virus.
1:40 What about teachers and front-line workers? Hinshaw addresses priority list for COVID-19 vaccination in Alberta
What about teachers and front-line workers? Hinshaw addresses priority list for COVID-19 vaccination in Alberta
In Atlantic Canada, 17 new cases of the virus were detected.
New Brunswick added eight new cases, Newfoundland and Labrador added five new infections while health officials in Nova Scotia said four new cases have been identified.
The provinces have now seen 567, 364 and 1,430 cases respectively
Prince Edward Island did not report any new COVID-19 data on Wednesday, but the latest numbers released on Tuesday said the province has seen 89 confirmed cases.
None of the Maritime provinces, or Newfoundland and Labrador reported any new fatalities on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan added 162 new cases for a total of 12,594, while Manitoba reported 291 new infections, bringing the province’s total case load to 21,826.
Manitoba health officials said 15 more people have died after testing positive for COVID-19, pushing the total number of fatalities to 523.
Saskatchewan’s death toll remained at 98.
1:29 Manitoba’s first vaccine doses
Manitoba’s first vaccine doses
In western Canada, nearly 2,000 new cases were reported.
Health authorities in Alberta said 1,270 new cases have been identified, bringing the total number of infections in the province to 84,597.
Story continues below advertisement
Another 16 people have also died after falling ill, officials said.
Since the pandemic began, Alberta has seen 760 fatalities related to COVID-19.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
