The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada for Wednesday, April 7, 2021

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

6:15 p.m.

B.C. is reporting another 997 COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 1,491 since the pandemic started.

Of the 330 people in hospital, 105 are in intensive care.

There have been 946,096 doses of the three vaccines administered, about 87,000 of them second doses, covering about 20 per cent of eligible recipients in B.C.

There are 8,728 active cases in the province and another 14,602 people who are under active public health monitoring after being exposed to a known case.

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5:30 p.m.

Alberta is reporting 1,351 new COVID-19 infections in its latest update.

There are 575 new cases involving more transmissible virus variants, which now make up nearly 43 per cent of the province’s active cases. 

There are 333 people in hospital, with 79 in intensive care. 

Alberta Health Services says 755,831 people have received vaccine doses so far.

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4:05 p.m.

Health officials in Saskatchewan are reporting 189 new cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths.

They say one of the deaths was someone in the 30-39 age group in the north central health zone and the other was someone over 80 from the Regina zone.

The province says there are 201 people in hospital due to the virus and 159 people are receiving inpatient care.

As of today, 2,830 COVID-19 variants of concern have been identified in Saskatchewan.

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3 p.m.

Manitoba is reporting 109 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death.

The province says 22 new infections are from variants, and all but one are from the Winnipeg region.

There are 140 people in hospital because of the virus, and 32 of them are in intensive care.

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1:45 p.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting two new cases of COVID-19.

Both are in the Halifax area with one related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and the other a close contact of a previously reported case.

The province has a total of 37 active cases of novel coronavirus with one person in hospital.

As of Tuesday, the province has administered 123,166 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with 30,069 people having received their required second dose.

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1:15 p.m.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today.

Health officials say the case involves a person in their 60s in the western health zone and is related to domestic travel outside of the Atlantic region.

The province now has four active cases of novel coronavirus.

Officials say beginning next Wednesday, high school students will move to a blended model that includes online and in-person learning.

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1:05 p.m.

New Brunswick is reporting one new COVID-19-related death today.

Health officials say a person in their 30s in the Edmundston region died of underlying complications including novel coronavirus.

The case brings the number of deaths in the province to 31.

Officials are also reporting 14 new cases of COVID-19, including 11 cases in the Edmundston area, for a total of 163 known active cases of the disease.

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12:35 p.m.

Quebec is expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines to Montrealers who are essential workers or who have chronic illnesses.

Essential workers such as teachers and first responders will be able to book an appointment starting Friday and will need to provide proof of employment.

Montrealers under the age of 60 with chronic illnesses will be able to receive a vaccine in hospital starting Monday.

Vaccines will be accessible to people 60 and older across the province starting Thursday, and authorities will open walk-in clinics for those 55 and older wanting to get an AstraZeneca shot.

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11:10 a.m.

Quebec is reporting 1,270 new cases of COVID-19 today and 29 more hospitalizations related to the disease.

Health officials say 543 people are in hospital, including 123 people in intensive care, a rise of two.

Officials are also reporting eight more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, including one within the past 24 hours.

The province says it administered 43,631 doses of vaccine Tuesday, for a total of 1,636,310.

Quebec says almost 20 per cent of its population has received at least one dose of vaccine.

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10:40 a.m.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says it is standing by its emergency recommendation to extend the delivery of second doses of COVID-19 vaccines up to four months.

The panel’s “rapid” response recommendation a month ago was followed by further research on the vaccines.

NACI’s experts say they still believe that extending the time to give a second dose will bring protection to Canadians more quickly.

The panel says it expects the administration of second doses won’t end up taking as long as four months based on Canada’s expected vaccine supply.

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10:35 a.m.

Ontario reports 3,215 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 more deaths linked to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 1,095 new cases in Toronto, 596 in Peel Region, and 342 in York Region.

She also says there are 225 new cases in Ottawa and 187 in Durham Region.

Ontario says a record 104,382 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the province since Tuesday’s update.

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8 a.m.

A new stay-at-home order will be issued in Ontario to try and control a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, sources tell The Canadian Press.

Premier Doug Ford is expected to make the announcement at an afternoon news conference.

Sources say the order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning and last for four weeks.

Only stores selling essential goods will remain open during the four-week period.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2021.

The Canadian Press