Canada’s death toll from the novel coronavirus grew by 175 on Saturday, surpassing 3,500 fatalities.
Countrywide, confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, totalled 56,696 — with more than 29,000 of them considered active. A total of 3,566 deaths have been reported since the pandemic began.
These numbers are tallied daily based on figures released by provincial and federal health authorities, and include 23,813 people who are deemed recovered.
Canada has so far conducted more than 900,000 tests.
Quebec added more than 1,000 cases and 114 deaths on Saturday. The province has the highest fatalities (2,136) and most number of cases (29,656) in Canada. Close to 7,000 people are considered recovered.
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1:14 The difficulty of measuring the impact of coronavirus on minorities in Canada
The difficulty of measuring the impact of coronavirus on minorities in Canada
Ontario reported 511 new cases and 55 deaths on Saturday. Together, Quebec and Ontario comprise more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the country. Ontario has seen 1,176 deaths since the pandemic began, with the provincial total number of cases standing at 17,119 on Saturday — more than 11,000 of these cases are considered recovered.
British Columbia reported two new deaths and 26 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, for a total number of 114 deaths and 2,171 cases since the pandemic was declared on March 11. Approximately 63 per cent of these cases are deemed recovered. On Friday, B.C. reported encouraging hospitalization numbers, including the lowest number of people in intensive care in more than five weeks.
Alberta announced 80 confirmed and 17 probable new cases on Saturday and two deaths. The province has so far seen more than 5,653 confirmed cases and 94 deaths since the coronavirus first arrived. More than 2,300 people are considered recovered.
Saskatchewan reported six new cases for a total of 412. Six people have died in the province so far, while 302 are considered recovered.
3:22 Help for Calgary animal rescue during the coronavirus pandemic
Help for Calgary animal rescue during the coronavirus pandemic
Manitoba reported one new case on Saturday, for a total of 280 confirmed and probable cases, with 38 of them considered active and 236 recoveries.
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In New Brunswick, all 118 cases of COVID-19 are now considered resolved. The province hasn’t detected a new case for 14 straight days, has not experienced a COVID-19-related death so far, and is currently in the process of relaxing some restrictions.
Nova Scotia reported one new death and four new cases on Saturday, for a provincial total of 963 cases. Thirty-one people have died there since the pandemic began. More than 600 people have recovered from the virus.
There was no updated data released Saturday for Newfoundland and Labrador (259 cases so far, three deaths) or Prince Edward Island (27 cases, three of which are active).
Nunavut reported its first case of COVID-19 on Thursday, while the Northwest Territories appears to have resolved all five of its cases, and the Yukon too has resolved all 11 of its cases.
1:59 Coronavirus outbreak: Montreal health experts plead with the public to connect with elderly
Coronavirus outbreak: Montreal health experts plead with the public to connect with elderly
Worldwide, the virus has resulted in more than 3.4 million cases in 187 countries, with more than 242,000 deaths, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University.
More than a million people are considered recovered.
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.
