Omicron’s rapid spread is bringing new restrictions and concerns daily. Get the latest news here
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The rapid spread of the COVID-19 variant Omicron across Canada brings more restrictions, curtailments of services and concerns about shortages daily.
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Watch here for the latest news that affects us all in the Omicron outbreak.
9:41 a.m.
The infamous Sunwing party passengers, who filmed themselves in unmasked revelry on a charter flight from Montreal to Mexico last week may find themselves stranded.
Sunwing Airlines cancelled their return flight from Cancun scheduled for Wednesday. Now Air Transit and Air Canada have said they too refuse to carry the passengers.
Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in calling the partiers “idiots.”
Videos of the Dec. 30 flight shared on social media show passengers not wearing masks and singing and dancing in the aisle and on seats. In one video, a large bottle of vodka appears to be passed among passengers, and later a woman appears to be smoking an electronic cigarette.
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One passenger, who won the free trip in a contest on Instagram, told Canadian Press she has tested positive for COVID-19 and estimates that about 30 others on the flight have also tested positive.
9:23 a.m.
The Ontario government is expected to provide an update today on the deployment of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests in the province.
The update comes a day after the federal government said it will distribute 140 million rapid tests across the country this month — four times the amount handed out in December.
9:00 a.m.
Canada’s trade surplus widened to $3.1 billion in November from $2.3 billion in October, further evidence that the economy built up momentum heading into the Omicron wave.
Total exports increased 3.8 per cent to $58.6 billion largely due to large shipments of COVID-19 medication coming in to the country for labelling and packaging to be shipped back out, Statistics Canada reported Thursday. That same phenomenon also contributed to record high levels of imports, which grew to $55.4 billion in November.
The positive data will ease concerns surrounding the impact of unprecedented floods and landslides in British Columbia to Canada’s overall trade balance. Still, the weather-inflicted damage caused a 7.8 per cent drop in goods exported from the province.
Economists suspect the clean-up and rebuilding in British Columbia should bolster growth for the last few months of 2021 and into 2022. This would help support the economy as it grapples with the surge in cases of the COVID-19 variant Omicron.
— Bianca Bharti, Financial Post
With additional reporting by Canadian Press
