By Canadian Press

COVID-19 highs reported in Ontario and Manitoba as Nunavut orders lockdown

Dec 24, 2021 | 11:55 AM

Ontario and Manitoba reported record high COVID-19 case counts on Christmas Eve as Nunavut ordered a full lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus.

Health officials across the country said soaring numbers mean people should rethink large gatherings over the holidays.

Ontario had 9,571 new daily infections, which shattered the previous high of 4,812 in April.

“Due to the highly transmissible nature of the Omicron variant, it was expected that case numbers would increase in the winter months,” Alexandra Hilkene, a spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott, said Friday.

“We expect they will continue to increase over the coming days and weeks, as other jurisdictions are seeing similar case rate increases per capita.”

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Manitoba said it anticipated recording nearly 750 new cases, it’s highest yet in the pandemic.

Chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, added the count is likely an underestimate, as the province’s testing system is at capacity and there’s a current backlog of 10,000 tests.

“We’ve set a daily record so Manitobans need to prepare,” Roussin told a news conference.

“Holiday plans need to change. If you’re planning on going out, we need people to reconsider that … if you’re going to three or four gatherings this weekend, this should be down to one.”

Nunavut, with eight active cases in various communities, put an end to all indoor gatherings by ordering a “circuit-breaker” lockdown.

All non-essential businesses must close in the territory and travel in and out of certain communities was restricted to essential purposes only. 

The order came a day after tighter restrictions were announced in Iqaluit, when a case was confirmed in a person who had not left the capital city for more than a month.

“With introductions of COVID-19 in multiple communities over the past week, we must move to the strictest public health restrictions across the entire territory,” chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson said in a news release Friday.

“I understand this will make the holiday season harder for many, but it is necessary for the health and safety of our communities and loved ones.”

Also Friday, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout said she tested positive for COVID-19 the day before and was isolating at home in Iqaluit.

“I am double vaccinated, which is helping to keep my symptoms mild,” she said in a statement. 

‘I am sharing my diagnosis as a reminder that the pandemic is still ongoing. Even though we are all tired of the pandemic, it is very important to get vaccinated and get your booster shot when you can.”

In a Christmas message posted to his Facebook page, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said the Omicron variant is more contagious than anything previously seen during the pandemic.

He warned tough weeks are ahead

The province, which isn’t reporting new case data until next week, had a record 9,397 daily cases Thursday.

Officials added count is also an underestimation as testing centres are overwhelmed and can’t keep up with demand.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2021.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press