Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Friday

The latest:

• Nova Scotia introduces new restrictions as 10 new cases reported.
• Newfoundland and Labrador loosens restrictions in some regions.
• P.E.I. urges youth in Summerside to get tested amid new cluster.
• Ont. activates 'emergency brake' lockdowns inThunder Bay,Simcoe-Muskoka.
• Health Canada approves use of AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Have a question about the coronavirus pandemic? Send your question toCOVID@cbc.ca

Canada's top doctorsaid nationally there are 964 reported cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in the U.K., up from 429 reported two weeks ago. There were also 44 cases of the variant first discovered in South Africa, and two cases of the version first found in Brazil.

"The risk of rapid re-acceleration remains," Dr. Theresa Tam said on Friday. "At the same time new variants continue to emerge and can become predominant."

Tam added that daily COVID-19 case counts are nearly 75 per cent higher than they were last spring, and that the average daily case counts in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia have increased between eight and 14 per cent over the previous week.

While Tam warned that variants can spread more quickly and easily become dominant, progress on the vaccine front is a source of optimism, she noted.

"To date, over 1.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across Canada. And there are early indications of high vaccine efficacy."

On Friday,Health Canada regulators approved the COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University-AstraZeneca for use in Canada clearing the way for millions more inoculations in the months ahead.

The department's regulators concluded the shot hasan efficacyrate of 62 per cent andhave authorized it for use in all adults 18and older.

While it'sless effective than thePfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccinesat preventing infection, the shot is 100 per cent effective in preventing the severe outcomes of COVID-19 including serious illness, hospitalizations and death the regulators said.

What's happening across Canada

As of 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday,Canada had reported861,477cases of COVID-19, with 30,518cases considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 21,915.

British Columbiarecorded589 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths on Friday.

Alberta announced 356 newcases and three more deaths. Meanwhile, health officialsconfirmed two more deaths linked to an outbreak at the Olymel meatpacking plant in Red Deer, bringing the total to three.

Saskatchewan registered 153 new casesbut no new deaths.

Manitoba confirmed 64 new cases and one death. The province'stest positivity rate is now at 3.9 per cent,its lowest point in more than four months.

WATCH |Manitoba government considers relaxing COVID-19 rules:

Manitoba government considers relaxing COVID-19 rules

4 years ago

Duration 28:23

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Thursday, February 25, 2021.

Ontarioreported1,258 new caseson Friday, its highest daily case count since Feb. 13, as well as28 new deaths.The seven-day average of daily cases climbed to 1,114, marking a sixth straight day of increases.

The province also announced it is activating an "emergency brake" in Thunder Bay and Simcoe-Muskoka, sending the regions back into lockdown to "immediately interrupt transmission and contain community spread."

The two regions will move into the grey lockdown level of Ontario's COVID-19 restriction plan effective 12:01 a.m. ET Monday, March 1.

Quebecreported815 new cases and 11 new deaths on Friday,a day after long-awaited vaccinations of the general population got underway.

Gisle Fortaich, 86, was among those to receive the vaccine atLaval'smass vaccination centre Thursday, tellingreporters she wanted to be sure to get the vaccine after a harrowing experience at the hospital with COVID-19 some months ago.

"It wasn't easy to stay at the hospital that long," Fortaichsaid. "What I went through, I'm telling myself it's over now and I'm looking to the future."

WATCH |Quebec plans for COVID-19 'immunity passports':

Quebec plans for COVID-19 'immunity passports'

4 years ago

Duration 4:41

Quebec plans to introduce 'immunity passports' at some point, which will allow people to prove they've been vaccinated and make it simpler to travel and perhaps even open some sectors of the economy. The concept is controversial, however, with some leaders calling it divisive and discriminatory.

New Brunswickis just over a week away from rolling into the less-restrictive yellow phase, says the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell.

Newfoundland and Labrador's activecaseload dropped againas the province reported 52 new recoveries a single-day record and four new cases.

Nova Scotiais introducing new restrictions as ittries to stem an increase in COVID-19 cases. The provincereported10 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday after reporting eight the day before.

Beginning Saturday,restaurants and bars in the Halifax area must stop serving food and drink by 9 p.m. and must close by 10 p.m. Restrictions are also being placed on sports, arts and culture events.

WATCH |Nova Scotia imposes new COVID-19 restrictions:

Nova Scotia imposes new COVID-19 restrictions

4 years ago

Duration 4:10

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, announced new COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, in hopes of limiting the spread of the virus.

In Prince Edward Island,all young people in Summerside age 14 to 29 are being urged to get tested immediately,whether or not they have any symptoms, afterChief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced a cluster of new cases there.

In Nunavut,authorities have identified anothercase in the hamlet of Arviat, a community of about 3,000 people where 312 cases have been confirmed since November. Active cases there are now at 26.

In the Northwest Territories, aGahcho Ku mineworker who contracted COVID-19is in critical condition, health authorities confirmed Friday.The territory has seen four people total hospitalized for complications related to COVID-19, with three connected to theGahcho Ku mine. All but one have recovered.

What's happening around the world

As ofFriday, more than 113.2million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, with 63.8 million of them listed as recovered on a tracking site maintained by Johns Hopkins University. The global death toll stood at more than 2.5 million, according to the U.S.-based university.

In Asia, South Korea administered its first available shots of COVID-19 vaccines to people at long-term care facilities, launching a mass immunization campaign that health authorities hope will restore some level of normalcy by the end of the year.

In Europe, French authorities have ordered a local weekend lockdown starting on Friday evening in the French Riviera city of Nice and the surrounding coastal area to try to curb the spread of the virus.

In the Americas, the governor of Brazil's capital city, Brasilia, decreed a 24-hour lockdown for all but essential services on Friday to curb a worseningoutbreak that has filled its intensive care wards to the brim.

In Africa, Ivory Coast has become the second country in the world, after Ghana, to receive a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from the global COVAX initiative. It has received 504,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India.