A SNAPSHOT OF COVID IN CANADA
Canada is firmly in the grip of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ontario has sought assistance from other provinces; the Atlantic Bubble, while not burst, is at least leaking; and Alberta is leading the nation in per-capita cases of illness. Case counts vary widely across provinces, affecting hospitals and medical systems in different ways, and some areas are grappling with larger outbreaks of the variant strains of COVID-19. To get a sense of how the third wave is playing out across the country, the National Post’s Tyler Dawson pulled the most recent data from across the country. Data for deaths, active cases and cases per 100,000 people are from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s daily epidemiological update, accurate as of April 28. Data on current hospitalization and intensive care rates are from the most recent provincial updates as of publication time and the hospitalization figures include those in intensive care.
CANADA
Active cases: 83,354
Total deaths: 24,117
Total variant cases:
Deaths in the past seven days: 350
ATLANTIC BUBBLE
The provinces on Canada’s east coast have tended to fair much better than the rest of the country. Case counts — and deaths — have remained low through the pandemic. The premiers were supposed to discuss reopening travel between the Atlantic provinces on April 19, but that has been deferred because of climbing case counts. The premiers are hopeful that interprovincial Atlantic travel may resume by summer.
Nova Scotia
Active cases: 489
Active cases per 100,000 people: 50
Total variant cases: 86
Total deaths: 67
Deaths in the past seven days: 0
Hospitalizations: 14
ICU: 4
New Brunswick
Active cases: 123
Active cases per 100,000 people: 16
Total variant cases: 184
Total deaths: 36
Deaths in the past seven days: 2
Hospitalizations: 4
ICU: 2
Prince Edward Island
Active cases: 11
Active cases per 100,000 people: 7
Total variant cases: 13
Total deaths: 0
Deaths in the past seven days: 0
Hospitalizations: 0
ICU: 0
Newfoundland and Labrador Active cases: 31
Active cases per 100,000 people: 6
Total variant cases: 194
Total deaths: 6
Deaths in the past seven days: 0
Hospitalizations: 2
ICU: Unknown
CANADA’S NORTH
The northern territories have, throughout the pandemic, maintained strict travel restrictions to keep case counts low, especially as hospital and intensive care capacity is very low. The Yukon Nunavut and the Northwest Territories both have border closures for non-essential travel.
Yukon
Active cases: 0
Cases per 100,000 people: 0
Total variant cases: 2
Total deaths: 2
Deaths in the past seven days: 1
Hospitalizations: 0
ICU: 0
Northwest Territories Active cases: 6
Cases per 100,000 people: 13
Total variant cases: 1
Total deaths: 0
Hospitalizations: 0
ICU: 0
Nunavut
Active cases: 50
Cases per 100,000 people: 127
Total variant cases: 50
Total deaths: 4
Deaths in the past seven days: 0
Hospitalizations: Unknown
ICU: Unknown
BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia has, over the past month, strengthened restrictions against travel around the province, telling residents they cannot leave their health zone for anything other than essential travel. As well, it has put an end to indoor dining and worship, limited exercise and banned indoor group gatherings. Schools remain open.
Active cases: 8,256
Active cases per 100,000 people: 160
Total variant cases: 6,232
Total deaths: 1,576
Deaths in the past seven days: 30
Hospitalizations: 515
ICU: 171
ALBERTA
Alberta leads the country for active cases per capita, coming in behind Ontario. The government put in restrictions that include closing indoor fitness and indoor dining. It’s possible stricter rules could come into place for hot spots, Premier Jason Kenney has cautioned, though restrictions are loosening for visiting those in continuing care homes in early May. Schools are open in some places, but a number of school boards have shifted to online learning until early or mid-may.
Active cases: 20,938
Active cases per 100,000 people: 474
Total deaths: 2,073
Total variant cases: 27,120
Deaths in the past seven days: 21
Hospitalizations: 643
ICU: 145
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan still notes the risk of transmission of COVID as high, though there are some relaxations for visitation in continuing care, assuming more than 90 per cent of residents are vaccinated. There are still restrictions in place, such as spacing between tables for indoor dining, but unlike other provinces, and some sports are allowed, with restrictions for distancing and masking. Whether or not schools are open varies by school board.
Active cases: 2,443
Active cases per 100,000 people: 207
Total variant cases: 2,305
Total deaths: 486
Deaths in the past seven days: 17
Hospitalizations: 142
ICU: 42
MANITOBA
Manitoba is seeing rising case counts of COVID-19. There are a number of public health orders in place that restrict capacity on retail, for example. Restaurants are open, but limited to 50 per cent capacity. Schools — with a mix of in-person and online learning — remain open in Manitoba.
Active cases: 2,206
Active cases per 100,000 people: 160
Total variant cases: 1,229
Total deaths: 971
Deaths in the past seven days: 10
Hospitalizations: 134
ICU: 30
ONTARIO
Ontario has been hit hard, with the most numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country. Premier Doug Ford’s government declared a state of emergency last month in response to the third wave. Many outdoor activities have been banned, including golf and tennis, but the government backtracked on a restriction on playgrounds and increased enforcement powers for police after the measures were panned by critics. The province is under a stay-at-home order until at least May 20, and schools are doing online learning.
Active cases: 38,853
Cases per 100,000 people: 264
Total variant cases: 60,980
Total deaths: 7,988
Deaths in the past seven days: 199
Hospitalizations: 2,248
ICU: 884
QUEBEC
Projections in Quebec suggest a “fragile” period for the pandemic. Schools and businesses were closed at the start of April, and the province is promising to ease restrictions in the coming days. The curfew in place is being eased from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in some jurisdictions, such as Montreal and Laval.
Active cases: 9,948
Active cases per 100,000 people: 116
Total variant cases: 3,558
Total deaths: 10,908
Deaths in the past seven days: 70
Hospitalizations: 623
ICU: 165