Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Monday, December 6, 2021:
- There have been 623,497 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 1,184 cases from the previous day (VAX: 557 unvaccinated, 22 partially vaccinated, 536 fully vaccinated, 69 unknown). There were 1,053 new cases on Saturday and 1,031 on Friday. There have been 605,358 people recovered from the virus while 10,024 have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 19,957,932 of which 11,423 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total (as of Friday) is 1,802,359. The country has 29,757 deaths from the virus – 14 in the Yukon, 12 in the Northwest Territories, four in Nunavut, 2,351 in British Columbia, 3,258 in Alberta, 929 in Saskatchewan, 1,328 in Manitoba, 10,016 in Ontario, 11,585 in Quebec, 132 in New Brunswick, 18 in Newfoundland & Labrador and 110 in Nova Scotia.
- The Eastern Ontario Health Unit added 10 cases Friday – three in Prescott-Russell, three in SD&G and four in Cornwall – to bring the regional total to 6,108 confirmed cases, of which 103 are active (five more than Thursday) and 5,874 are resolved (five more than Thursday). The number of deaths to date is 131. There are five people in hospital (two more than Thursday) and one in the ICU (no change from Thursday). There is one institutional outbreak (no change from Thursday). Testing increased 239 to 174,216. The breakdown of cases is: Prescott-Russell 2,292 cases (11 active), SD&G 1,431 cases (37 active), Cornwall 1,872 cases (36 active) and Akwesasne (ON/QC) 513 cases (19 active)(Akwesasne health department reported six new cases Friday: 582 total cases, 28 active, nine deaths to date).
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit added six cases Friday to bring the regional total to 2,096 confirmed cases, of which 25 are active (two fewer than Thursday) and 2,007 are recovered (eight more than Thursday). The number of deaths to date is 64. There are three people in hospital (no change from Thursday) and two in the ICU (no change from Thursday). There are no active institutional outbreaks. The community case breakdown is: Lanark County East 455 cases (six active), Lanark County West 478 cases (three active), Leeds-Grenville Central 266 cases (six active), Leeds-Grenville East 417 cases (four active), Leeds-Grenville West 244 cases (four active) and Unknown/Out of Region 29 cases (two active).
- Vaccines: Ontario 23,976,361 (+62,989, last update Dec. 5); EOHU 342,777 (last update Dec. 3, +1,171 from previous update Dec. 2); LGL 152,741 individuals living in LGL with first doses, 148,736 with second doses, 7,793 with third doses. (last update Nov. 28, +1,105 first doses, +817 second doses, +2,400 third doses since previous update Nov. 23).
- The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending everyone 50 years old and older receive a third booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. The move by NACI is meant to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The committee says third doses should also be offered to adults 18-49 years of age.
- The Omicron variant is delaying employer attempts to bring their workers back to the office. Google is delaying the Jan. 10, 2022 requirement for workers to return to its offices.
- The Upper Canada District School Board reported new COVID-19 cases Sunday associated with Central Public School and CCVS, both in Cornwall. The board says the health unit determined the person at CCVS was not at school while infectious while any high-risk exposures at Central Public School have been notified. Both schools are running normally.
- The House of Commons Finance Committee will grill Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland today on a number of economic issues including COVID-19 benefits. The 12-member panel will go over the Liberals latest pandemic aid package.
- With the Omicron variant striking just before Christmas, a Toronto psychologist believes pandemic fatigue could turn into depression as people start feeling hopeless about changing their circumstances.
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