Today’s coronavirus news: Ontario reporting 209 new cases, with 20 in Toronto; Newfoundland and Labrador lift pandemic travel ban
The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Saturday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.
12:30 p.m.: A deadly fungal infection known as black fungus" that first surfaced in Indian COVID-19 patients has been detected in Afghanistan, which is in the middle of a brutal third wave of the coronavirus, Health Minister Wahid Majroh said Saturday.
Afghanistan has recorded one death from the fungus, which has been detected in two other patients, he said.
In Afghanistan, where people rarely wear masks and there is no social distancing, the numbers of new cases have been steadily rising, with 1,272 new cases in the past 24 hours and 92 deaths. The testing rate in Afghanistan is barely 4,000 a day. Since the pandemic began last year, Afghanistan has recorded 124,757 cases and 5,199 deaths though the figures are believed to be wildly underreported.
10:55 a.m.: The City of Toronto is reporting that 79,638 vaccine doses were administered Friday for a total of 3,553,882 jabs.
10:50 a.m.: In its latest data, Ontario says 206 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 243 people are in intensive care because of the virus and 165 are on a ventilator.
10:15 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 209 COVID-19 cases, Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted in her latest daily update Saturday.
There were nine more deaths, in the latest data from the province.
Locally, there are 47 new cases in Waterloo Region, 22 in Halton, 20 in Toronto, 20 in Grey Bruce and 20 in the Niagara Region.
Elliott said nearly 17,100 tests were completed on Friday and that 210,504 vaccine doses were administered for a total of 15,365,003 doses.
The Star's Ashima Agnihotri has more details.
8:12 a.m.: President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that Iran may face another wave of coronavirus infections, as health officials warned of the spread of the more infectious delta variant of the virus.
Rouhani, speaking at a national coronavirus task force meeting, urged people to postpone their summer travels and gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus, particularly its Indian variant." Iran has reported cases of the Delta variant in a number of cities and towns.
There are concerns that we go into the direction of a fifth wave," he said. In southern provinces we should apply more treatment since the delta variant has infiltrated there." Rouhani's website reported his remarks.
Iran remains among the countries hardest hit by the virus in the world and the worst hit in the Middle East.
The capital Tehran and more than 90 other cities and towns have been declared red zones that require up to 70% of office staff to work from their homes. It also requires the closure of public places like movie theaters, gyms and restaurants.
Iranian officials said Saturday the death toll from COVID-19 rose by 111 over the previous 24 hours, putting the country's total at 84,627 since the pandemic broke out last year.
Authorities said 8,341 new confirmed cases were registered over the same period, bringing the total to more than 3.24 million. Reports said 3,207 of the patients are in serious condition, and that 2.91 million have recovered so far.
7:01 a.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador began restricting travel on May 4, 2020, allowing only essential travellers into the province and requiring most to self-isolate for 14 days when they arrived. The rules eased slightly last July with the creation of the Atlantic bubble, which permitted free travel between the four Atlantic provinces. The bubble burst about four months later as COVID-19 case counts surged in the region. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association unsuccessfully challenged the ban in court after Kim Taylor, a Nova Scotia resident, was denied entry to the province in May 2020 to attend her mother's funeral.
With caseloads falling and vaccination rates climbing - 80 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aged 12 and over had at least one shot as of Thursday - the ban ended July 1. Fully vaccinated travellers from all over Canada can now visit without permission, without isolating and without having to provide a negative COVID-19 test result. Partially vaccinated travellers, meanwhile, must provide proof of a negative result, or self-isolate until they can.
As a result, the sidewalk outside the airport in St. John's was a gauntlet of hugging, crying and squealing people Friday afternoon.
Read more from The Canadian Press.
6:30 a.m.: Ontario is accelerating second COVID-19 vaccines for kids aged 12-17, and will open booking slots for them Monday at 8 a.m.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said the move will help get more children fully vaccinated before school returns in September.
Appointments to get the Pfizer vaccine - the only shot approved for this age group - can be booked on the provincial booking system, through local health units with their own booking systems or with participating pharmacies.
Getting second shots is becoming increasingly important because of the highly contagious Delta strain that will dominate the province this summer and with the easing of restrictions under the second stage of Ontario's reopening plan, Elliott said.
Vaccines are the best defence against COVID-19 and variants, and I encourage everyone to get their first and second shots as soon as possible," Elliott said in a statement Friday.
Read more from the Star's Rob Ferguson.
6:20 a.m.: Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations and outpace the spread of the more infectious Delta variant, in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives.
The urgency coincides with Europe's summer holiday months, with fair weather bringing more social gatherings and governments reluctant to clamp down on them. Social distancing is commonly neglected, especially among the young, and some countries are scrapping the requirement to wear masks outdoors.
Incentives for people to get shots include free groceries, travel and entertainment vouchers, and prize drawings. The president of Cyprus even appealed to a sense of patriotism.
The risk of infection from the Delta variant is high to very high" for partially or unvaccinated communities, according to the European Centre for Disease Control, which monitors 30 countries on the continent. It estimates that by the end of August, the variant will account for 90% of cases in the European Union.
It is very important to progress with the vaccine rollout at a very high pace," the ECDC warned.
The World Health Organization is also concerned. The variant makes transmission growth exponential," according to Maria Van Kerkhove, its technical lead on COVID-19.
Daily new case numbers are already climbing sharply in countries like the United Kingdom, Portugal and Russia.
In the U.K., cases of the delta variant have increased fourfold in less than a month, with confirmed cases Friday up 46% on the previous week.
6 a.m.: Ontario is allowing outdoor concerts, open-air movie screens and performing arts shows after moving to the second stage in its reopening plan.
Audience capacity is capped at 25 per cent of the outdoor space or seating area, with organizers required to have the maximum capacity restrictions visibly posted within the outdoor space. All tickets must be sold as reserved seats.
Other measures also allow musicians to perform at indoor concert venues for a limited number of reasons.
Live streaming shows are permitted, however, the performances cannot host any spectators.
Indoor venues can hold band rehearsals with certain distancing and safety measures in place.
Restrictions have been lowered for the film and TV industry as well. In particular, a cap of 50 performers on a set is being eliminated, though studio audiences are still not allowed.
Indoor cinemas and public concerts still won't be permitted with capacity restrictions until the third stage.
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All of Quebec is now at the lowest green alert level under the province's COVID-19 response plan as public health restrictions continue to ease.
Up to 20 people are now allowed to share a table on restaurant and bar patios.
Outdoor gatherings on private property can also include up to 20 people. Capacity for weddings and funerals is now 250 people, but wedding receptions are capped at 25 attendees indoors and 50 outside.
Last month, the province permitted gyms and restaurant dining rooms to reopen. Supervised outdoor sports and recreation are also allowed in groups of up to 25 people.
Quebec ended its nightly curfew on May 28. It also lifted travel bans between regions and increased the number of people allowed to attend sporting events and festivals to 3,500.
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B.C. took the next step in its reopening plan on Canada Day when most COVID-19 restrictions were removed and outdoor gatherings of up to 5,000 people got the go ahead.
Restaurants and pubs no longer have limits on the number of diners, but people are still not allowed to mingle with those at other tables. Masks are no longer mandatory and recreational travel outside the province can resume.
Casinos and nightclubs are open for the first time in 16 months, but some barriers remain in place and socializing between tables is not allowed.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says some businesses may want people to continue wearing masks for now, and everyone should comply with those requirements or face the potential of fines.
All COVID-19 restrictions are expected to be removed on Labour Day.