The novel coronavirus has now claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people in Canada.
According to the latest figures reported by public health authorities across the country, there are now more than 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,031 deaths linked to the virus. Just over half of those infected have recovered from the illness.
The grim milestone came as provinces reported their latest coronavirus numbers on Wednesday, during a week in which several provinces have moved to reopen their economies and loosen some public health restrictions.
More than 1,420,000 people across Canada have been tested for the virus, while over half of the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases are considered resolved.
Ontario accounts for roughly a third of Canada’s confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. Health authorities announced 390 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, along with 43 more deaths.
To the east, Quebec accounts for more than half of total COVID-19 cases and deaths, with the province reporting another 578 cases and 71 deaths on Wednesday.
The brunt of Canada’s COVID-19 deaths have been attributed to outbreaks in long-term care homes in those two provinces.
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Last week, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam stated that seniors accounted for more 80 per cent of the country’s death toll.
Several Canadian Armed Forces members who were sent to assist in those seniors homes have also tested positive for the virus, and several dozen more have been sent into self-isolation over possible exposure.
New cases have also been reported in at least four other provinces on Wednesday as well.
Daily cases in British Columbia jumped back up to double digits after provincial health authorities announced 21 new cases, including three more deaths on May 20.
Cases in Alberta also increased to 6,735 after 19 new cases were reported on Wednesday. No new deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported for the third straight day however.
Saskatchewan reported 21 more cases and one new death on May 20. In total, the province has 620 confirmed cases and seven deaths attributed to the virus.
The only province in Atlantic Canada that reported a new case of COVID-19 was Nova Scotia, which announced one new infection and one new death on Wednesday.
As of May 20, 956 out of the 1,045 confirmed cases in Nova Scotia have recovered from the virus.
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