Jennifer Russell

A decline in the number hospitalizations in Ontario and Quebec on Sunday, January 17, 2021, provided some small glimmers of a hope in a day marked by a rising COVID-19 death toll and record-breaking cases in New Brunswick.

Ontario residents dealt with their first day under a stay-at-home order on Thursday, January 14, 2021, while federal officials warned that access to vaccines in Canada will remain a challenge until at least April.

Touting the need for drastic action, Quebec became the first province to impose a curfew on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, as soaring COVID-19 infections across Canada intensified the strain on hospitals and prompted some Ontario morgues to run out of space.

Canada surpassed 15,000 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, December 28, 2020, and at least one infectious disease expert says the somber milestone should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks the dangers of the disease are overhyped.