Global National: Dec. 29, 2021 | Unprecedented COVID-19 case numbers could change protocols

Another day and more unprecedented numbers in our pandemic. Once again Quebec has set a new COVID-19 record. The province is reporting 13,149 new confirmed cases today, that's the highest daily case count recorded by any province or territory at any time during the pandemic. Ontario also set a record today with more than ten thousand new infections. The province is also seeing a jump in hospitalizations and ICU admissions. At least five other provinces and territories have set new single day highs and those are just the confirmed cases, the true number of infections in this country is expected to be much higher. Many public health agencies are struggling to keep up with testing demands and as Abigail Bimman explains the onslaught of Omicron is forcing many provinces and territories to reconsider their protocols.

In the U.S., COVID-19 cases have soared to the highest on record. The country is averaging more than 250,000 new confirmed cases daily, driven by Omicron. The Centers for Disease Control now says the variant accounts for almost 60 per cent of all new cases. As Jennifer Johnson reports, there’s concern that number could grow even more with New Year’s Eve celebrations.

In Hong Kong, police raided the largest pro-democracy news outlet in the city. Current and former employees were arrested and operations at Stand News were suspended. It comes just six months after an independent news outlet was shut down under Beijing’s new national security laws. Redmond Shannon reports.

A year of extreme weather is ending with dangerously cold temperatures across most of the west. A deep freeze has settled over much of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The unusually cold weather is causing all kinds of problems, from frostbite and frozen pipes to cancelled COVID clinics. Heather Yourex-West has more.

COVID-19 has fuelled job and income losses for women more than men and in Canada the so-called “she-cession” isn’t over according to employment experts. Nearly two years since the global pandemic began it’s taking a different toll on women. It’s impacted their ability to hold down a job and progress in their careers. Anne Gaviola explains.

Across the country soaring COVID-19 cases have forced many public officials to give up on contact tracing. Instead, Canadians are being asked to warn people they’ve been in contact with to isolate and monitor for symptoms. But there’s another tool available: the federal government’s COVID Alert app. But as David Akin reports, it isn’t being talked about or used anymore.

A Toronto family is issuing a heartfelt plea, taking on the battle of their lives for the sake of their young daughter. The toddler has an ultra-rare genetic disorder, few children in the world have. And right now there’s no treatment. As Caryn Lieberman reports, every moment in the search for a cure counts.

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