Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on May 10

The latest:

• Manitoba announces COVID-19 supports for business as restrictions shut shops once again.
• Ontario sees 2,716 new cases, expands eligibility for vaccines.
• Alberta sees a slight decrease in new cases Monday with 1,597 reported.
• COVID-19 cases grow in Iqaluit's vulnerable populations.
• How vaccines developed in China, Russia and elsewhere could impact the pandemic.
• 1st still best for vaccines, but 'wouldn't hesitate' to nix unsafe product, health minister says.
• Saskatchewan released a roadmap to reopening after COVID-19. Should Ontario do the same?
• The WHO has classified the variant first identified in India as a variant of global concern.
• India scrambles to scale up care for COVID-19 patients amid fear of surge in northeast.
• Have a coronavirus question or news tip for CBC News? Email: COVID@cbc.ca

There were some glimpses of positive news out of British Columbiaon Monday, as health officials announced a downward trendin several key COVID-19 markers over the past three days.

The number of new cases of wasdown over the past three days, as were the numbers of hospitalizations and patients admitted to intensive care units.As of today, there were 415 people in hospital, including 150 in ICU.

There were also no new outbreaks in the health-care system, thougha new workplace outbreak wasdeclared at the Sunrise Poultry plant in Surrey. Outbreaksat Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Dufferin Care Centre in Coquitlam have been declared over.

More than two million people in B.C. have received a first dose of a vaccine. "I think that's a tremendous accomplishment," said Provincial Health OfficerDr. Bonnie Henryin her briefing Monday. On Tuesday, anyone born in 1981 or earlier will be able to book their first shot.

B.C.reported a total of 1,759 new cases over the past three days, along with 20additional deaths.

WATCH |B.C. florist brings a smile to seniors' faces:

Brightening seniors day with free flowers

3 years ago

Duration 3:27

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many seniors isolated from their friends and families. A British Columbia florist is helping bring a smile to their faces with free flowers.

-From CBC News and The Canadian Press,last updated at1:45p.m. ET

What's happening across Canada

As of 6:15 p.m. ET on Monday,Canada had reported 1,294,197confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 79,831considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 24,682.

Ontario on Monday reported 2,716 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 additional deaths. According to the province, hospitalizations stood at 1,632, with 828 people in ICU as a result ofCOVID-19. The province's chief medical officer of health said he would want to see daily cases under 1,000 before even considering lifting the stay-at-home order. Dr. David Williams warned during his Monday briefing:"We didn't get down the second wave totally before the third wave hit, [and] that has added immense stress to our health-care system. We don't want to repeat that again."

Quebec, meanwhile,reported 662 new cases of on Mondayand six additional deaths. The province's economy minister has suggested that proof of vaccination could become the ticket todining at restaurants or even going to work.Quebec will begin issuing digital proof, in the form of a QR code, to people who have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday.

Manitoba is closing classrooms in itstwo largest cities as the province's top doctor says more needs to be done to slow community spread of COVID-19 and "break these transmission chains."

Manitoba on Monday reported502new cases of COVID-19and fouradditional deaths.

Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, says some people are taking risks by going to work or hanging out with others when they or someone in their household is symptomatic.

Students from kindergarten through to Grade 12 in Winnipeg and Brandon will move to remote learning as of Wednesdayand will stay out of class until May 30. Schools in the rest of the province remain openbut face tightprotocols aimed at clamping down on COVID-19.

WATCH | Premier encourages Manitobans to follow new guidelines:

Premier says Manitobans can beat 3rd wave of COVID-19

3 years ago

Duration 1:32

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is urging residents to stay home, get the vaccine and abide by the new public health measures brought in on Friday. 'We've done it before,' he said of slowing the spread of COVID-19, 'we can do it again.'

The measures were taken to try to"shorten the period that we're going to have to endure this third wave," Premier Brian Pallister said Monday as he faced questions about the province's latest decisions, including the timing of the announcement of school closures and support measures for businesses.

"We're not powerless in this," the premier said, urgingpeople to follow the rules and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Alberta,which has implemented a range of new limits including a shift to online learning, restrictions on retail and most recentlyclosing restaurant patios and personal wellness services reported 1,597 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, along with seven additional deaths.

WATCH | How 2 provinces are dealing with the 3rd wave:

Manitoba re-enters COVID-19 lockdown; Defiance in Alberta

3 years ago

Duration 2:44

With the second-highest COVID-19 case rate in the country, Manitoba is re-entering lockdown and moving schools online in some areas. Meanwhile, some Albertans remain defiant of new restrictions and Nova Scotia tightens its borders.

Across the North,Nunavuton Monday reported seven new cases of COVID-19.Premier Joe Savikataaq said as of Monday, there were 70 active cases all in Iqaluit. Public health officials say the city's most vulnerable are at highest risk.An elders home in Iqaluit was evacuated on the weekend after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, and casecounts in the city's jails and shelters are rising, according to Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson.

Health officials in the Northwest Territoriesreported three new cases Monday, whileYukonreported none.

In Atlantic Canada,Nova Scotiareported 121 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical health officer, is advising anyone feeling ill to assume they are sick with COVID-19and to take quarantining precautions while awaiting test results. The province is also going to be making allowances for people who had planned to move to the province during the month of May, after announcing last week that all travel into the province was not allowed.

• INTERACTIVE |Where is the coronavirus pandemic getting better or worse?
• Track how many people have been given the COVID-19 vaccine across Canada

Newfoundland and Labradorreported threenew cases of COVID-19 on Monday.Authorities say two cases are linked to travel within the country; the third is linked to a previously identified infection.Health officials also reported one new presumptive case linked to an all-grade school in the Codroy Valley, in western Newfoundland.

New Brunswickreported 11new cases of COVID-19 on Monday,including five people in the province and six New Brunswickers who are isolating outside the province.Officials also announced that people 40 and over are now eligible to book appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Prince Edward Islandreported one new case on Monday.

SaskatchewanPremier Scott Moe saidvaccinations and public co-operation with COVID-19 health restrictions mean the province can begin to loosen rules at the end of this month. The province is setting May 30as the target date for the first step of its COVID-19 "Re-opening Roadmap." The province reported 147 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with no new deaths for a third day in a row.

-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at12:50 p.m.ET

What's happening around the world

As ofMonday evening, more than158.6million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus tracking tool. The reported global death toll was approaching 3.3. million.

The World Health Organization 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.

WATCH |WHO director general toutsequal vaccine distribution:

WHO presses for global equity on distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

3 years ago

Duration 0:46

The World Health Organization says the coronavirus should be recognized as a common enemy and the only way to defeat it is through co-operation.

The B1617 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.

The WHO is also pressing for greater global equity in terms of vaccine distribution.

In the Middle East,the United Arab Emirates has announced it will bar airline passengers arriving from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka starting May 12 until further notice, as concern mounts over a virus variant spreading in India. At the same time, the Emirates are establishing a travel corridor for tourists who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

InEurope, the European Unionhas not made any new orders for AstraZeneca-Oxfordvaccines beyond June when its contract ends, European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said, after the EU signed a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech.

Spain's top coronavirus expert has delivered a stern warning to people who are acting as if the pandemic had ended just because the government has relaxed measures amid an accelerating rollout of vaccines, whileBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that he has given the go-ahead for people in England to hug someone outside of their household bubble from next week as part of the latest easing of lockdown restrictions.

In theAmericas,U.S. regulators on Monday authorized the Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19 vaccine for use in children as young as 12, widening the country's inoculation program as vaccination rates have slowed significantly.The vaccine has been available under an emergency-use authorization to people as young as 16 in the U.S.The vaccine makers said they started the process for full approval for those ages last week.

Canada approved the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and up on May 5.

In theAsia-Pacificregion, Sri Lanka authorities are converting garment factories and other buildings for facilities to treat COVID-19 patients amid fears existing hospitals may run out of capacity.Armed forces are acquiring buildings in all parts of the country and converting them to hospitals to increase capacity, said army commander Gen. Shavendra Silva, head of the country's COVID-19 operations centre.

Sri Lanka is experiencing a sharp surge in infections, reporting 2,000 new cases for the first time on Monday.

India will recruit hundreds of former army medics to support its overwhelmed health-care system, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday, as the country grappledwith surging COVID-19 infections and deaths amid calls for a complete nationwide lockdown.

InAfrica,South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dedicated his weekly letter to the nation to the issue of waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, saying it's "necessary at this time" and "in direct response to an emergency." Ramaphosa's message reflects his country's hope that the waiver, first proposed by South Africa and India, may still happen despite opposition from countries such asGermany. The idea is that waiving IP rights could encourage vaccine production by local manufacturers in the developing world.

Ramaphosa writes that the Biden administration's support for a waiver has given negotiations at the World Trade Organization "added momentum." He compares the vaccine IP waiver issue to South Africa's eventually successful fight two decades ago to ease IPs on life-saving antiretroviral drugs during the HIV/AIDScrisis.

"And once again, South Africa is waging a struggle that puts global solidarity to the test," Ramaphosa wrote.

-From The Associated Press and Reuters, last updated at 8:00 p.m. ET