Canadians began the Thanksgiving long weekend amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases that has prompted more restrictions in several hot spots.
Canadians talk about how they will celebrate this Thanksgiving weekend during a pandemic. 1:52
The latest:
- Ontario reports 809 new cases, while Quebec confirms 1,097 new cases.
- New Brunswick announces 20 new cases, 9 connected to care-home outbreak.
- Manitoba sees 2 more deaths and 97 new cases.
- Several European countries report record new cases.
- Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll tops 150,000.
Canada’s chief public health officer says the spread of COVID-19 seems to be shifting toward seniors, while the hardest-hit provinces scramble to avoid a worst-case scenario for the second wave.
Dr. Theresa Tam said in a statement that while the summer saw cases concentrated in the 20-to-39 age range, infections are now increasing in older populations.
Tam said reports of outbreaks in long-term care and retirement homes have been rising in recent weeks but seem to be more contained than the eruption of cases that overwhelmed several facilities in April and May.
However, she warned that older Canadians are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, and any spread in care homes often has deadly consequences.
Tam’s statement comes as the Ontario and Quebec governments work to rein in surging case counts with new restrictions in regional hot spots.
WATCH | Quebec, Ontario target hardest-hit regions with new restrictions:
Ontario and Quebec are introducing measures in the regions hardest hit by COVID-19 to try to slow the spread of the pandemic. Both provinces have seen surges in case counts. 6:00
What’s happening in Canada
As of 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Canada had 180,179 confirmed or presumptive coronavirus cases. Provinces and territories listed 151,357 of those as recovered or resolved. A CBC News tally of deaths based on provincial reports, regional health information and CBC’s reporting stood at 9,608.
Manitoba reported two more deaths and 97 new cases on Saturday. The one-day jump in new cases is a new high for Manitoba, coming just a day after the previous record was set.
Ontario reported 809 new cases on Saturday and seven more deaths related to COVID-19, a day after recording yet another daily record with 939 new cases and five more deaths.
Premier Doug Ford closed gyms, movie theatres and casinos and banned indoor dining, and he asked people to stay home as much as possible for at least 28 days.
WATCH | Ottawa gym owner on closures:
Ashley Mathieu, who owns two Anytime Fitness locations, is frustrated her business is being closed in the current shutdown. 0:57
Saskatchewan saw a second-consecutive day of double-digit increases in cases on Saturday, recording 34 more. This follows 22 new cases reported Friday.
In Quebec, health officials confirmed 1,097 new cases Saturday and 13 more deaths. The province exceeded reporting more than 1,000 new infections for the eighth time in nine days.
Premier François Legault asked Quebecers to make sacrifices and avoid socializing over the long weekend as 433 more people landed in hospital — up eight patients from the day before, with 67 people in intensive care, one less than the day before.
Nova Scotia added three new cases Saturday, leaving the province with a total of five active cases.
Newfoundland and Labrador also added three new cases Saturday for a total of nine active cases.
New Brunswick announced 20 new cases on Saturday, with nine of the cases related to an outbreak at the Manoir Notre-Dame in Moncton. Officials also said there was a case confirmed at an elementary school in Dalhousie.
The Northwest Territories announced that travellers and employees will be required to wear a mask while inside the territory’s airport terminal buildings, starting next Tuesday.
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What’s happening around the world
According to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the global total of confirmed coronavirus cases stands at more than 36.9 million. More than one million people have died, while more than 25.7 million have recovered.
In Asia, India’s confirmed cases are nearing seven million with another 73,272 reported in the past 24 hours. India is seeing a slower pace of spread since mid-September, but health experts have warned that congregations during major festivals later this month and in November have the potential for the virus to spread.
WATCH | India struggles to control COVID-19 as cases reach 2nd highest in the world:
India has the world’s second-highest number of COVID-19 cases, growing by a seven-day average of 69,368. Yet despite a stigma against contracting coronavirus, few people seem to be taking precautions seriously. 2:01
In Europe, a number of countries are reporting record single-day jumps in new cases. The Czech Republic registered 8,618; neighbouring Slovakia, 1,887; Ireland, 1,012; and Portugal, 1,646.
Africa has seen more than 1.5 million confirmed cases and more than 37,000 deaths. The majority of the cases on the continent are in South Africa, which accounts for more than 688,000 cases.
In the Americas, Brazil registered 559 additional coronavirus deaths over the last 24 hours and 26,749 new cases, the nation’s Health Ministry said on Saturday. The South American country has now registered 5,082,637 total confirmed coronavirus cases and 150,198 total deaths.
Mexico’s Health Ministry on Saturday reported 4,577 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 135 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 814,328 cases and 83,642 deaths.