Today’s coronavirus news: Ontario reports 9,418 new cases of COVID-19 today
The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Monday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.
3:30 p.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador has reached record breaking single-day case counts of COVID-19 as officials report over 300 new infections discovered over the holidays.
Provincial health officials say a total of 357 infections have been confirmed in the last three days.
They say 89 cases were confirmed on Saturday, 135 cases Sunday and 133 cases were discovered Monday.
Previously, the highest single-day case count was 100 reported on Dec. 23.
There is currently one person in hospital due to the disease.
The province now has 677 active cases of COVID-19, which breaks the record set on Feb. 20 of 434 active infections.
1:28 p.m.: Thousands of flights were canceled Monday, continuing an ugly weekend for holiday travel.
Of more than 2,500 planes grounded globally as of noon Eastern time Monday, almost 1,000 were within, into or out of the United States, according to Flight Aware. Since Friday, more than 4,000 flights within the U.S. have been canceled.
The familiar explanation is bad weather, particularly in the Western U.S. where winter storms have shut down roadways and airways.
The National Weather Service warned Monday of significant snowfall" along the West Coast mountain ranges and a pair of storm systems that will bring snow and an icy wintry mix" to the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast.
Travel delays due to icy conditions are possible in these regions, both on the ground and in the air," forecasters said.
And in a more common refrain for 2021, omicron has wreaked havoc on the airlines as well, with hundreds of flights being canceled due to crew members calling out sick with COVID-19.
12:15 p.m.: Quebec's health minister is asking everyone to limit their contact with others after the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 rose by 141 over a four-day period.
Christian Dube reported on Twitter Monday that 320 people were admitted to hospital while 179 were released between Dec. 22 and 26.
Health authorities reported 8,231 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths over the last 24 hours.
Experts have said that many public health units have reached their testing capacity, which means that the number of cases may be higher.
Meanwhile, Quebecers between 60 and 64 who got a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine became eligible for a third shot starting Monday.
Premier Francois Legault, who is 64, is scheduled to receive his third dose at a Montreal vaccine clinic later in the day.
11:34 a.m.: Nova Scotia health authorities say there is a COVID-19 outbreak at a Halifax hospital.
They said today in a statement that the outbreak is at the Halifax Infirmary site of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre.
They did not give details on how many patients have tested positive but said fewer than five have been "impacted."
They say everyone is being monitored and infection prevention and control measures are being put in place.
Authorities are also reporting 581 new cases of COVID-19.
Of the new infections reported Monday, authorities say 420 cases are in Central Zone.
10:25 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 9,418 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
There are 480 people hospitalized with the virus and 176 people are in ICU due to COVID-19. The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 related patients in ICU is 168.
In Ontario, 26,494,532 vaccine doses have been administered, with over 45,000 doses administered on Boxing Day. Additionally, 90.7 per cent of Ontarians aged 12+ have had one dose and 88.0 per cent have had two doses.
7:47 a.m.: Israel has begun trials of a fourth dose of coronavirus vaccine in what is believed to be the first study of its kind.
The trial began at Sheba Medical Center, outside Tel Aviv, with 150 medical personnel who received a booster dose in August receiving a fourth shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The staff receiving the additional dose were tested and found to have low antibody levels.
The trial came as Israeli officials have considered rolling out a second tranche of booster shots to its population as the country grapples with rising infections with the new omicron variant.
Prof. Jacob Lavee, former director of the heart transplant unit at Sheba, said hopefully, we'll be able to show here... that this fourth booster really provides protection against the omicron, which is highly needed."
Monday 7:45 a.m.: Australia's New South Wales state reported more than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and confirmed its first death from the omicron variant.
The fatal case was identified as a man in his 80s who was infected at an aged care facility in western Sydney. He was fully vaccinated but had underlying health conditions.
New South Wales, the country's most populous state, reported 6,324 new infections Monday, a fall of 70 from the record number a day before. There were 524 people in hospitals, including 55 in intensive care.
New measures came into force in New South Wales on Monday, including limits of one person per 2 square meters (22 square feet) in bars and restaurants and required check-ins" with QR codes in hospitality venues.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the state government is considering lifting the requirement for health workers to isolate after being exposed to COVID-19 because of staff shortages.