Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday
CBC
The latest:
British Columbia's top doctor issued a stark dose of reality to people in her province Tuesday: it is very likely over time, Dr. Bonnie Henry said, that almost everyone in B.C. will be exposed to the coronavirus.
But as she announced further restrictions going into effect immediately in the province to try to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, she added that how people conduct themselves will greatly influence how the virus affects them.
"We are now transitioning to reducing those social gatherings to as low as possible … to try and reduce that risk of exposure."
The province, which reported 1,308 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, is shutting down bars and nightclubs as of Wednesday, and cancelling scheduled surgeries. Gyms and fitness studios will be closed and larger seated venues will have capacity reduced to 50 per cent
Other parts of Canada are also starting to hunker down, with new restrictions coming into effect as a fifth wave of COVID-19 spreads throughout the country, fuelled by Omicron.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is asking Albertans to reduce their social contacts by 50 per cent through the holidays and refrain from workplace holiday parties. As of Dec. 24, the province is also bringing in new restrictions, including reducing capacity limits on venues that seat more than 500 people, lowering table capacity in bars and restaurants to no more than 10 per table, and stopping alcohol sales in those venues at 11 p.m.
Quebec on Tuesday reported yet another single-day high, with more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19. The update came as the City of Montreal declared a local state of emergency in the face of quickly rising case numbers, and requested help from the Canadian Forces to administer vaccines.
In Ontario, new limits on social gatherings and capacity limits in stores and restaurants came into effect Sunday as the provincial government struggled to get escalating case counts under control.
The province's chief medical officer of health warned Tuesday that the number of patients requiring hospitalization and treatment in intensive care units could rise significantly in the coming weeks. Dr. Kieran Moore said the province has also put out a call to anyone with experience administering intramuscular injections to volunteer at COVID-19 vaccine clinics.
Prince Edward Island ramped up restrictions on Tuesday, including a quarantine requirement for people coming onto the island.
While hospitalizations have remained steady in Ontario and some other parts of Canada, a recent spike in the number of severe cases in Quebec has added to concerns that the rest of the country could soon follow.
The fifth wave has also sparked a rush for booster shots as the Omicron variant has caused a surge of infections among both vaccinated and unvaccinated Canadians.
-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 6:30 p.m. ET
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