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People from 18 years Ontario this morning you can book a booster vaccine against COVID-19 through the provincial portal, as long as at least three months have passed since the second vaccine.
The province announced on Wednesday that it was expanding eligibility in an effort to strengthen defenses against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Pharmacies were able to start offering reinforcements to younger adults on Friday, but now Ontarioers can request appointments through the province’s website or a local public health unit.
The change in the availability of reinforcement comes after the province tightened restrictions. As of Sunday, restaurants, retailers, gyms and other indoor environments in Ontario can only open at 50% capacity. Indoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people, while outdoor gatherings can only have 25.
In Quebec, officials are tightening public health measures again as COVID-19 cases increase across the province.
Prime Minister François Legault announced tougher measures last week to combat the Omicron variant, as the province reported a jump in hospitalizations, with record cases for the province’s daily count over the weekend .
The government stepped back to increase the maximum number of indoor meetings to 20, keeping the maximum at 10 people. Meanwhile, bars, restaurants, retail stores, places of worship and entertainment activities will operate in the middle of capacity.
The two most populous provinces in Canada are facing an increase in cases. Ontario reported 4,177 new cases of COVID-19 and two additional deaths on Sunday, while Quebec reported 3,846 new cases and three more deaths on Sunday.
-From The Canadian Press and CBC News, last updated at 7:10 am ET
What is happening across Canada
Business owners and advocates are calling for urgent financial support, as the increase in COVID-19 cases across Canada has led to renewed restrictions just before the holidays, traditionally the busiest time of year. 1:53
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia 476 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Sunday, another one-day high. The province will report more details on the figures, including hospitalization data, later Monday.
New Brunswick Health officials reported 108 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday Newfoundland and Labrador 61 new cases have been reported since Friday.
Health officials a Prince Edward Island it was expected to provide updated information on Monday.
In the north, health officials in the Northwest Territories on Sunday the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the territory was reported. The updated figures for the three territories are expected later Monday.
In the prairies, Saskatchewan 78 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Sunday. The province is also expanding access to reinforcements from Monday, with all over-18s allowed to book as long as the second dose was at least three months ago.
Health officials a Manitoba i Alberta do not provide updated figures over the weekend.
In British Columbia, Health officials will provide updated figures covering the weekend later Monday. The update will come as residents of the province see new restrictions imposed on the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
The new restrictions on COVID-19 range from the capacity of the public in large spaces to the number of people who can attend meetings indoors. Health officials say the restrictions, which also include the cancellation of all New Year’s Eve parties, are being implemented for fears that the Omicron variant will overwhelm BC hospitals.
-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 7:05 am ET
What is happening around the world
In the early hours of Monday morning, more than 274.7 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus database. The death toll worldwide was more than 5.3 million, according to the case tracking tool.
The United Kingdom refused to drop restrictions on meetings on Monday, a day after the Netherlands imposed a fourth blockade caused by the Omicron variant of the rapidly spreading coronavirus and while other European countries were considering putting pressure on Christmas.
Health Minister Sajid Javid said on Sunday that the government was watching the data closely. Any decision to limit how people can celebrate Christmas would have a high political cost for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose authority has been undermined by questions about whether he and his staff broke the rules blocking the last year.
Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a closure on Saturday, ordering the closure of all less essential shops as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places from Sunday to January 14 at least.
Andrew Chang of the National discovers what researchers have learned about the N95’s fabric, surgical and style masks and the protection they offer against the Omicron variant. 3:37
In Africa, South African health officials reported Sunday 15,465 new cases and three additional deaths in the country that first sounded the alarm over the variant now known as Omicron. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to work after a period of self-isolation following a positive test of COVID-19, local media reported.
In the Asia-Pacific region, a cluster of coronavirus infections related to a U.S. military base in Japan has grown to at least 180, the Japanese government said Monday, sparking fears about the virus spreading to the community.
In the America, Peru has detected its first Omicron cases.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker said both tested positive for COVID-19 and were experiencing mild symptoms.
In the Middle East, Iran has confirmed its first Omicron case, while authorities have urged Iranians to receive their booster doses in the hardest hit Middle Eastern country.
-From Reuters, The Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 7am ET
