Health officials across the country reported 3,235 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, as the total number of infections reached 789,654.
Another 142 people have died in Canada after testing positive for COVID-19, pushing the country’s death toll to 20,355.
However, more than 720,000 people have recovered after contracting the disease, and 997,265 vaccinations to protect against the virus have been administered.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said while case counts are “steadily declining,” the country is still reporting more than double the number of infections seen during the first wave of the pandemic.
“So we need to hold fast on #PublicHealth measures,” she wrote.
Tam said declining case counts are “paying off,” citing a 12 per cent drop in the number of hospitalizations, and a six per cent decrease in the number of admissions to intensive care units across the country.
Tam also said there has been a 28-per cent drop in the number of deaths occurring as a result of COVID-19 in Canada.
“Our efforts are saving lives & easing burden on healthcare,” she wrote.
Thousands of new cases in central Canada
In Ontario, 1,172 new cases and 67 new fatalities were reported.
To date, the province has seen 272,097 infections and 6,305 deaths related to COVID-19.
The new cases and fatalities come as provincial authorities announced some schools would begin to re-open.
Meanwhile, in Quebec, 1,053 new cases were detected, pushing the total number of infections in the province to 265,579.
Thirty-seven more deaths mean to date, 9,899 people have died in Quebec after falling ill.
In Saskatchewan, 194 new infections were reported, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 24,430.
Eight new deaths push the provincial death toll to 322.
Meanwhile, Manitoba saw three new deaths and 126 new cases.
To date, 29,858 people in the province have contracted the virus, while 835 have died.
New cases in Atlantic Canada
In Atlantic Canada, 17 new cases of the virus were detected.
New Brunswick health officials said another 14 people have tested positive for the virus, while Nova Scotia added one new infection.
Health authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador said two new cases have been detected in the province.
Prince Edward Island did not add any new cases on Wednesday. So far, 110 of the province’s 112 confirmed cases are considered to be resolved.
No new fatalities were reported in the maritime provinces or Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday.
New infections in Western Canada
A total of 673 new cases of the virus were detected in Western Canada.
Health officials in Alberta said 259 more people have fallen ill, while 414 new cases were reported in British Columbia.
Eleven new deaths were reported in Alberta, while B.C. recorded 16 new fatalities.
None of Canada’s territories reported a new case or death related to COVID-19.
Global cases top 104 million
The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide topped 104 million on Wednesday.
According to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University, as of 7 p.m. ET, 104,269,426 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed globally.
To date, the virus has claimed 2,264,118 lives around the world.
The United States remained the epicentre of the virus on Wednesday, with more than 26.5 million confirmed infections.
A total of 450,200 people have died in the U.S. after testing positive for the virus.
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