Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Friday

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the deal with Pfizer includes options to add 30 million doses in both 2022 and 2023, and an option for 60 million doses in 2024.

Trudeau says the country must be prepared with the doses in case they are needed.

Booster shots are expected to be important as the coronavirus continues to mutate, similar to how the flu shot is altered every year to be effective against the most dominant strain.

The announcement came Friday as Canada’s top public health doctor said there are signs the epidemic is easing, although average COVID-19 case counts have more than doubled over the past month.

Dr. Theresa Tam said the success of the vaccine rollout will likely determine whether restrictive COVID-19 measures can be lifted this summer.

She presented new modelling Friday that suggests strict measures in several provinces meant to contain more contagious variants have curbed the recent surge.

WATCH | Non-essential travel restrictions in B.C.:

Saying things may get worse before they get better due to COVID-19 variants, B.C. Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth announced formal restrictions on non-essential travel between the province’s health regions until May 25. 3:37

Also Friday, the British Columbia government moved to restrict travel between three regional zones within the province in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

– From The Canadian Press and CBC News, last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET

What’s happening across Canada

As of 12:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Canada had reported 1,161,442 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 85,980 considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 23,871.

Ontario reported 4,505 new cases and 34 new deaths on Friday. There are 2,287 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 818 in ICU.

In Ontario, those who are pregnant can now book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine after being moved to the “highest risk” category in the province’s vaccine rollout plan.

WATCH | Bringing COVID-19 vaccines to workplaces in Ontario hot spots:

In northwest Toronto, a COVID-19 hotspot, people are racing to get vaccinated and area businesses are asking to play a part too, by having mobile clinics directly come to them. 1:59

According to the Ministry of Health, “in response to emerging data on the increased risk of severe illness for pregnant women, all pregnant individuals will be eligible for vaccination appointments under the highest risk health conditions … starting today.”

In Quebec, health officials reported 1,043 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 15 additional deaths.

WATCH | Quebec seniors and COVID-19 vaccines:

Quebec plans to give some elderly people a different COVID-19 vaccine for their second shot because of a shortage of the Moderna they first received. 3:06

The province is wading into uncharted territory as it plans to give some long-term care residents a different COVID-19 vaccine — in this case, Pfizer-BioNTech — for their second shot because of a shortage of the Moderna vaccine they first received.

In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia reported 44 new cases on Friday, while New Brunswick reported 16 new cases and Newfoundland and Labrador one new case.

On Thursday, Prince Edward Island reported one new case.

Nunavut reported nine new cases on Friday. 

A day earlier, Yukon and the Northwest Territories each reported one new case on Thursday.

In the Prairie provinces, Manitoba reported 181 new cases Friday and two additional deaths. 

On Thursday, Saskatchewan reported 254 new cases and one additional death.

WATCH | Alberta confirms 1st case of B1617 variant:

Alberta has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 linked to the B1617 variant fuelling a surge of cases in India. 1:59

Alberta reported 1,857 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and six new deaths. There are 1,326 cases involving variants of concern in the province, including a first case of the B1617 variant driving cases up in India.

British Columbia reported 1,006 new cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths on Thursday. Hospitalizations stood at 502, a new record high, with 161 in intensive care.

WATCH | B.C. business owners frustrated by travel restrictions:

Business owners in some tourist areas near the British Columbia-Alberta are frustrated by B.C.’s new restrictions against travelling out of a local health region and say they need more support from the province. 2:03

– From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET

What’s happening around the world

As of early Friday afternoon, more than 144.9 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University’s case tracking tool. The reported global death toll stood at more than three million.

In the Asia-Pacific region, India reported the world’s highest daily tally of coronavirus cases for a second day on Friday, surpassing 330,000 new cases, while deaths in the past 24 hours also jumped to a high of 2,263. Officials across northern and western India warned most hospitals were full and running out of oxygen.

Japan declared a third state of emergency for Tokyo and three western prefectures on Friday amid skepticism it will be enough to curb a rapid coronavirus resurgence ahead of the Olympics in July. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced the emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from April 25 through May 11.

Thailand reported a daily record for new COVID-19 cases — 2,070, bringing the country’s total Friday to 50,183. At the beginning of March, Thailand had 26,031 cases with double-digit daily increases, but a new outbreak sent the numbers skyrocketing.

In Europe, Hungary will allow outdoor terraces at restaurants and bars to open Saturday and is planning further openings next week, even as the COVID-19 death rate in the country remains among the highest in the world.

The number of people who have received at least a first dose of a vaccine in Hungary surpassed 3.5 million Friday, a threshold earlier set by the government for when outdoor seating areas could reopen.

In Africa, South Africa remains the hardest hit by COVID-19 among countries on the continent, with more than 1.5 million reported cases and more than 53,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

WATCH | From side-effects to pregnancy, your vaccine questions answered:

Manotick physician Dr. Alykhan Abdulla spoke to the CBC’s Ottawa Morning about side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines, who should get one, and why you should take the first vaccine offered to you. 2:59

In the Americas, Texas health officials say the U.S. government has reported that a Texas woman has been hospitalized with possible blood clots associated with Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine.

The announcement by Texas quotes the FDA and CDC as saying the adult woman has “symptoms that appear to be consistent with those few other reported cases” of a rare blood-clotting disorder developed after receiving the J&J vaccine.

Federal and state agencies have paused the J&J vaccine rollout due to concerns about blood clots. Federal officials already were examining six reports of the unusual clots, including a death, out of more than 6.8 million Americans given the one-dose vaccination so far.

In the Middle East, Israel and Bahrain say they have reached an agreement to recognize each other’s coronavirus vaccination certificates, allowing travellers between the countries to forgo quarantine and other restrictions.

– From The Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 12:45 p.m. ET

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