Coronavirus: What’s taking place in Canada and all over the world on Sunday

A ministry official mentioned research have been underway into the efficacy of vaccines towards the brand new variant, which differs from extremely infectious variants first present in Britain and South Africa which have pushed a surge in circumstances.

“In the mean time, there isn’t any proof displaying the brand new variant present in these from Brazil is excessive in infectiousness,” Dr. Takaji Wakita, head of the Nationwide Institute of Infectious Ailments, informed a Well being Ministry briefing.

Nonetheless, Brazil’s Well being Ministry mentioned it has been notified by Japan’s authorities that the brand new variant has 12 mutations, and considered one of them has already been recognized additionally within the variants present in the UK and in South Africa. “It implies in a possible larger virus infectiousness,” it mentioned.

WATCH | What scientists know in regards to the coronavirus variants:

Of the 4 travellers who arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Jan. 2, a person in his 40s had an issue respiratory, a lady in her 30s had a headache and sore throat and a person in his teenagers had a fever, whereas a lady in her teenagers confirmed no signs, the ministry mentioned, including all travellers are in quarantine at Tokyo’s airport.

Variants of the coronavirus first discovered within the U.Ok. and South Africa have been reported in Canada.

On Saturday, Canada’s chief public well being officer mentioned the nation has up to now recognized 14 circumstances of the pressure discovered within the U.Ok. and one case of the pressure present in South Africa.

“Given the current emergence of COVID-19 virus variants of concern, which look like related to an elevated danger of unfold, [the Public Health Agency of Canada] has been working with provinces, territories and worldwide companions to boost monitoring for the presence of any virus variants in Canada,” Dr. Theresa Tam mentioned.

What’s taking place throughout Canada

As of 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Canada had reported 660,289 circumstances of COVID-19, with 84,567 circumstances thought-about energetic. A CBC Information tally of deaths stood at 16,950.

In British Columbia, Kelowna RCMP say they’ve issued a $2,300 wonderful to the organizer of a protest and march within the metropolis’s downtown on Saturday that contravened provincial public well being orders associated to COVID-19. 

Alberta reported 811 new circumstances of COVID-19 and 12 deaths on Sunday. In the meantime, college students within the province are set to return to in-person courses on Monday, as the federal government deliberate earlier than the vacation season.

Saskatchewan introduced 307 new circumstances, however the province’s demise toll remained at 191.

Manitoba added 151 COVID-19 circumstances and 5 extra deaths.

Ontario registered 3,945 new circumstances and 61 further deaths. The brand new circumstances mark a single-day file for the province.

On Twitter, Premier Doug Ford warned of “turbulent waters” within the coming months and mentioned Ontario’s health-care system is “getting ready to being overwhelmed.” Ford additionally mentioned mass vaccinations will not begin within the province till April on the earliest.

Quebec reported 2,588 new circumstances and 39 new deaths, a day after it topped 3,000 new circumstances for the primary time. Current projections recommend Montreal’s hospitals might quickly exceed capability.

In the meantime, the province’s first night time of a curfew to curb the unfold of COVID-19 resulted in tickets being given out to small teams of anti-curfew protesters.

Newfoundland and Labrador recorded its first new case in 5 days. Based on the Division of Well being, the case is said to worldwide journey.

Nova Scotia noticed no new circumstances within the province for the primary time since November.

New Brunswick continues to see a spike in circumstances, saying 14 extra.

What’s taking place all over the world

As of Sunday, greater than 90 million circumstances of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, with greater than 49.8 million of these thought-about recovered or resolved, in keeping with Johns Hopkins College’s COVID-19 case monitoring software. The worldwide demise toll stood at greater than 1.9 million.

In Europe, greater than 40,000 individuals have now died of COVID-19 in Germany. The nation initially managed to maintain demise numbers low compared to its European neighbours, however since October each new infections and deaths have been rising steadily.    

Germany entered a second arduous lockdown final month, which was lately prolonged till the tip of January. Colleges and most shops are closed, hospitals within the nation are on edge and a few morgues haven’t got sufficient house to chill the relentless move of incoming our bodies.

In Asia, greater than 360 individuals have examined constructive in a rising coronavirus outbreak south of Beijing in neighbouring Hebei province. China’s Nationwide Well being Fee reported Sunday that 69 new circumstances had been confirmed, together with 46 in Hebei.

The outbreak has raised specific concern due to Hebei’s proximity to the nation’s capital. Journey between the 2 has been restricted, with employees from Hebei having to indicate proof of employment in Beijing to enter.

Africa surpassed three million confirmed COVID-19 circumstances on Sunday, together with greater than 72,000 deaths, in keeping with the Africa Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

South Africa accounts for greater than a 3rd of the continent’s whole with greater than 1.2 million reported circumstances, together with greater than 32,000 deaths. Many hospitals are reaching capability because the nation battles a resurgence of the illness, pushed by a variant of the virus that’s extra contagious and spreading rapidly.

Within the Americas, Mexican well being authorities detected a case of a coronavirus variant first detected within the U.Ok.

Federal well being authorities mentioned the person was a U.Ok. citizen who travelled from Amsterdam to Mexico Metropolis, after which caught a connecting flight to Matamoros, the place he apparently had a piece task. The person was asymptomatic when examined, however has since been hospitalized and positioned on a ventilator.