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Countries in Europe are scrambling to ramp up vaccination drives, using a carrot-and-stick approach to persuade the reluctant to get their shots as the more transmissible delta variant drives a surge in infections.
Greece became the latest to enact new restrictions on Friday, requiring proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19 for access to indoor restaurants, cafés, bars and movie theatres. Children can enter with negative tests.
The measure, part of a package of government incentives, had little immediate effect as virtually all public life moves outdoors during Greece's hot, dry summers. Sidewalk cafés and restaurants and open-air movie theatres remain accessible to all.
Outdoor clubs and music venues in Greece will also be accessible only to the fully vaccinated or recently recovered, with capacity capped at 85 per cent and no standing customers.
But just as the measure came into effect in Greece, the Russian capital repealed a similar one introduced last month.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that the requirement for restaurants to only admit customers with proof of vaccination or a negative test ends Monday as the pace of contagion has slowed. The restrictions had badly hurt restaurant owners, already reeling from the pandemic's impact, forcing many to close.
Some European countries have also introduced mandatory vaccinations for certain professions. Italy made vaccinations obligatory in April for health-care workers and pharmacists. France and Greece announced mandatory vaccines this week for health-care workers and care home staff, with France extending the requirement to those caring for an elderly or sick person at home.
France also announced mandatory COVID-19 passes for access to restaurants, bars, shopping malls and many tourist spots, as well as trains and planes, as of July 21. The passes are available to anyone fully vaccinated, recently recovered or who has a recent negative test.
The regulations have sparked protests, with thousands demonstrating on Wednesday in Greek and French cities. More demonstrations are planned in France on Saturday.
Greece has seen a surge in new infections driven by the delta variant, although the rate of new hospitalizations has been slower. Vaccines have been available to anyone 18 or over for several weeks and became available this week to those over 15. Incentives to get vaccinated have included a credit of 150 euros ($223 Cdn) to spend on entertainment and travel for anyone under 26 who gets a shot.
Cyprus has also seen an alarming increase in infections, prompting the government on Friday to announce new regulations,. They include proof of COVID-19 status for access to public transport, banks, state services and businesses and to visit care homes. Dance clubs will only be open to the vaccinated and recently recovered.
England plans to lift its remaining coronavirus restrictions on Monday. The Conservative government says it expects bars and nightclubs to check customers' COVID-19 status, but it won't be a legal requirement. Many businesses say they just won't do it.
What's happening across Canada
As of 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Canada had reported 1,422,918 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 4,704 considered active. The country's COVID-19 death toll stood at 26,492. More than 44.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far across the country, according to a CBC News tally.
In British Columbia, 79.5 per cent of eligible people 12 and older in the province have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 49.9 per cent have received their second dose.
In Alberta, the same figures are 74.5 per cent and 49.2 per cent, respectively. Elsewhere in the Prairies, Saskatchewan logged 35 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, while Manitoba registered 62 new cases and posted no new related deaths for the second day in a row.
Ontario reported 176 new cases and three more deaths. The figures come a day after the province moved into Stage 3 of its reopening plan, which allows for indoor dining and drinking at restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
In Quebec, the province is holding a lottery for $2 million in cash and scholarships in an effort to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
In the Atlantic provinces, Prince Edward Island on Sunday will start letting in fully vaccinated Canadians from outside the Maritimes; New Brunswick saw no new cases on Saturday, and neither did Nova Scotia, as active cases in the province are now below five for the first time since last October; and 81 per cent of the eligible population of Newfoundland and Labrador has had at least one vaccine dose, while 37 per cent have had a second dose.
The territories continue to lead the country in percentage of fully vaccinated eglible residents, which stands at 81.49 per cent in Yukon, 77.26 per cent in the Northwest Territories and 62.98 per cent in Nunavut.
What's happening around the world
As of Saturday, more than 189.7 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported, according to a tool from U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University, which has been collecting coronavirus data from nations around the world. The reported death toll stood at more than four million.
In Asia, Thailand has tightened coronavirus restrictions and warned of further measures as daily cases surpassed 10,000 and the death toll hit a record 141 despite an overnight curfew in Bangkok and several other provinces. The surge since April has overwhelmed hospitals, strained the economy and thrown tourism recovery plans in doubt.
In Africa, dozens of countries on the continent will receive 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the United States, U.S. officials and the Gavi vaccine alliance said. African Union Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa said the U.S. donation to 49 countries was appreciated, "especially at this moment when we are witnessing the third wave in a number of African countries."
In the Americas, some 92 Cuban doctors and nurses who lent a hand to Mexico during the coronavirus pandemic in recent months have been flown home, Mexico's foreign ministry said. It is not clear why the doctors left, as Mexican hospitals are under increased pressure amid another wave of coronavirus cases.
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Saturday - CBC.ca
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