Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Feb. 2, 2021.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seeking to quell Canadians’ angst over COVID-19 vaccine delivery delays as he announces the military will help a First Nation in northern Manitoba deal with the pandemic.
Trudeau says Canada is “very much on track” to receive a total of six million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine doses by the end of March, as planned, and that the CEOs of both pharmaceutical companies have reassured him they’ll meet that target.
He also says the Liberal government has approved a request for help from the Pauingassi First Nation in northern Manitoba and that the military will arrive by Saturday at the latest.
Soldiers will provide logistical support, transport goods and medical supplies, and conduct wellness checks.
Meanwhile, Ontario is reporting 45 new deaths from COVID-19 and 1,670 additional infections, 125 of which weren’t previously recorded.
Quebec is reporting 1,101 COVID-19 infections and 33 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus,
Your time is valuable. Have the Top Business Headlines newsletter conveniently delivered to your inbox in the morning or evening. Sign up today.