what’s happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday

The most recent:

• US to reopen land border for fully vaccinated Canadians next month.

• Some unvaccinated people go public after receiving COVID-19. Can you convince other people to shoot?

• Alberta’s vaccine passport will go into effect next year, Kenney says.

• Still worried about getting a COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s how to understand the rare but real risks.

• Have a question about the coronavirus or a tip for CBC News? The email: [email protected].

SEE | Will Canadians with mixed dose vaccines be able to travel to the United States?

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Wednesday that COVID-19 cases are generally down in North America, but remain high in the US Midwest, Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada, where infection rates are 10 times higher than the national average. .

Infections are also on the decline in South America, although cases are increasing in the metropolitan area of ​​Caracas in Venezuela and parts of southern Chile.

In the Caribbean, Barbados is reporting the highest number of COVID cases and deaths since the start of the pandemic, with infections increasing fivefold in the past month, PAHO said.

The regional arm of the World Health Organization has called for joint action in the Americas to help all countries reach the WHO immunization coverage target of 40 percent of their population by the end of This year.

So far, only nine countries in the region have vaccinated 50 percent of their population, while six – Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti, Guatemala and Nicaragua – have not have yet to achieve 20 percent immunization coverage, according to PAHO. .

Without concerted action to increase vaccination rates and public health measures, COVID-19 is likely to become endemic in the region, PAHO director Carissa Etienne warned during a weekly briefing.

what is happening in canada

Quebec suddenly postpones the vaccination mandate for health professionals

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said the province will extend the Oct. 15 deadline for mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers until Nov. 15, so workers have more time to get vaccinated . (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press) 0:58

SEE | Getting the flu shot this year can be even more important than usual:

Flu vaccine is very important because pandemic persists, expert says

It’s hard to predict what kind of flu season Canada might experience this year, so people should get the COVID-19 shot and get the flu shot at the same time, says Dr Susy Hota, medical director of the prevention and control of infections at the University. from the Toronto Health Network. 5:12

what is happening in the world

As of Wednesday afternoon, around 238.9 million cases of COVID-19 were reported worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Tracker. The global number of reported deaths was over 4.8 million.

In the Europe, Hungary has agreed to take care of several dozen COVID-19 patients from neighboring Romania in the coming days. Romania is grappling with a record number of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The country has received 5,200 doses of monoclonal antibodies from Italy to help a rapid rise in infections amid low vaccination rates.

In the Asia Pacific In the region, airlines are increasing flights and ticket deals as some of the world’s toughest travel rules linked to the pandemic begin to ease.

In the Africa, one of Zimbabwe’s largest religious denominations, is also one of the most skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine. Some followers of the isolated Apostolic Church believe that vaccines are linked to Satanism. To combat this, authorities have formed teams of religious activists to dispel misconceptions about vaccines in their own churches.

In the Americas, COVID-19 vaccination rates in United States It rose by more than 20 percentage points after several institutions adopted vaccine requirements, while the number of cases and deaths from the virus declined, officials in the Biden administration said on Wednesday. White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said mandates implemented by private companies, health systems, social institutions, and state and local governments contributed to the increase.

SEE | Texas Governor Bans Vaccination Warrants:

Texas governor bans vaccination warrants

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has banned any COVID-19 vaccine mandate, even for private companies, while US President Joe Biden urges all employers to demand vaccines. 1:35