Canada’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has now surpassed 25,000, including 780 deaths, according to provincial figures released across the country Monday.
The new figures come amid 1,296 new cases of the virus announced on April 13, bringing the country’s total to 25,663.
A total of 63 coronavirus-related deaths were also announced on Monday.
Of Canada’s confirmed cases, 7,734 have recovered and at least 438,130 tests have been conducted, according to provincial health jurisdictions.
1:58 Coronavirus: Health Canada approves rapid COVID-19 testing device
Coronavirus: Health Canada approves rapid COVID-19 testing device
The provinces that saw the highest rise in infections on Monday were Ontario, which reported 421, and Quebec, which reported 711.
Quebec, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in Canada, has now reported a total of 13,557 COVID-19 infections — accounting for more than half of the country’s cases.
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On Monday, Premier François Legault identified the province’s long-term care homes, which have seen the majority of their COVID-19-related deaths, as a priority in fighting the outbreak.
1:37 Coronavirus outbreak: Toronto confirms 2,632 total COVID-19 cases, 92 deaths
Coronavirus outbreak: Toronto confirms 2,632 total COVID-19 cases, 92 deaths
Legault’s announcement comes amid reports of an outbreak and “gross negligence” at a private long-term care facility in Dorval that has since resulted in 31 deaths.
Seniors and those with underlying health conditions are especially at risk of death from the virus.
Health officials across Canada, including chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam, warned of a “significant proportion” of the country’s deaths stemming from long-term care homes — a number of which have since seen mass outbreaks in across the country.
During a press conference on Monday, Tam said that nearly half of all of Canada’s coronavirus deaths were happening in long-term care homes, and that the number is expected to increase.
“We know that close to half of the deaths that we’re tracking are linked to long-term care facilities, but that ratio is actually different in different provinces,” said Tam during the daily COVID-19 ministers meeting.
“These deaths will continue to increase, even as the epidemic growth rate slows down.”
Provinces have recently begun to announce new measures — including millions in funding for residential and nursing homes — in order to control the spread of the virus in already-infected facilities, as well as to prevent new outbreaks.
Those announcements follow several updates from other provinces as well.
Alberta reported two additional deaths from the virus on Monday, including an additional 81 newly confirmed cases.
On Saturday, Premier Jason Kenney said he was sending additional personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, like N95 masks, to the country’s largely affected areas — Quebec, Ontario and B.C.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer, also announced Monday that the province was expanding testing to any Albertan with COVID-19 symptoms.
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Monday the province was expanding testing to any Albertan who has COVID-19 symptoms.
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Conspiracy theorist slammed for COVID-19 video
British Columbia also reported 11 new deaths from the disease on April 13, bringing their death toll to 69.
The province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, told reporters on Monday that a majority of the newly announced deaths were linked to outbreaks in long-term care homes.
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— With files from Global News reporters Olivia Bowden, Annabelle Olivier, Emerald Bensadoun and Simon Little.
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.
