As Canadians celebrate their second holiday season amid the COVID-19 outbreak, CTVNews.ca is taking a look back at how the pandemic has progressed.
CTVNews.ca looked at COVID-19 pandemic data released by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) back in December 2020, and compared it with recent figures, to see where the country stands when it comes to infections, deaths, hospitalizations and vaccinations.
Here’s a look at how the two years of the pandemic compare.
CASES
By Dec. 23, 2020, there were a total of 528,353 confirmed COVID-19 infections across the country, according to PHAC data.
In comparison, by Dec. 23, of this year, there were a total of 1,945,753 cases of the novel coronavirus, meaning more than 1.4 million cases were reported in the span of a year.
A total of 20,693 new COVID-19 infections were detected on Dec. 23, 2021, with 87,227 cases reported over the previous seven days in Canada.
The case rate of COVID-19 in Canada was 5,087 per 100,000 population as of Dec. 23, 2021.
As of Dec. 21 2021, the moving seven day average of per cent positivity of COVID-19 in Canada was 8.5.
By Dec. 23, 2020, a total of 521,509 COVID-19 cases had been detected across the country.
A total of 7,379 new cases were reported on Dec. 23, 2020. The seven-day average for that week was 6,769.
DEATHS
The first COVID-19 related death was reported in early March of 2020. Between March 8, 2020 and Dec. 23, 2020, there were a total of 14,642 COVID-19 related fatalities reported, according to the PHAC data.
In comparison, this year, the PHAC data shows that between Jan. 1, 2021 and Dec, 23, 2021, a total of 14,344 people died after contracting the disease
The most recent PHAC data shows that on Dec. 23, 2021 there were eighteen new COVID-19 related deaths.
What’s more, a total of 236 fatalities had been reported in the last 14 days in Canada, as of Dec. 28, 2021.
As of Dec. 23, 2021, there were a total of 30,131 COVID-19 related deaths in the country, since the pandemic began.
The majority of COVID-19 related fatalities in Canada over the course of the pandemic have occurred among those 80 years of age and older.
VACCINATIONS
By Dec. 26, 2020, 46,156 people in Canada had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the PHAC data.
Canada, lacking domestic vaccine manufacturing capabilities, has relied solely on vaccines from outside of its borders.
The first COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech was green-lit for use in early December, but doses didn’t arrive in Canada until Dec. 13, 2020.
In December 2020, the first doses that landed in Canada were administered to those at the highest at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including the elderly, those living in long-term care homes and the immunocompromised.
A year later, 81.79 per cent of the country’s total population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The latest data released by PHAC on Dec. 23, 2021 shows that as of Dec. 18, 2021, a total of 31,280,780 people had received at least one shot.
What’s more, 76.49 per cent, or 29,253,025 people were fully vaccinated as of Dec. 18, 2021.
Vaccination efforts are continuing across the country, as health officials work to administer third doses to boost the public’s immunity as the new Omicron variant spreads.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
The data released by PHAC says that on Dec. 23, 2020, a total of 2,888 people were hospitalized across Canada with COVID-19.
Of those people, 699 were in an intensive care unit, while 364 individuals were on a ventilator.
The most recent available data from PHAC says that between Dec. 13 2021, and Dec. 20, 2021, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 increased from 1,085 to 1,201.
The numbers of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units and on ventilators also increased from 451 to 468, and 229 to 242, respectively.
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.
