Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday – CBC News

The latest:

COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Quebec on Tuesday, as health officials reported 12,833 new cases a single-day high and 15 additional deaths.

Health Minister Christian Dubis expected to provide a live briefing on the state of the pandemic at 1 p.m. ET as the province faces increasing strain on its hospital system.

Meanwhile, health officials inOntarioon Tuesday reported8,825 new cases and seven additional deaths.Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a tweet there were 491 people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Elliott shared the figures on Twitter Tuesday but government websites did not publish updated numbers of virus-related deaths or patients on ventilators because of the statutory holiday. Health experts warn that the real number of COVID-19 cases is likely to be much higher as a number of hospitals and centres have reached testing limits.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province's chief medical officer of health, is expected to provide an update about the province's "updated case and contact management and testing guidance" at 1:30 p.m. ET.

-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET

For more details on the situation in your province and territory including the latest on hospitalizations and ICU capacity, as well as local testing issues click through tothe local coverage below.

In Atlantic Canada,Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, is expected to provide an update Tuesday about the planned return to school. Strang is set to appear with the province's education minister at 2 p.m. local time. The scheduled briefing comes as the province on Tuesday reported 561 new cases of COVID-19.

Newfoundland and Labradorsaw 357 new cases of COVID-19 over the holiday weekend, bringing the number of active cases in the province to a high of 677.Prince Edward Islandsaw156 new cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period, whileNew Brunswicksaw639 new cases over the same period and four additional deaths.

Across the North, there were 11 new cases of COVID-19 reported inNunavuton Tuesday.Health officials in theNorthwest TerritoriesandYukonhad not yet provided updated information for the day.

In the Prairies, health officials inManitobareported 675 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and eight additional deaths. The update came as the province announced it was ramping up restrictions again, including limits on capacity for both indoor and outdoor public gatherings.

There were no updated figures released inSaskatchewanor Alberta.

In British Columbia, health officials on Monday reported6,288 new COVID-19 cases over three days. Updated information on deaths and hospitalizations is expected later this week.

-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 11:55 a.m. ET

As of lateTuesday morning, more than281.6 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to a tracking site maintained by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The reported global death toll stood at more than 5.4 million.

InEurope,France will pay intensive care nurses an extra 100 (roughly $145 Cdn)per month from January as it seeks to improve work conditions for staff exhausted by the fight against COVID-19.

Confirmed cases in Greece are expected to hit a fresh daily record on Tuesday, topping 15,000, after the country announced tighter curbs a day earlier.

InAfrica,health officials in South Africa on Monday reported3,782 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 additional deaths.

In theAsia-Pacificregion, India has granted emergency use authorization for two vaccines and one COVID-19 pill, the health minister tweeted, as authorities warn about the spread of the Omicron variant across the country.

The first is Covovax, the Serum Institute of India's version of the Novavax vaccine, a two-dose shot made with lab-grown copies of the spike protein that coats the coronavirus. The second is Corbevax, made by Indian firm Biological-E, which the health minister said is the country's first indigenously developed protein-based vaccine against COVID-19.

It also granted emergency use approval for molnupiravir, an antiviral drug, that will be manufactured by 13 companies in India and will be used in emergency situations to treat COVID-19 patients at high risk.

Even though daily cases in India have remained low for months after the country saw a devastating surge earlier this year, concern over Omicron has grown in recent weeks, sparking various states to enforce new restrictions. In the capital, New Delhi, a slew of new restrictions were announced Tuesday, including a night curfew, shutting down cinemas and gyms, and a ban on large public gatherings or events. India has so far confirmed more than 650 Omicron cases.

In theMiddle East,the multibillion-dollar world's fair in Dubai has warned that some venues on site may shut down as coronavirus cases rapidly rise in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai's Expo 2020 said that virus outbreaks among workers may force parts of the fair to "close temporarily for deep cleaning and sanitization." It did not elaborate.

The UAE's daily virus caseload has skyrocketed by a multiple of 35 in just the last three weeks after the arrival of the Omicron variant. The vague statement from Dubai's government-run media office on Monday underscores the daunting challenges of hosting among the world's first major in-person events amid a still-raging pandemic.

In theAmericas,U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday pledged the full support of the federal government to states facing surges in COVID-19 cases from the more-transmissible Omicron variant and a run on at-home tests.

Biden acknowledged long lines and chaotic scenes as Americans sought out testing amid the case surge and as they looked to safely gather with family and friends over the holidays. He referenced his administration's plan to make 500 million rapid tests available to Americans beginning next month through an as-yet-to-be-developed website.

Meanwhile,Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said Monday that the U.S. should "seriously" consider a vaccination mandate for domestic travel.Speaking to MSNBC, Fauci, who serves as Biden's chief science adviser on the COVID-19 response, said, "When you make vaccination a requirement, that's another incentive to get more people vaccinated."

-From Reuters, The Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 11:35a.m. ET

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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday - CBC News