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

The latest:

• 50 per cent of Canadians have now received their 1stshot, according to CBC's vaccine tracker.
• Manitoba premier repeats call for surplus U.S. vaccines to be shipped to Canada.
• Ontario reports 1,794 new cases of COVID-19 as restrictions ease for some outdoor activities.
• How letting vaccine recipients remainseated while served gets more doses in arms.
• Austrian guide reports large COVID-19 outbreak atMount Everest base camp.
• Canada gaining inrace for vaccine distribution, but other countries aren't so lucky.
• Have a coronavirus question or news tip for CBC News? Email: Covid@cbc.ca

Canada marked a pandemic vaccination milestone on Saturday, as half of thepopulation has now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

An accelerated vaccine rollout in Ontario has helpeddrive up numbers, withPremier Doug Ford tweetingthat the provincedelivereda record daily high of190,129doses on Friday.

Despite the milestone, CBC's vaccination trackerand federal figures showthat less than five per cent of the national population is fully vaccinated against the virus.

In Manitoba, Premier Brian Pallister is again calling on the United States government to let states ship surplus doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Canada, as the province contends with surging case numbers that have pushed the health-care system to its limits.

At a rare Saturday morning news conference,Pallister said the province was working on a plan with North Dakota toship thousands of vaccine doses from that state up to Manitoba, but it was "kiboshed" by the White House, which needs to approve such requests.

"I'm advocating for the United States and the White House in particular to get out of the way and let the states and provinces co-operate on getting vaccines that are in freezers in the United States up into Canada, into arms,"he said.

The province has asked Ottawa to send critical care nurses, respiratory therapists and contact tracers to help battle its rising third wave of COVID-19.

As of Saturday afternoon, health officials were reporting that seven intensive care patients from Manitoba have been transferred to hospitals in Ontario to free up space.

WATCH |Manitoba in a 'critical nursing shortage,' says union president:

Manitoba nurses warn staffing shortage putting province's health care at risk

3 years ago

Duration 3:04

Manitoba's request to the federal government for 50 critical care nurses is not enough as rising COVID-19 infections push the province's ICUs to capacity, says Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union.

Pallister's comments came as the province reported476 new cases and sixnew deaths on Saturday, includingwhat appears to be the first person in Manitoba to die after contracting the P1 coronavirus variant associated with Brazil.

There are now 298 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the province, including 74 in intensive care units.

To combat the surge in infections, the province has brought in new restrictions starting this long weekend.Manitobansare prohibitedfrom gathering outdoors with people from outside their household, and only one person per household will be permitted to enter a business at a given time.

Restrictions ease in some provinces

But it's not all bad news across the country.

People across Ontario are getting ready to spend moretime outdoorsthis holiday weekend now that the province has eased some of its COVID-19 restrictions. Golf courses and other outdoor recreational facilities, including tennis and basketball courts, can reopen.

WATCH |Ontario unveils cautious, staged reopening plan:

Ontario unveils cautious, staged reopening plan

3 years ago

Duration 3:17

Ontario unveiled its cautious, staged reopening plan with an early emphasis on outdoor activities, but there was no solid answer about whether students would return to classrooms this school year.

Alberta,which, like Ontario, is seeing an overall decline in newCOVID-19 cases,will welcome backall K-12 students to classroomsnext week, except those in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

And starting early next week, Yukon will begin lifting some of its COVID-19 restrictions because of the territory'shigh uptake in vaccinations, with about 76 per cent of eligible residents receivingtheir first dose.

Canadiansare making "steady progress" in bringing down COVID-19 numbers, but they must remain vigilant this long weekend to prevent a resurgence, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said in astatement on Saturday.

Tam said there are now more than 30 per cent fewer active cases in Canada compared withthe peak of the pandemic's third wave in mid-April.

"However, as COVID-19 activity remains elevated in many jurisdictions, strongpublic health measuresmust be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating, andindividual precautionsare important everywhere to drive infection rates down to low and manageable levels, while getting our vaccination rates as high as possible," she said.

"Further, as resurgences have followed social gatherings during past long weekends and holidays, maintaining precautions this long weekend remains critical for sustaining our progress."

What's happening in Canada around the world

As of 6p.m. ET on Saturday, Canada had reported 1,355,765confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 55,277considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 25,203.

WATCH |Canadians urged to follow COVID-19 restrictions during long weekend:

Canadians urged to follow restrictions during second pandemic May long weekend

3 years ago

Duration 2:00

As a long weekend kicks off, officials are pleading with Canadians to follow restrictions despite the urge to get together. A look at how that tension is building in different regions.

Ontarioreported1,794 new casesand20 new deaths on Saturday. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to decline, with 1,207 patients hospitalized across the province, including706in the ICU, according to provincial data.

Quebec reported505 new cases on Saturday its lowest single-day increase since Sept. 23 along with sevennew deaths.

New Brunswick reported twonew COVID-19 cases on Saturday. The update came a day after the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, announced that a second person in the provincehas died from a rare blood clot associated with the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.

Nova Scotiareported 64 new cases and one new death,whileNewfoundland and Labrador reported four new cases.Prince Edward Islandhad yet to provide an update.

WATCH | Study says those who have had COVID-19 may need just one dose of the vaccine:

Study says those who have had COVID-19 may need just one dose of the vaccine

3 years ago

Duration 3:42

Some researchers say those who have been infected with COVID-19 may only need one dose of a vaccine but still can't say for sure how strong natural immunity is.

In the North, Nunavut on Saturday reported onenew caseof COVID-19.There are 39 active cases in the territory 38 in Iqaluit and onein Kinngait,Premier Joe Savikataaq tweeted. Yukon and the Northwest Territories had not yet provided updated figures for the day.

Saskatchewanreported 180 new cases and two new deaths on Saturday, whileAlbertarecorded621 cases and six newdeaths.

British Columbiaon Friday reported420 new cases and six related deaths.

What's happening around the world

As of Saturday afternoon, more than 166.2million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, a trackingdashboard from U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University said. The reported global death toll stood at more than 3.4 million.

In the United States, new coronavirus cases have decreased to rates not seen since last June, sparkingoptimism that vaccination campaigns are stemming both severe COVID-19 cases and the spread of the virus.

The seven-day average for new cases dropped below 30,000 per day this week. Dr.Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),says cases haven't been this low since June 18.

The average number of deaths over the last seven days also dropped to 552, a rate not seen since July.

Health experts credit the rollout of vaccines to a dramatic turnaround since January. But they also caution that not enough Americans have been vaccinated to completely extinguish the virus.More than 60 per centof people over 18 have received at least one shot, and almost half are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

WATCH |Vaccine makers pledgebillions of COVID-19 shots to developing world:

Vaccine companies pledge billions of shots to developing world

3 years ago

Duration 2:11

At a G20 global health summit, three major vaccine companies commit billions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for middle- and low-income countries.

In the Netherlands, high schools will be allowed to fully reopen starting May 31 as coronavirus infections decline in the country.

After months of closure, students started going to class for one day a week from March 1. The government on Saturday announced a full return to school with infection rates and hospitalizations dropping sharply over the last two weeks.

Students won't have to observe physicaldistancing but must administer self-tests twice a week and keep a safe distance from school staff.

The Swiss government has flown $8 million in equipment and medical supplies to combat COVID-19 to help Nepal, which is struggling with a failing health system and acute shortages of hospital beds, medication and oxygen for patients.

The aid was handed over to Nepalese Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi at Kathmandu's airport on Saturday. The Swiss Embassy in Nepal saidthe shipment contained 40 ventilators, oxygen concentrators, 1.1 million coronavirus test kits, face masks, gloves and protective suits.

Nepal has been appealing for help from the international community since the COVID-19 situation worsened sharply this month. A lockdown has been imposed in most parts of the country since last month to curb the spiking cases.

Nepal has recorded nearly 500,000 COVID-19 confirmed cases, and 6,024 people have died.

In Sri Lanka, officialshalted passenger trains and buses for four days as part of a fresh travel ban imposed across the country in an effort to curb an escalating number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.

The ban is effective from Friday night until Tuesday morning. However, it will not apply to those engaged in essential services such as the health, food and power sectors, as well asthose seeking medical treatment.

The move comes as the island's key medical associations demand that the government lock down the country for two weeks. The associations say the actual number of coronavirus infections is more than three times the number detected.

Sri Lanka has already banned public gatherings, parties and weddings, and closed schools and universities.