COVID-19 live updates: Montreal reports 189 cases – fewest since October

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Updated throughout the day on Monday, May 10. Questions/comments: ariga@postmedia.com

Top updates

3:50 p.m.

Ontario likely to mix 1st and 2nd vaccine doses amid lack of AstraZeneca supply

Ontario will likely mix and match COVID-19 vaccine doses in light of the uncertain future supply of all the shots approved for use in Canada.

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Health Minister Christine Elliott says it’s likely that recipients of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may receive a different shot for their second dose, The Canadian Press reports.

The province is waiting for the results from a U.K. study on mixing different vaccines and on advice from a federal immunization panel.

Quebec has also said that it plans to mix vaccines due to supply shortages, substituting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the Moderna vaccines in order to quickly give booster shots to long-term care residents.

It’s unclear when more Oxford-AstraZeneca shots will arrive but Ontario is expecting millions of Pfizer-BioNTech shots in the coming weeks.

Biologist and science communicator Samantha Yammine says some Canadians who have already received the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot may be comforted to know they have the option of a different dose.

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She says the pandemic has given rise to an “infodemic,” with a flood of advice about areas like the low risk of blood clots from viral-vector shots compared with mRNA vaccines.

Even with more mRNA vaccines on the way, Yammine says Canada should be careful about dismissing shots like Oxford-AstraZeneca’s because they are important to ending the global pandemic.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization sparked controversy when it recommended that Canadians who aren’t at high risk from COVID-19 may want to wait until a dose of Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna is available, calling them the “preferred” vaccines.

The comments were met with harsh criticism from public health officials and members of the public, and the chair of the committee said last week that the recommendation was not “retrospective” and that those who got the AstraZeneca vaccine did the right thing to protect themselves and their families.

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3:40 p.m.

WHO classifies B.1.617 variant, first identified in India, as being of global concern

From the Reuters news agency:

The World Health Organziation said on Monday that the coronavirus variant first identified in India last year was being classified as a variant of global concern, with some preliminary studies showing that it spreads more easily.

The B.1.617 variant is the fourth variant to be designated as being of global concern and requiring heightened tracking and analysis. The others are those first detected in Britain, South Africa and Brazil.

“We are classifying this as a variant of concern at a global level,” Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, told a briefing. “There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility.”

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Indian coronavirus infections and deaths held close to record daily highs on Monday, increasing calls for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lock down the world’s second-most populous country.

The WHO has said the predominant lineage of B.1.617 was first identified in India in December, although an earlier version was spotted in October 2020.

The variant has already spread to other countries, and many nations have moved to cut or restrict movements from India.

2:35 p.m.

Quebec expects almost 460,000 vaccine doses this week

Quebec says it expects to receive 458,640 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week.

2:05 p.m.

Former Hab Max Domi on the relief he felt after getting vaccinated

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1:55 p.m.

UK PM Johnson gives green light to hugs and pints inside pubs

From the Reuters news agency:

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday gave the green light to cautious hugging and the serving of pints inside pubs after months of strict restrictions as he set out the next phase of coronavirus lockdown easing in England.

Johnson confirmed that England could continue to the next stage of his four-step plan to bring the country out of lockdown by the summer, as the COVID-19 situation improved thanks to the rollout of vaccines and social restriction measures.

“This unlocking amounts to a very considerable step on the road back to normality and I am confident that we will be able to go further,” Johnson told a media conference.

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“We are announcing the single biggest step on our road map, and it will allow us to do many of the things that we’ve yearned to do for a long time.”

Under Step 3, from May 17 people will be permitted to meet up indoors for the first time in months, in groups of up to six people or two full households together.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to host customers indoors, also for the first time in months and subject to certain rules. Other indoor entertainment like cinemas and sports venues will also be able to resume activity.

Johnson said the government would allow families and close friends to make their own choices on social contact, but urged people not to throw caution to the wind and said social distancing must continue in workplaces, shops and restaurants.

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“Whoever I hug, I can assure you, it will be done with caution and restraint,” Johnson said, adding that the “one metre plus” social-distancing rule in businesses might be dispensed within the next stage of easing on June 21.

He appeared to rule out accelerating the end of restrictions, saying the success of Britain’s road map thus far had been helped by the ability to gather and monitor data.

“It’s by being prudent and being cautious that we’ve been able to make the progress that we have,” he said.

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1:30 p.m.

One-third of Quebec homeowners are thinking about moving to the country: poll

A semiannual survey of Quebec residents’ plans to buy or sell their homes has found that nearly 40 per cent think their next ideal home will be in the suburbs, while 33 per cent said the country. The city came in third place at 25 per cent.

Read our full story.

12:45 p.m.

Montreal restaurateurs want clarity on reopening

In an event organized by Alain Creton, owner of downtown’s Chez Alexandre pub, restaurants and bars around Montreal held what was described as an “open house” day on the weekend.

Owners greeted passersby outside their doors, handing out vouchers and encouraging them to look inside and remember how much they enjoyed visiting the places before the pandemic.

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Read our full story, by Jesse Feith.

12:20 p.m.

Jagmeet Singh says link exists between anti-maskers and far-right extremism

Federal New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh says he believes there’s a connection between anti-mask and anti-lockdown protests and far-right extremism, The Canadian Press reports.

Singh’s comments come as rallies against COVID-19 health orders are being staged across the country while many provincial doctors battle a deadly third wave of the pandemic.

These demonstrations have been met with frustration from some in the public over what they say appears to be a lack of police enforcement, and a few premiers have promised stiffer fines for COVID-19 rule-breakers.

Singh says some of the people being drawn to recent protests are affiliated with far-right groups.

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He says he sees a connection between those refusing to follow public-health advice and the ideology of the extreme right because both show a disregard for the well-being of others and put people at risk.

Singh says refusing to listen to COVID-19 health orders is dangerous and needs to be called out.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi earlier called such demonstrations “thinly veiled white nationalist, supremacist anti-government protests” to Global’s “The West Block.”

And last month, a deputy director at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network noted more conspiracy theorists and far-right groups were attaching themselves to the anti-lockdown and anti-mask movement.

11:40 a.m.

Montreal Canadiens players will get the jab this week

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11:30 a.m.

Updated charts: Quebec cases, deaths

11:05 a.m.

Quebec reports 6 deaths, 662 new cases – fewest cases in seven weeks; Montreal reports 189 cases – fewest since October

Quebec has recorded 662 new cases of COVID-19, the provincial government announced this morning.

That’s the lowest one-day case count in seven weeks.

Montreal added 189 new infections – the fewest reported in one day since October.

Five other regions reported higher per-capita case counts than Montreal.

In addition, six new deaths were reported, including one over the previous 24 hours.

The other deaths occurred between May 3 and 8.

Some other key statistics from Quebec’s latest COVID-19 update, published this morning:

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, Quebec has reported 358,796 cases and 10,993 deaths linked to COVID-19. A total of 339,660 people who have contracted the disease have since recovered.

10:45 a.m.

Montreal police issued 836 pandemic-related tickets last week, including 479 for curfew violations

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10 a.m.

Canada to get two million Pfizer vaccine doses as Quebec, other provinces expand rollouts

Canada is scheduled to receive two million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week as provinces continue to ramp up their immunization efforts.

Read our full story.

9:25 a.m.

All CHLSD residents who received first vaccine dose have now received second shot, Blais says

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9:20 a.m.

Quebecers 30+ can book vaccines now

Quebec’s mass vaccination program has reached its next step with the opening of appointments to everyone 30 and older.

Read our full story.

Almost 190,000 vaccination appointments were booked yesterday, Health Minister Christian Dubé said via Twitter this morning.

9:20 a.m.

Eastern Townships alert level moves to red

The COVID-19 alert level for the Eastern Townships region was raised to red today, bringing a tightening of public-health restrictions, the local public-health agency announced on Saturday.

Read our full story.

9:20 a.m.

One vaccine dose not enough for return to normal, health experts warn

Quebec health authorities say the loosening of restrictions cannot be based on vaccination rates alone.

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Read our full story, by René Bruemmer.

9:20 a.m.

Canada’s top doctor warns that full vaccination does not equal full protection from COVID-19

Canada’s chief public health officer reminded Canadians on Saturday that even those who are fully vaccinated remain susceptible to COVID-19.

Read our full story.

9:20 a.m.

Opinion: Will Quebecers lose the ‘joie’ in our joie de vivre?

While other provinces revolt against lockdown measures, we have obeyed the rules with few complaints, despite tougher rules than anyplace.

Read Josh Freed’s latest column.

9:20 a.m.

McGill, other Canadian universities say no to proof of vaccination requirement

A COVID-19 vaccine likely won’t be a requirement to return to the physical classroom at some universities in September, with several large schools saying they have no intention of mandating proof of immunization for students.

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Read our full story.

9:15 a.m.

A guide to vaccinations in Quebec

Local health authorities have set up mass vaccination sites across Montreal.

You can book appointments via the Clic Santé website or by phone at 1-877-644-4545.

Here are the nuts and bolts of getting vaccinated, by Katherine Wilton. Her guide includes the age groups targeted, how to book appointments, and addresses of vaccination centres.

Wondering if the vaccines are safe? Once vaccinated, can you disregard public health measures? Is vaccination mandatory? Read our FAQ, by Jason Magder.

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9:15 a.m.

Here’s where Montrealers can get tested today

Montrealers can be screened at test centres across the island.

You can check screening clinic wait times here.

8:45 a.m.

The situation across Canada

Here’s the rate of case growth per 100,000 people over the past seven days, via the federal government’s latest epidemiology update.

8:30 a.m.

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ariga@postmedia.com

Read my previous live blogs here.