Toronto lockdown - one of the world's longest? - BBC News As COVID-19 lingers, the need for national pharmacare progress is clear: experts, Immunity debt: Why experts say this new term promotes COVID-19 misinformation, A doctors new sidekick? 2022 also saw a massive increase in the number of Canadians infected with the virus after the Omicron variant emerged in late 2021 and tore through communities and countries across the globe. issuspending use of theAstraZenecavaccine for people under 55, whileAlberta's top public health doctor announced that the province will temporarily stop offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under age 55. Canada is heading towards a potential sixth COVID-19 wave, experts say, as cases and hospitalizations have started to creep back up again across the country. Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says she is very worried about the situation in China, and how it could lead to new variants of concern that could pose a global threat. Vaccination efforts have been ramping up across the country. Ontario Premier Doug Ford returns to his office following a news conference in Toronto on Monday January 3, 2022. tap here to see other videos from our team. B.C. People who have travelled to Whistler and then gone home were starting to see cases popping up elsewhere that are related, said Henry. This has led to frustration among the so-called non-essential shop owners forced to stay closed. He said new contagious variants and a slow vaccine rollout have put them on lockdown again. Only last week, Henry eased restrictions on indoor religious services, but that has also been reversed. Doug Ford says he is 99 per cent sure there will never be another lockdown in Ontario. The new public health orders go into effect at midnight and will be in place until April 19. In addition to the Lyme disease carrying blacklegged tick, scientists are also concerned about the lone star tick which is being spotted north of its home in the southern United States and Mexico. According to data released by the province, 841 COVID-19 patients were in hospital, with 382 of those listed as being in intensive care units. imposing 3-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown, restricts indoor gatherings. Dr. Chaim Bell, a hospital-based general internist at Sinai Health in Toronto, has noted Canada has one of the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in the industrialized world with hospitals often running at more than 100% capacity and leaving little extra room for extra capacity for surges. cannot wage this battle alone.. Ontario, B.C. 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Variants fuel increasing hospitalizations and lockdowns in Canada Whistler Blackcomb ski resort will be closed for the same period. Starting May 1, 2023, employees who make minimum wage will see their hourly pay increase by $1 to $15.25 per hour. Were finding, with some of these variants, that it spreads that much more easily all the measures that we need to take are that much more important.. The Ontario government announced more COVID-19 restrictions on Monday due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, saying the province will return . A driver has been ticketed after a pedestrian was hit in a crosswalk in Halifaxs south end Sunday evening. Genetic sequencing data that is available shows continuing increases in immune evasive variants, notably BQ.1 and BQ1.1, while the previously dominant BA.5 lineage variants are declining, said Anna Maddison, a spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, in a statement to Global News. Ontario enters third COVID-19 lockdown as efforts to reopen the border Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. New COVID-19 Outbreaks Are Driving Some Places Back Under Lockdown And The situation in China could also play a major role in the evolution of the virus, as millions of people are now suddenly being exposed to the virus following the decision by the Chinese government to abandon its zero-COVID policy. ". Premier Ford is making an announcement today at 3:30 PM. But making the official designation of a virus as endemic is not necessarily a scientific endeavour, but rather is more political and can vary, says, an epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa. If there's another lockdown no one will follow it. Hospital capacity is a real concern. WATCH |How can people reduce COVID-19 risks outdoors? It is important to understand that saying that a disease is endemic doesnt mean it is no longer a public health problem, because it is, she said. As of Monday evening, more than 127.3 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracking tool. It is simply not acceptable that children should be denied schooling and society shut down because a G7 nations hospital system is somehow threatened by such volume. 3100+ cases confirmed for Ontario today. Yet here in Ontario, where the province has just been plunged once again into lockdown because of healthcare capacity issues, all of the top healthcare execs are still sitting comfortably in their cushy jobs. FUREY: Ontarians are locked down again -- and that's unacceptable, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced by big-name star on 'American Idol', LILLEY: Three years after Trudeau's gun ban, nothing has changed, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, DEAR ABBY: Ex-girlfriend believes she wasn't cheating. Here are the new lockdown restrictions on deck for Ontario - blogTO Load All of Ontario moving into lockdown Saturday: sources | CBC News COVID-19 cases appear to be on the rise in Ontario again and business groups are calling for a vaccine certificate system as a means to avoid another lockdown. Under COVID-19 restrictions in place in 19 high-risk zones, including Paris, stores allowed to stay open include those selling food, books, flowers and chocolate, and hairdressers. I think its likely that a new immune evasive variant will emerge, causing further waves, he said. They lost out on so much, so many big life moments. Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas will be closed, but rehearsals and recorded performances are permitted with restrictions. InEurope, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday that health conditions were worsening during a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in France, and "all options are on the table" to protect the public. When people talk about Canada moving into an endemic phase of COVID-19, it implies a level of success over the virus, Sulis said. On Monday morning, one sizable flood was observed, at Quesnel Bay on the Ottawa River in Rigaud, in the Montrgie region. Ontario schools are not shutting down out of concern for the kids themselves. PSAC strike: Feds say final offer to union has enhanced wage package. Outdoor facilities will be permitted to operate but with the number of spectators not to exceed 50 per cent occupancy and other requirements. According to multiple insider sources that spoke with outlets such asCP24 and CTV News Toronto, Premier Doug Ford will be announcing new restrictions during his press conference at 3:30 p.m. on Friday following a Cabinet meeting two hours earlier. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at22,900. Yet here in Ontario, where the province has just been plunged once again into lockdown because of healthcare capacity issues, all of the top healthcare execs are still sitting comfortably in. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the U.S. has administered 169 million doses and 32 percent of the American population has at least one dose. Quebec goes into lockdown over Omicron surge - New York Post Access articles from across Canada with one account. Premier @fordnation says the province cant afford another lockdown and wants to see the economy booming again. The virus moves with people.. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, which was introduced in October 2021 and became law on December 17, 2021, provides income support of $300 per week to workers whose employment is affected as a result of a public health lockdown and who are either unable to work or have lost 50 per cent or more of their income due to such restrictions. Dr. Joss Reimer, head of the province'svaccine task force, said that there has beennooverall increased risk of blood clotslinked to the vaccine detected in Manitoba, but although associated risks are probably rare, "I'm not comfortable with 'probably.'". Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on March 29 | CBC News Loaded. Covid-19: Canada's largest city moves back into lockdown Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has received a shipment of 100,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China. Given that virtually all former public health restrictions have been lifted across Canada, an official declaration of COVID-19 being endemic is unlikely to change much, Sulis said. The 75 per cent that Ford is referring to are the thresholds outlined bythe province'snew Chief Medical Officer of Health, who stated last week that our departure from Step 3 will depend upon 80 per cent of residents 12 and over having at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 shot, and 75 per cent having both. Ontario lockdown: Canadian province to shut down the day after - CNN Yet somehow they find it easy to crush the rest of society in one fell swoop. Pakistan is facing another surge in coronavirus infections thatofficials say is worse than last year's outbreak, when Pakistan had to impose a nationwide lockdown. According to. Do not blow this., Im asking, Im appealing to young people to curtail your social activity.. The province is expanding its vaccine rollout on Tuesdayto Phase 2B, which opens the door of eligibility toAlbertansborn between1957 to2005with certainhigh-risk underlying health conditions. The Local Lockdown Program is available from October 24, 2021, to May 7, 2022. Ontario has a population of more than 14.7 million. Schools shut down for in class learning last April because of record cases driven by the delta variant. "This list will not change," Le Maire said. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution (Lars Hagberg /The Canadian Press via AP). If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Indoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues will close. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. On Saturday, the province reported more than 1,000 new cases for the first time since mid-February. A circuit-breaker is now required to break the chains of transmission in our province and allow us to safely move forward through the next few weeks, said Henry in a briefing. This vaccine is an important vaccine globally and in Canada, she said, And we know from studies that have been done that it is safe.. Toronto Maple Leafs fans hoping to make a trip down south to catch a playoff game against the Florida Panthers will hit an unexpected road block. As of Monday eveningnearly5.3 million doses had been administered, according to a CBC News vaccine tracker. Toronto is moving back into lockdown after grim projections show Canada is on the brink of being overwhelmed by Covid-19. A Winnipeg woman is shaken after a close call with two coyotes and is now calling on the city to put up warning signs. Here are the new lockdown restrictions on deck for Ontario. This story has been shared 356,779 times. Indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments will no longer be permited. Our vaccine effort across B.C. New COVID variant could emerge amid drop in surveillance, vaccination, WHO warns. In Ontario, stricter public health measures are in placein two regionsas the province expands vaccine eligibility to people aged 70 and up in several public health regions. B.C. So far, Pakistan's government has avoided a countrywide lockdown to spare the country's ailing economy from more damage. TORONTO All schools in Canadas most populous province will be shut down and move to online learning because of a record number of coronavirus infections fueled by the ultra-contagious omicron variant, Ontarios premier announced Monday. Matt Anderson, who took the podium at Mondays announcement, is President and CEO of Ontario Health. And there may be other variants that emerge that are unfortunately more harmful than normal right now., Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing stories, delivered to your inbox, Will 2023 be the year COVID-19 becomes endemic in Canada? - From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 7:15p.m. Indoor meeting and event spaces are required to close with limited exceptions, but outdoor spaces can remain open with restrictions. Canada holds back on locking down border - Press-Republican "It was going to be brutal one way or the other. Former U.S. President Donald Trump's attorney requested a mistrial Monday in his client's rape case, saying the judge overseeing the civil proceedings in federal court has ruled in a biased manner against Trump. It's hard to tell if Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his team were more hated for opening things up too early at previous points in the pandemic or keeping things closed down for too longafter said reopening, but regardless of who you speak to, lockdown has been a highly sensitive and contentious issue in the province. "I know there is discussions about that right now around what that will take and if people can prove they've been vaccinated, why wouldn't they be allowed to cross the border?". In theMiddle East, anew factory in Abu Dhabi will start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm later this year under a joint venture between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42. Health officials said in a brief statement the appointments are on hold pending further informationfrom Health Canada and NACI. Several more daily maximum temperature records were broken around B.C. Lets all of us stay outside and stay apart, said Henry. In Atlantic Canada, health officials inNew Brunswickreported 11new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Whether it's a mental health day or a reduced workload, there are a number of ways that employers and employees can deal with workplace stress to the benefit of everyone, a Toronto-based psychologist says. Edmundston region facing uncertainty as end of 'circuit-breaker' restrictions nears. https://t.co/Fv1clS0WGF. This could have an impact on western countries like Canada that are now taking a laissez-faire approach to COVID management, he said. 2 On Your Side asked Mayor Restaino if he supports a July reopening date, given Canada's current circumstances. Coronavirus Updates Covid News: Canada Will Reopen Border With U.S. Ontario needs stronger public health measures to fight Omicron, experts New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Monday he personally favors his country becoming a republic, but it's not a change he intends to push for as leader. On the same day London Police Chief Steve Williams retirement takes effect, a new chief was announced. Today, there are 244 persons in ICU in Ontario for COVID-19. A state of local emergency has been declared in Parkland County as a result of two separate wildfires burning in the area. It doesnt mean we can stop bothering about those responses., If governments decide to change their messaging to say the virus is endemic, she believes the result could be problematic.. Its just not that easy, they parrot. Read more about cookies here. Our healthcare generals are failing us. In New York, meanwhile, Gov. Tim Hortons Smile Cookie donations program back, The Tool Library is moving to a new location in June, A long extended period of cool and showery weather looms for Western New York, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Poloncarz addresses rising COVID-19 rates in Erie County, Judge puts New York State, school districts on notice. The P1 variant, first associated with Brazil and believed to be less responsive to vaccines, now accounts for 270 cases in clusters traced to travel to and from Whistler and into Interior Health. Newfoundland and Labradorand Nova Scotiareported no new cases on Monday. Government extends expanded access to Local Lockdown - Canada.ca Le Maire also told France Info radio that the countryshould avoid adopting stricter COVID-19 restriction measures for as long as it couldand ruled out changing the list of shops and businesses that have been allowed to stay open. We encountered an issue signing you up. From Australia to Israel and around Europe,. After much deliberation throughout the day, Canadians reportedly are. Maybe its time to get some of them off the field, end this unjustified lockdown and get in people who can rise to the occasion. Among the weekends new cases are 329 cases of variants that can be more transmissible and more severe. But right now, I'm scared. Doug Ford says he is 99 per cent sure there will never be - blogTO Doug ford is fucking braindead. ", She added: "We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope. NP View: No time for an Omicron lockdown Everything we know about Omicron based on early data in South Africa The province needs to implement "circuit breaker" measures that cut people's . But I think we still have to communicate uncertainty as to what lies ahead, because the virus does continue to mutate as expected. Capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies will be limited to 50 per cent capacity of a particular room. Like many things coronavirus -related, the chance Canada will need to tighten restrictions again is hard to predict, according to disease experts. Ontario shuts schools, indoor dining, gyms amid infections - New York Post Tragic battle looms as COVID spreads in China, Shanghai hospital warns, Canada better prepared to deal with emerging COVID-19 variants: Dr. Tam, Dr. Tam urges Canadians to consider mask-use, getting latest vaccines amid COVID-19 surge, COVID-19: China races to vaccinate elderly as funeral homes struggle with deaths, B.C. Ontario, home to 38% of Canada's population, announced a record 4,812 cases on Friday. Today's coronavirus news: Canada considering new border restrictions as Full list of Ontario COVID-19 restrictions for starting Jan. 5 - Toronto Fox is focused on optimism and gratitude as he discusses living with Parkinson's disease in a new interview with Jane Pauley for 'CBS Sunday Morning.'. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government will announce on Thursday that it's putting the entire province under lockdown restrictions for 28 days, multiple sources tell CBC News. A Vancouver woman claims she was the target of a rental scam and is sharing her story to help others avoid being duped. Will A COVID Third Wave Force Ontario Into Lockdown? - Refinery29 and Alberta are all seeing cases. We can't afford another lockdown,"the premier said in response to a question about future restrictionsduring a media briefing on Thursday. To order copies of More rain is in the forecast for Ottawa as water levels on the Ottawa River remain high. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. On Monday, authorities in the eastern Punjab province also announced a two-week-long partial lockdown in high-risk cities startingApril 1 in an attempt to containthe spread of the virus. With new concerns about coronavirus variants, an infectious disease specialist answers questions about how safe it is outdoors and how to mitigate the risks. The Canadian government contemplated restricting non-essential travel to the U.S. after one month of freer flowing traffic. The province may also be switching the definition of "fully vaccinated" to include only those people who have received three doses of an approved vaccine something most people under 50 will only be able to book an appointment for starting on Dec. 20. Now is the time to move aggressively in a bilateral way on a plan to reopen the border. Reimer said the province will revise its guidelines as more evidence surfaces. Its common practice in war time for generals and other senior figures to be subbed-out if things arent going well. Show me who isn't facing these realities? Covid-19 in Canada: Ontario Locks Down With Virus 'Killing Faster and And I think its unwise to be overconfident that the worst is behind us.. As COVID-19 lingers, the need for national pharmacare progress is clear: experts. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, Moira Wyton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star "The good news is we've already vaccinated all the high-risk people in nursing homes and retirement homes, everybody over 80, now we are at everybody over the age of 55 getting their first shot.". Canada: Toronto goes into lockdown again. They had since resumed in class learning. But no parent in Ontario should accept it when someone whose actual job is to protect the hospitals tries to flip it around on them and tell them that its in fact the job of their children to protect the hospitals. Market data provided by Factset. Im asking you to remember that we can get through this., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. He added that he's "99 per cent sure" the province won't face any of the more stringent measures we've had to weather in recent months, though "nothing in this pandemic is 100 per cent" and he will always follow the guidance of his health table. Health officials placed the health zone in the province's northwest under temporary"circuit-breaker" restrictions last week as health officials triedto slow the spread of the novel coronavirusin the region. But what more and more people are now saying is that after almost two years of prep time, its a scandal that people who are supposedly well-suited to their jobs are still trotting out these old arguments. He is paid over $630,000 per year to effectively manage the healthcare system. Henry said the vaccine is safe and for the time being will continue to be administered to those over age 55. And while this is good news for Canada, the fact that COVID-19 immunity wanes over time means its still too early to declare the emergency over, Bogoch said. Those in healthcare admin always offer some dismissive remark about how you cant just snap your fingers and create new beds or procure new nurses. But the good news is that the vaccines continue to work against the worst outcomes. COVID-19: What does endemic mean and are we there yet? Retail settings, including shopping malls, will be permitted at 50 per cent capacity. "We are facing a serious situation and drastic measures are required to contain the rapid spread of the virus, especially the new variants of concern," said Premier Ford. INTERACTIVE |Where is the coronavirus pandemic getting better or worse? Fighting in Ukraine, White House Correspondents' Dinner, Canada Only workers, government security, health personnel and residents on urgent errands would be allowed out of homes during the week-long restrictions, which prohibitleisure trips and religious gatherings that forced the dominant Roman Catholic church to shift all of its Holy Week and Easter activities online. Hamilton wasmoving intothe strictest grey-lockdown phase of Ontario's pandemic response plan on Monday,while the Eastern Ontario Health Unit was to enterthe second-strictest red zone. Manitoba health officials said at a briefing on Monday that they are pausing the use of the AstraZenecavaccineon people under the age of 55. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. Ontario, Canada implemented a provincewide emergency break on April 3 as a result of a surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province. ET. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. Additionally, there is talk that Ford may revert some or all public health regions back into Step 2 or 3 of the 3-Step Roadmap to Reopenthat served as our most recent framework for lockdown guidelines, which we essentially shed in the fall. Will 2023 be the year COVID-19 becomes endemic in Canada? Experts weigh