Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
People living in several provinces — including Alberta, Ontario and broad swaths of Quebec — are facing tighter public health restrictions as officials raise the alarm about more transmissible coronavirus variants and growing pressure on hospitals.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to make an announcement later Wednesday, with sources saying the province will issue a stay-at-home order.
The update comes as health officials reported 3,215 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 additional deaths on Wednesday. According to updated provincial COVID-19 data, hospitalizations stood at 1,397, with 504 patients in intensive care units. Of the ICU patients, 476 were still testing positive.
The planned announcement from the premier also comes as schools in Canada’s largest city move to online learning because of a third surge of coronavirus infections fuelled by more contagious virus variants. 
‘No choice’ but to close Toronto schools, says medical health officer6 hours ago
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The high community spread of the coronavirus, particularly the variants, was the key factor in the decision to close Toronto schools, says Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health. ‘The risk was going up,’ she said. 5:00
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, meanwhile, announced Tuesday that customer capacity in retail stores will be lowered to 15 per cent, restaurants must close to in-person dining and low-intensity group fitness activities will once again be banned.
Kenney said cases have continued to rise “sharply” over the past week and variants of concern are surging.
“To be blunt: this wave is here,” Kenney said, noting that current trends would threaten the “maximum capacity of our health-care system by next month, right when we’re reaching critical mass of vaccination.”
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Alberta reported 931 new cases and three additional deaths on Tuesday. According to the province, there were 328 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 76 in intensive care units.
Quebec on Wednesday reported reported 1,270 new cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths. COVID-19 hospitalizations in the province stood at 543 hospitalizations, with 123 people in intensive care.
The updated figures come a day after Premier François Legault announced more restrictions for harder-hit parts of the province on Tuesday, saying what happens in the month of April will be “critical.”
Starting next Monday, students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 in red zones, including Montreal, will attend school in person on alternate days and extracurricular activities will be cancelled. Legault said gyms in red zones must close as of Thursday, and that places of worship will have to limit attendance to 25 people.
“At this time, we’re able to manage the increase in hospitalization, but that can change very quickly,” Legault said, urging people to be “very careful.”
