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The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada continued to set record-high daily rates of infection on Saturday, with three provinces reporting their highest 24-hour spikes.
Ontario and Alberta each reported over 1,800 new cases, while Quebec saw more than 2,000 for the first time.
More than 6,300 new COVID-19 cases were reported across the country along with 93 more deaths.
There is still a “long road ahead” in the battle to contain the virus, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said in her daily update on Saturday, but she added that an initial vaccine supply is expected to be available to Canadians early next year.
WATCH | CBC medical contributor answers your COVID-19 questions:
The CBC’S John Northcott puts your coronavirus-related questions to family physician and CBC medical contributor Dr. Peter Lin. 10:43
“There is some good news on the horizon,” she said. “An initial supply of vaccines is expected to become available in early 2021 and although supply will be limited at the outset, Canada is well-positioned to provide access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for all Canadians.”
“We don’t have a COVID-19 vaccine just yet and we must be prepared to address a range of logistical and operational challenges,” she said.
“Canada must continue with the collective effort of individuals and public health authorities to sustain the response, while balancing the health, social and economic consequences.”
Procurement Minister Anita Anand said this week that information will be shared with Canadians once it’s certain, but that dates will depend on when Health Canada approves the vaccine and other factors such as shipment and storage necessities.
What’s happening across Canada
As of 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, Canada’s COVID-19 case count stood at 408,921, with 71,450 of those cases considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths based on provincial reports, regional health information and CBC’s reporting stood at 12,589.
In British Columbia, the Vancouver Canucks parted ways with their longtime national anthem singer, Mark Donnelly, in response to reports he will be singing at a rally organized by COVID-19 deniers and anti-mask advocates.
Alberta reported a record 1,879 new cases on Saturday. The province also said 563 people are being treated in hospital, including 101 in ICU.
Meanwhile, Premier Jason Kenney said tougher restrictions will likely be aimed at Calgary and Edmonton, just hours after Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health, reported a concerning rise in rates in rural areas. She stressed that even one case can move like wildfire, and COVID-19 doesn’t respect geographical boundaries.
WATCH | Hinshaw asks rural Albertans to follow restrictions:
Dr. Deena Hinshaw pleaded with Albertans in rural areas to wear masks and follow public health orders, warning them that their distance from ICUs will make COVID-19 “even more daunting.” 1:31
Saskatchewan reported 202 new COVID-19 cases. Nearly 4,200 cases are considered active, 116 of which are in hospital and 25 of which are receiving intensive care. Provincial officials haven’t reported any new virus-related deaths on Saturday, leaving that total at 55.
Manitoba said a record 19 more people have died of COVID-19. The province also announced 354 new cases and said there are now 349 people in hospital, including 51 in intensive care.
Also on Saturday, a court ruled that a Winnipeg church will not be exempt from public health orders and is not permitted to hold drive-in worship services. Springs Church and two of its pastors have been fined more than $32,000 for allowing the services, which are banned under Manitoba’s current public health order aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.
In northern Manitoba, the Canadian Armed Forces says it will be on hand to support the Shamattawa First Nation as cases skyrocket in the community.
The <a href=”https://twitter.com/CanadianForces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CanadianForces</a> will always be there to help in times of need. In response to Shamattawa First Nations request for assistance, the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAF?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CAF</a> will be on hand to support their <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#COVID19</a> efforts in Northern Manitoba. <a href=”https://t.co/7WJ2kcZEUH”>https://t.co/7WJ2kcZEUH</a>
Ontario reported a record 1,859 new cases, along with 20 more deaths. The number of patients in Ontario hospitals with the novel coronavirus has climbed to 709. Of that number, 202 are being treated in intensive care. Some 116 are on ventilators.
Quebec reported a record 2,031 new cases, as well as 48 more deaths. Hospitalizations decreased slightly to 754, while patients in intensive care dropped by one to 96. The number of new cases appears to be driven by increases in Montreal (630 cases) and Quebec City (304 cases). The province initially reported that the total increase was the result of testing from the previous 24 hours, but the figure appears to also include cases from earlier in the week.
In the North, Nunavut reported eight new cases — all in the hard-hit community of Arviat. The territory has recorded a total of 214 cases, of which 158 have recovered, and no deaths so far.
What’s happening around the world
As of Sunday morning, there were more than 66.6 million reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with more than 42.8 million of those listed as recovered or resolved, according to a tracking tool maintained by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The global death toll stood at more than 1.5 million.
In Europe, Britain’s rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is set to begin on Tuesday. The vaccine will initially be made available at 50 hospitals in England, for people aged 80 and over, as well as long-term care and hospital workers.
Physically distanced England supporters wearing a protective face covering to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus as they prepare to watch the final of the Autumn Nations Cup international rugby union series between England and France at Twickenham, southwest London, on Sunday. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia reported a record high of 29,039 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking the national total to 2,460,770 since the pandemic began. Authorities confirmed 457 deaths related to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing the official national death toll to 43,141.
In the United Sates, North Carolina reported a record increase in cases of the novel coronavirus and hospitalizations on Saturday. The state reported 6,018 cases since Friday and 2,171 people with the respiratory illness in hospitals.
“In less than a week, we went from exceeding 5,000 new cases reported in one day to exceeding 6,000,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the state’s health secretary. “This is very worrisome. This indicates we have even more viral spread across our state right now.”
Arizona health officials used a blunt tone Saturday as the state reported 6,799 coronavirus cases, the second-highest daily increase.
The state’s department of health services said on Twitter that people should wear masks “around anyone who isn’t a member of your household, even those you know and trust.”
The United States continues to struggle with the world’s highest rate of COVID-19 infection. With over 14 million total cases, the virus became the leading cause of death across the U.S. in the past week.
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Pearce and Nathan Saliba scored in the second half — the first goals of their careers — and CF Montreal rallied for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and above all, more connected,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “It was a great second half of resilience and fighting spirit. Nathan and Sam were impressive.
“Impressive in covering the gaps and compensating for the teammates, and the individual defending – yes it’s true, it is a lot of weight on their shoulders, but that’s the job.”
New England (8-16-4) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on Bobby Wood’s third goal of the season. Teenage defender Peyton Miller notched his first assist in his fourth career start and sixth appearance and Carles Gil picked up his ninth of the season. Peyton, at 16 years, 315 days old, is the eighth youngest player in league history to record his first assist.
The Revolution took a two-goal lead in the 35th minute and held it through halftime when 19-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic took a pass from Gil and scored his third goal of the season and career in his first full season in the league. It was the 73rd regular-season assist in Gil’s career, tying him with Steve Ralston for the most in club history.
Montreal (7-12-10) pulled within a goal in the 54th minute when Pearce scored off a free kick after defender George Campbell drew a foul on New England’s Mark-Anthony Kaye. It was the first goal for Pearce in his third career start and fourth appearance.
“Playoffs are the goal. Maybe it wasn’t in the best form, but in the end, we are picking up a point,” Pearce said. “We came into this game confident, ready to play our own game. Everyone tries their best, whenever the players are called on, we are always ready, and we are always giving it our best.”
Montreal scored the equalizer in the 68th minute on the first career goal by Saliba, a 20-year-old midfielder. Saliba has made 34 starts and 48 appearances with Montreal in his two seasons in the league. Campbell snagged his second assist of the season and the third of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a goal I’ve been waiting for a long time. I’m extremely happy that I was able to score it and that it can help the team take this important point on the road,” Saliba said. “Pearce’s first goal gave us really good momentum and we kept up the pressure to go for a second goal. We got more solid defensively, and we came back ready after halftime, to push for these 3 points.”
Aljaz Ivacic finished with four saves in goal for the Revolution.
Jonathan Sirois stopped four shots for Montreal.
New England beat Montreal 5-0 on the road on Aug. 24.
New England leads the all-time series 16-13-4. Montreal improves to 5-8-2 on the road against the Revs.
The Revolution travel to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday. Montreal returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, Cody Bradford pitched seven strong innings after the worst start of his career, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The win kept the defending World Series-champion Rangers alive in the AL West race, trailing first-place Houston by 10 games with 10 to play.
García launched an inside sinker over the left-field wall off Toronto starter Bowden Francis (8-5) after Wyatt Langford singled.
“He swings hard, he swings a lot,” Francis said of García. “I guess the velo was dropping during that time.”
Bradford (6-3) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six.
The seven shutout innings are the most in a game during his two-year career. He was knocked out of his previous start after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and homers (three) in 3 2/3 innings in a 14-4 loss at Arizona.
“Throughout the week, you’ve got to try and digest what happened, see where I can make adjustments, whether it was just game plan went wrong or just poor execution, or a little bit of both,” Bradford said. “Then you flush it.”
Bradford was perfect through four innings before Alejandro Kirk opened the fifth with a smash back to the mound that caromed off Bradford’s left foot and rolled into right field for a single. It extended Kirk’s hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Spencer Horwitz’s double to left-center put runners on second and third with no outs before Bradford retired the next three batters.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider credited Bradford’s “deceptive fastball.”
“When you’re throwing 89, 92, you’ve got to have pretty good deception with that at this level,” Schneider said. “Kept us off balance.”
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
Francis, who took no-hitters into the ninth inning in two of his previous four starts, allowed a double to Marcus Semien, the Rangers’ first hitter of the game. He gave up five hits and one walk in six innings.
Francis has a 1.96 ERA in nine starts with 54 strikeouts and seven walks since being moved back into the starting rotation in late July.
“I don’t even want to get complacent, on cruise control,” Francis said. “Just keep attacking.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with a right middle finger contusion suffered during infield practice. Schneider said the team will get back x-rays on Thursday. Bichette was activated Tuesday following a calf injury and played for the first time in two months, going 2 for 5 with one RBI at the plate. … INF Will Wagner (left knee inflammation) will have the knee scoped on Thursday. Schneider said Wagner should be ready to start spring training. Wagner, son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner, was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline.
UP NEXT
Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his home debut against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02) in the series finale. Rocker allowed one run in four innings at Seattle last Thursday in his major league debut.
