The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):
11:10 a.m.
Nova Scotia is reporting three new cases of COVID-19.
Two of the cases are in the Halifax area, with one related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and the other being a close contact of a previously reported case.
Health officials say the third case is in the western health zone and is also related to travel outside of the Atlantic region.
The province is reporting a total of 24 active cases of novel coronavirus.
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11 a.m.
Quebec is reporting 1,271 new cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, including one in the past 24 hours.
Health officials say hospitalizations rose by two, to 487, and 119 people were in intensive care, a drop of one.
The province says it administered 41,406 doses of vaccine Wednesday, for a total of 1,391,649, representing 16.4 per cent of the population.
Quebec has reported a total of 312,362 COVID-19 infections and 10,676 deaths linked to the virus; it has 8,518 active reported cases.
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10:30 a.m.
Ontario is reporting 2,557 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 more deaths linked to the virus.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 743 new cases in Toronto, 484 in Peel Region, and 311 in York Region.
She also says there are 131 new cases in Ottawa, 119 in Hamilton and 107 in Durham Region
Ontario says 84,060 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered since Wednesday’s update.
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10 a.m.
Ontario’s science advisers say stay-at-home orders will control the third wave of COVID-19, which is being driven by rising rates of the more deadly variants of concern.
The Ontario Science Advisory Table makes the findings in its latest pandemic modelling data.
Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the group, says short-term case projections will depend entirely on the public health measures implemented by the government and vaccination rates.
He says the province’s vaccine rollout is not reaching the highest risk communities, which is delaying its impact as an effective strategy to fight the pandemic.
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7:15 a.m.
The Canadian Press has learned that Ontario is expected to announce a 28-day provincewide “shutdown” today to stop the spread of COVID-19.
A source with knowledge of the restrictions says the final details of the new measures are still being worked out.
The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the announcement, says schools will remain open after the Easter weekend.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2021.
The Canadian Press
