Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Dec. 16

The latest:

• B.C. records a jump in new cases, including 135 of the Omicron variant.

• Omicron cases nearly double in Alberta to 119.

• Quebec government limits gatherings, delays high school reopening to combatcase spike.

• Kingston, Ont., area sets new Canadian record for COVID-19 case rate: 'This is really the true impact of the Omicron variant.'

• Manitoba hits highest daily COVID-19 count since June with 218 cases, 2 deaths.

• 'Absolute frenzy' as Ontarians face long lines to get free COVID-19 rapid tests.

• LISTEN |How much should Omicron affect our holiday plans.

Provinces face difficult choices over how to curb the spread of the Omicron variant ahead of the holiday season as COVID-19 case counts continuedsurging throughoutmuch of Canada on Thursday.

British Columbia and Alberta saw theirconfirmed Omicroncase totalsjump, whileSaskatchewan's premier expanded eligibility for booster shotsandcalledOmicron the "most significant challenge" of the pandemic so far.

Quebec's premier announced new measureslimiting private gatherings to a maximum of 10 people indoors, reducing capacity at stores and restaurants, and delaying the return of in-person high school classes until Jan. 10, among other restrictions.

"In this fight that we are waging, it's not enough to just get vaccinated," PremierFranoisLegault said at a news conference.

Quebec booked 2,736 cases Thursday, up from 2,386 the day before. These numbers are the highest reported in the province since January, when Quebec was grappling with a second wave.

In Ontario, the province's table of science experts called for "circuit breaker" restrictions that will reduce people's social contacts by 50 per cent. Otherwise, the province could see between 6,000 and 10,000 new cases a day by the end of the year, the scientists said.

WATCH | New travel warnings spark anxiety during holiday season:

Ottawas renewed travel warnings sparks passenger anxiety

3 years ago

Duration 2:02

Would-be Canadian travellers are again anxious after the federal government renewed warnings against non-essential international travel to try and reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.

Nova Scotia reported 287 new cases Thursday, topping a previous record set in May. The province has identified 40 cases involving Omicron.

In New Brunswick, 177 new cases were recorded, up from the previous high of 174 set last week.

None of the new cases reported in that province Thursday were caused by Omicron, public health authorities said. But the province has identified 14 cases of the variant, and the health minister has said she expects to see many more.

Prince Edward Island has its highest active caseload yet, with 49 residents currently infected. The island reported 10 new cases Thursday.

Elsewhere in the country, case numbers are reaching levels not seen for months.

Manitoba recorded 218 new cases Thursday, its highest numbersince June.

On Wednesday, that province's chief provincial public health officer said that number could hit 1,000 a day by January because of the transmissibility of Omicron. He urged Manitobans to decrease the number of people they have contact with and be "very, very careful" about their holiday plans.

Understanding a new coronavirus variant: What are scientists learning about Omicron?

• How does Omicron spread so fast? Virus may now be multiplying 70 times quicker in airways
  
• ANALYSIS |Why Omicron is overtaking Delta and what that means for our fight against COVID-19
  
• WATCH |What masks are most effective against Omicron?
  
• Have a coronavirus question or news tip for CBC News? Email:COVID@cbc.ca

-From CBC News, last updated at 6:35p.m. ET

What's happening across Canada

WATCH | Omicron case numbers on the rise:

'Overwhelming exponential growth numbers' the big worry: hospital CEO

3 years ago

Duration 7:06

The number of Omicron cases in Ontario is expected to double every two to three days, says University Health Network CEO Kevin Smith. And though hospital admissions due to the Omicron variant are still modest, facilities are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, he says.

• 'Circuit breaker' measures needed to prevent Omicron from overwhelming ICUs, Ontario science table says.
  
• Sask. residents 18 and older eligible for COVID-19 booster shots, effective Monday.
  
• Some Ontario universities move online amid Omicron concerns.
  
• 'Now is not the time': Federal government warns against travel abroad as Omicron spreads.
  
• WATCH |Manitoba marks 1 year since COVID-19 vaccination campaign's start as Omicron variant threatens.
  
• At-home rapid COVID-19 tests are 'way of the future,' says Yukon top doctor.
  
• Omicron arrives in N.L. as provincial government prepares for rapid border testing.
  
• Positive COVID-19 cases in N.S. to be notified by text.
  
• Kingston, Ont., area going back to early autumn COVID-19 rules in latest bid to turn tide.
  
• '2 doses are not enough': 1-on-1 withMontreal public health director.

What's happening around the world

As of early Thursday afternoon, more than272.6million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to case-tracking done by Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. The reported global death toll stood at more than 5.3 million.

'No way to sugarcoat it'

In the Americas, the U.S. state ofMichigan is in a "crisis" due to COVID-19, according to Bob Riney, chief operating officer at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Henry Ford hospitals in southeastern Michigan had about 500 COVID-19 patients Wednesday, 80 per centof them unvaccinated.

"There's no way to sugarcoat it," Riney said. "On any given day, our emergency departments are either at capacity or close to it, and often times serving as inpatient units because we don't have beds available in our standard inpatient units or ICUs."

In Europe,France announced Thursday that it would tighten entry rules for those coming from Britain, after the United Kingdom recorded its highest-ever number of new COVID-19 cases Wednesday. After France's announcement, the U.K. recorded yet another new record Thursday, of88,376 new cases.

EU leaders gathering in Brussels for a summit Thursday sought to balance tackling the surge of infections across the continent while keeping borders open with common policies throughout the bloc.But ahead of the meeting, European countriesalready were acting to rein in the spread of the virus. Greece and Italy tightened entry requirements for travellers earlier this week, and Portugal decided to keep stricter border controls in place beyond their planned Jan. 9 end.

Countries such as Bosnia and Romania in eastern Europe are seeing their vaccination rates rise as some former vaccine skepticsshiftover to the other side.Fata Keco was afraid of possible adverse side effects when she rolled up her sleeve in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo to take her firstvaccine shot,but the worst she had to contend with was "moderately discomforting pain" in her left arm.The 52-year-old joined the global community of vaccine-believers after months of "being very susceptible" to what she now describes as "the most ridiculous theories."

In theMiddle East, Turkey is offering COVID-19 booster shots for people who received their second shots at least three months ago as a measure to fight the Omicron variant. The country of nearly 84 million has so far reported six cases of the variant.

The Palestinian health ministry also reported its first casesof the Omicron variant in the territory.

In theAsia-Pacificregion, Japan, Indonesia and New Zealand reported their first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant while South Korea said it will reinstate stricter physical distancing rules a month-and-a-half after easing them.

WATCH | How risky are holiday travel and gatherings?

COVID-19: How risky are holiday travel and gatherings?

3 years ago

Duration 2:59

InAfrica,Malawi plans to make vaccines mandatory for frontlineworkers including health workers and journalists.

Health officials in South Africa on Wednesday reported26,976 new cases of COVID-19 and 54 additional deaths. Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahlaurged people on Thursday to follow COVID-19 prevention protocols through the holiday season.

"We call upon all travellers, especially those who are unvaccinated or partly vaccinated coming from areas declared hot spots, to get vaccinated before hitting the roads to protect their families and friends they will be visiting during this period associated with large social gatherings like parties and weddings, which can be 'super spreader'events that carry a huge risk of transmission of the virus," the health minister said in a statement.

-From The Associated Press, Reuters and CBC News, last updated at 5:30p.m. ET