Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.
Top headlines:
- As case counts remain steady, many countries are encouraging people to return to their daily routines – with the common mantra, “we have to learn to live with the virus”
- The pandemic has disproportionately affected women – causing young women to report higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress compared to men, according to a recent survey
- Days after Canada announced it will allow fully vaccinated Americans to cross the border, the U.S. government extended its border closure with Canada and Mexico through Aug. 21
In the past seven days, 2,966 cases were reported, down 8 per cent from the previous seven days. There were 55 deaths announced, down 23 per cent over the same period. At least 445 people are being treated in hospitals and 1,393,509 others are considered recovered.
Canada’s inoculation rate is 7th among countries with a population of one million or more people.
Sources: Canada data is compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data is from Johns Hopkins University.
Coronavirus explainers: Coronavirus in maps and charts • Tracking vaccine doses • Lockdown rules and reopening
Photo of the day
A boy wearing a face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic runs in Zaryadye park in front of the Kremlin's Spasskaya tower during light rain in Moscow on July 21, 2021.KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
Coronavirus in Canada
- In Ontario, the seven advisors hired for Rick Hillier’s COVID-19 vaccine-rollout task force all have ties to him or the military, and some were paid more than Hillier for their contributions. Meanwhile, the province is reporting 135 new cases of COVID-19 today and four new deaths.
- Quebec is reporting more than 100 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since July 6.
Governments in Europe and Asia are beginning to accept that rolling lockdowns and restrictions are a necessary part of pandemic recovery. People are being encouraged to shift their pandemic perspective and focus on avoiding severe illness and death instead of infections.
- Yet scientists warn that the pandemic exit strategies may be premature. The emergence of more transmissible variants means that even wealthy nations with abundant vaccines remain vulnerable. Places like Australia, of which more than half is under lockdown, are learning that they cannot keep the virus out.
Canada-U.S. border: Non-essential travel from Canada to the U.S. – which has been restricted since March, 2020 – has been extended at least until Aug. 21. The White House is planning a new round of high-level meetings this week to discuss possibly mandating vaccines for travellers.
Coronavirus around the world
- Tokyo’s COVID-19 infections surged to a six-month high today — just two days before the Olympics begin. Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization said he supports the Games, despite the surging coronavirus cases in the host city.
- A South African firm will begin producing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – a first for the continent.
- Visitors to the Eiffel Tower in France now need a special COVID-19 pass to ride up, and the same coronavirus pass is also mandatory at French museums and movie theatres.
- An investigation by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. is probing the link between lagging vaccination rates among nursing-home staff and a national increase in COVID-19 infections.
Coronavirus and business
The pandemic recession has disproportionately affected women, who are more likely to be employed in sectors affected most by the pandemic, such as the service sector, and who often have the added responsibility of caring for children or family members.
- A new survey found more than half of Canadian youth said negative feelings had increased during the pandemic, with 63 per cent of young women reporting higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress, compared with 46 per cent of young men.
Also today: WestJet Airlines has pulled out of talks with the federal government and will not take financial aid as its rivals have.
Also today: Warning signs emerge that are causing investors to doubt that a much-anticipated return to post-COVID normality is feasible any time soon.
Globe opinion
- Lawrence Martin: The U.S.-Canada border will open soon. But why would Canadians want to cross it?
- Cathal Kelly: Upon arrival at the Tokyo Olympics, common sense is nowhere to be found
- Blake Murdoch: The downsides of vaccine passports have been exaggerated
- Andrew Coyne: Vaccine mandates are not a hill to die on – literally or figuratively
More reporting
- The Ontario Hockey League will require its players and staff to have COVID-19 vaccinations
- Johnson & Johnson is forecasting $2.5-billion in 2021 COVID-19 vaccine sales
Information centre
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s travel restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated people
- Waiting for a second dose? We answer your COVID-19 vaccine questions
- What is and isn’t ‘paid sick leave’ in Canada? A short primer
- Got a vaccine ‘hangover’? Here’s why
Sources: Canada data are compiled from government websites, Johns Hopkins University and COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group; international data are from Johns Hopkins.
What are we missing? Email us: audience@globeandmail.com. Do you know someone who needs this newsletter? Send them to our Newsletters page.
Jessie Willms