The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

7:30 p.m.

Alberta’s chief medical health officer is reporting 100 new COVID-19 cases, 89 of which are new.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the 11 others were probable cases that occurred earlier and have since been confirmed.

Hinshaw says in a series of tweets that there are 2,127 active COVID-19 cases in Alberta, with 214 in hospital and 53 in intensive care.

She is also reporting one new death.

—

4:40 p.m.

Manitoba is reporting six new deaths of people with COVID-19, ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s.

As of this morning, the province had also identified 93 additional cases of the virus.

Manitoba says 2,166 cases are active, with 250 patients in hospital either in Manitoba or in neighbouring provinces.

Manitoba’s current five-day test-positivity rate is eight per cent provincially and 7.2 per cent in Winnipeg.

—

2:45 p.m.

Saskatchewan will remove all public health orders as of Sunday, July 11.

The province’s daily pandemic update says that includes the removal of the province-wide mandatory masking order, as well as capacity limits on events and gathering sizes.

The update says the province is going ahead with removing all restrictions because 70 per cent of residents over the age of 18 and 69 per cent of those over 12 have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Premier Scott Moe says that since Saskatchewan is so close to the final threshold, the province is going ahead with full implementation of Step 3 of the Reopening Roadmap.

—

12 p.m.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé is encouraging Quebecers inoculated against COVID-19 to get their proof of vaccination, if they haven’t already.

In a tweet this morning, Dubé posted a link to the provincial government’s website where vaccination validation can be obtained.

Meanwhile, Quebec continues its downward trajectory of COVID-19 infections, with 103 new cases in the past 24 hours.

Health authorities say there are now 170 patients in hospital with the virus, a decrease of eight from the previous day.

—

11:55 a.m.

Public health officials in New Brunswick are reporting two new cases of COVID-19, as the total number of infections in the province drops to 56.

Both new cases are in the Fredericton area, with one person in their 80s and a second in their 90s.

Both are contacts of previously confirmed patients.

Meanwhile, the province is encouraging all eligible residents to book their second dose appointments on Monday if at least 28 days have passed since their first dose.

—

11:30 a.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting two new cases of COVID-19 today.

Both are in the central zone, which includes the Halifax Regional Municipality, and are close contacts of previously reported cases.

Premier Iain Rankin noted today’s count is the lowest number seen in some time and will allow for the steady reopening of the province to continue.

As of today, Nova Scotia has 83 active cases of COVID-19.

They include six patients in hospital COVID-19 units and three in intensive care.

—

11 a.m.

Ontario is recording 318 new cases of COVID-19 in the province over the last 24 hours.

There were also a dozen new deaths linked to the virus.

Toronto continues to register some of the highest new daily COVID-19 case counts in the province, adding 45 today, but Health Minister Christine Elliott says the city is no longer leading the province in new infections.

She says there were 51 new cases in Waterloo and 49 in Peel Region, along with 26 in Ottawa and 20 in Hamilton.

The province says 266 patients are in hospital with the virus, with 333 in intensive care and 208 on a ventilator.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press