Canada surpassed 600,000 cases of coronavirus infection on Sunday, two weeks after exceeding half a million, according to figures released by local media, which shows the persistence of the pandemic in the North American country during the Christmas season.
On Sunday afternoon, Canada added 601,314 infections since the beginning of the pandemic and 15,860 deaths, according to data from the provinces and territories reported by the public television channel CBC.
Ontario, the most populous province, recorded 2,964 cases in the last 24 hours, while Quebec had 2,869, a new daily record for the French-speaking province with the highest death toll.
The new deaths registered on Sunday bring the number of deaths in Ontario to 4,650 and 8,347 in Quebec.
Canada, with a population of about 38 million, went from 500,000 to 600,000 cases in 15 days, although it had not reached 100,000 until mid-June, three months after the start of the epidemic in its territory.
Some provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, have imposed lockdowns in various regions during the Christmas season.
In response to concerns expressed about travel to sunny destinations despite official recommendations, the government announced last week that it will require a negative PCR test for all travelers arriving in Canada.
Canadian authorities strongly discourage travel abroad that is not essential to prevent the spread of the disease, a recommendation ignored by some elected officials.
A vacation in the Caribbean has cost the Minister of Finance of the province of Ontario, Rod Phillips, his job, who has had to resign due to the controversy.
In recent days, more than half a dozen MPs and politicians have admitted to spending time abroad during the Christmas season and some have apologized.
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