Today’s coronavirus news: Ontario reports 1,476 cases and eight deaths; Austria ends lockdown restrictions for vaccinated people
The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Sunday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.
11:57 a.m.: Quebec is reporting 1,753 new cases of COVID-19 today and one new death linked to the virus.
Health officials say COVID-19-related hospitalizations rose by 11 from the day before to 262, while the number of patients in intensive care increased by five to 68.
The seven-day average for new cases is 1,621.
Of the new infections, 876 involved people who were either unvaccinated or who had received a first dose within the past two weeks.
Officials say about 87 per cent of Quebecers five and over have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 81 per cent have received two shots.
It also says five per cent of Quebecers have received their third, booster dose.
10:08 a.m.: Ontario is reporting additional 1,476 COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Sunday.
In Ontario, 24,449,726 vaccine doses have been administered. 90.3 per cent of Ontarians aged 12+ have had one dose and 87.6 per cent have two doses.
Individuals who are not fully vaccinated represent 23.1 per cent of Ontario's total population and amount to 612 of Ontario's 1,476 new reported cases. Then, 93 cases are in individuals with an unknown vaccination status.
A total of 222 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 and 158 people are in the ICU due to the virus. Please note not all hospitals report on weekends.
Sunday 8:21 a.m.: Austria ended lockdown restrictions for vaccinated people across most of the country on Sunday, three weeks after reimposing strict rules to combat a rising wave of coronavirus infections.
The rules, which vary by region within the country, largely allow for the reopening of theatres, museums and other cultural and entertainment venues on Sunday. Shops will follow on Monday.
Some regions are reopening restaurants and hotels on Sunday, while others will wait until later in the month. In all cases, there will be an 11 p.m. curfew for restaurants, and masks will still be required on public transportation and inside stores and public spaces.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer last week called the move an opening with a seatbelt," giving each of Austria's nine regions the ability to loosen or tighten restrictions based on the local situation.
Unvaccinated people will still be subject to the lockdown restrictions and should remain at home for all but a handful of specific reasons, like buying groceries, going to the doctor or exercising.