Ontario’s premier says the province is ending its vaccine certificate system on March 1, when capacity limits will lift as well. Doug Ford’s announcement came as several other provinces — including Alberta and Saskatchewan — on Monday moved ahead with previously announced lifting of public health measures.
The province will also remove its 50 per cent capacity limit on restaurants on Thursday, four days earlier than planned. Ford gave no timetable for dropping the requirement that people wear masks in public places.
“Let me be very clear: We are moving in this direction because it is safe to do so. Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor — but despite it,” Ford said.
A vaccine mandate for staff in long-term care homes will remain, the premier said.
BREAKING: The Ontario government is removing the province’s proof of vaccination system as of March 1, while also speeding up the second phase of its COVID-19 reopening plan to Thursday — a move that was set to happen later under the province’s timeline. <a href=”https://t.co/G1H3aSjNHg”>https://t.co/G1H3aSjNHg</a>
Meanwhile, Alberta’s mandatory mask requirement for children under 12 in all settings and for all students in schools ended Monday, while Saskatchewan’s use of a vaccine passport program is also ending.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced the decision about masks last week as part of a phased plan to eliminate all COVID-19 restrictions. The provincial government has told school boards they don’t have the power to override the directive.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced last week his province’s proof-of-vaccination mandate would come to an end Feb. 14, while indoor masking and self-isolation rules would stay in place until the end of the month.
Moe has said the proof-of-vaccination policy helped increase vaccination rates in the province, but suggests its costs now outweigh its benefits.
Meanwhile Manitoba’s staged lifting of restrictions will see the current 50 per cent capacity limits in places like restaurants and hockey arenas end Tuesday. Caps on gatherings in people’s homes will also end.
COVID-19: Is it too early to end vaccine and mask mandates?
14 hours ago
Duration 2:31
Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Zain Chagla answers questions about whether it’s too soon for provinces to end COVID-19 vaccine passports and mask mandates, as well as whether they are still effective tools. 2:31
With lab-based testing capacity deeply strained and increasingly restricted, experts say true case counts are likely far higher than reported. Hospitalization data at the regional level is also evolving, with several provinces saying they will report figures that separate the number of people in hospital because of COVID-19 from those in hospital for another medical issue who also test positive for COVID-19.
For more information on what is happening in your community — including details on outbreaks, testing capacity and local restrictions — click through to the regional coverage below.
In Central Canada, Quebec on Monday reported 17 more deaths linked to the novel coronavirus. The daily COVID-19 update showed 2,095 patients in hospital with the disease, with 136 people in ICUs.
Earlier Monday, gyms and spas were allowed to reopen at half-capacity across Quebec, after they were closed in December to reduce transmission of the Omicron variant of the virus.
Indoor sports and recreation activities can also resume today, including at colleges and universities, with a maximum of 25 participants per group.
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia is easing some restrictions as of Monday, part of a three-phase process to lift public health measures. A statement from the province last week said that the first phase will allow for events, with gathering limits increased.
The province also said “all border restrictions for domestic travellers will be lifted.”
Health officials across the North and in British Columbia are expected to provide updated COVID-19 information later Monday.
-From The Canadian Press and CBC News, last updated at noon ET
What’s happening around the world
Couples take part in a mass wedding ceremony a day before Valentine’s Day in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The Philippines has eased COVID-19 restrictions this month as daily cases gradually drop. (Getty Images)
As of early Monday afternoon, more than 412.3 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker. The reported global death toll stood at more than 5.8 million.
In the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea will begin administering a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose by the end of February and will supply millions of additional home test kits to ease shortages amid a surge in Omicron infections, authorities confirmed.
Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority said it has granted an interim authorization for Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine.
China’s National Immigration Administration said it will not be renewing passports for non-essential travel while the international COVID-19 epidemic situation is still severe and cross-border travel poses “great security risks.”
A snowman is seen wearing a face mask outside a COVID-19 testing booth in Beijing on Sunday. Heavy snowfall hit Beijing and surrounding areas on Sunday, leading to the postponement of a number of outdoor events at the Winter Olympics. (Annice Lyn/Getty Images)
In the Middle East, Kuwait’s cabinet has lifted many COVID-19 restrictions, including a ban on foreign travel. The move will also apply to those who are not vaccinated, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah said Monday.
Meanwhile, health officials in Iran on Sunday reported 148 additional deaths and 25,812 additional cases of COVID-19.
In Europe, the Duchess of Cornwall has tested positive for COVID-19, four days after her husband, Prince Charles, was confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. The couple’s office said Monday that Camilla is self-isolating. Charles has been isolating since he tested positive on Thursday. But Camilla had continued with public engagements while taking daily tests. The 73-year-old Charles and 74-year-old Camilla are both triple-vaccinated.
Charles, who is heir to the British throne, previously contracted the coronavirus in March 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic.
Charles is believed to have met with his mother, Queen Elizabeth, early last week when both were at Windsor Castle.
Norway will scrap nearly all its remaining COVID-19 lockdown measures as high levels of coronavirus infections are unlikely to jeopardize health services, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. The leader has previously said that as wealthier nations lift restrictions, they should continue to assist lower-income nations with access to vaccines, treatment and supplies as the pandemic continues to pose a risk to the world.
Sweden is recommending a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to people over 80 and those living in nursing homes or getting home care, authorities said Monday, adding it must be administered no earlier than four months after the previous shot.
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.
