Coronavirus

Wastewater testing can find what COVID-19 variants are present in the community (Pixabay).

Canada to continue testing wastewater for COVID-19 spread

Testing a community’s sewage, also known as wastewater, can determine the presence of COVID-19 in that community

 

Leslie Ann Coles poses for a photograph in Toronto on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Coles knew “almost immediately” something was wrong after her COVID-19 infection in January 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian researchers find brain inflammation in patients with long COVID

Autopsies of people who died in the midst of severe COVID-19 infection have previously shown they had brain inflammation

 

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. The Military Police watchdog is launching a probe into how investigators handled a historical sexual-assault allegation against a central figure in Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Watchdog to probe how military police handled case against Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin

A Quebec court acquitted Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin last December of one count of sexual assault

 

Migrants wait for U.S. authorities, between a barbed-wire barrier and the border fence at the US-Mexico border, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Christian Chavez

‘Chaotic’ down south, concern up north as U.S. ends COVID border, immigration rules

American officials bracing as big changes implemented on either edge

Migrants wait for U.S. authorities, between a barbed-wire barrier and the border fence at the US-Mexico border, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Christian Chavez
The Province of B.C. announced it was relaxing COVID-19 mask regulations earlier in March. (News Bulletin file)

A COVID legacy? When doctors say we should still be masking up

WHO downgraded COVID from a global emergency

The Province of B.C. announced it was relaxing COVID-19 mask regulations earlier in March. (News Bulletin file)
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks to journalists during a press conference about the Global WHO on World Health Day and the 75th anniversary at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday April 6, 2023. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

WHO downgrades COVID pandemic, says it’s no longer emergency

Announcement marks a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks to journalists during a press conference about the Global WHO on World Health Day and the 75th anniversary at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday April 6, 2023. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. At least 19 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are set to expire by the end of the year in Canada, according to data received by The Canadian Press. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

At least 19 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in Canada set to expire by end of the year

A fall booster shot campaign for the general population is ‘likely’

Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. At least 19 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are set to expire by the end of the year in Canada, according to data received by The Canadian Press. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A health-care worker crosses a covered overhead walkway at a hospital in Montreal, Tuesday, August 17, 2021. In B.C., the human rights commissioner is opposing a provincial decision to end mask mandates in health-care settings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Human rights commissioner opposes end of mask mandate in B.C. health-care settings

Commissioner says move disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations

A health-care worker crosses a covered overhead walkway at a hospital in Montreal, Tuesday, August 17, 2021. In B.C., the human rights commissioner is opposing a provincial decision to end mask mandates in health-care settings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Police tape is shown in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A new poll suggests most Canadians feel they’re less safe now than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, and most think the provincial and federal governments are doing a poor job of addressing crime and public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Poll suggests Canadians feel less safe than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic hit

Nearly two-thirds of those who took the survey said they feel things are worse: Leger

Police tape is shown in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A new poll suggests most Canadians feel they’re less safe now than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, and most think the provincial and federal governments are doing a poor job of addressing crime and public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. lifts proof of vaccination, masking requirements for entering health-care facilities

Public health officer Bonnie Henry said masking will still be necessary in some settings

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - A woman walks outside of a COVID-19 testing center at the Incheon International Airport In Incheon, South Korea, on Feb. 10, 2023. Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday, April 5, that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a cheaper and more sustainable tool in the country’s pandemic response. They say it could also improve the detection of other outbreaks, such as influenza, norovirus or drug-resistant bacteria. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

South Korea to test sewage samples for COVID-19

South Korea this month will begin weekly tests of sewage produced by…

FILE - A woman walks outside of a COVID-19 testing center at the Incheon International Airport In Incheon, South Korea, on Feb. 10, 2023. Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday, April 5, that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a cheaper and more sustainable tool in the country’s pandemic response. They say it could also improve the detection of other outbreaks, such as influenza, norovirus or drug-resistant bacteria. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on, during a welcoming ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, March 24, 2023. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says allowing Canadians who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 to cross into the United States was among issues he raised with President Joe Biden. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Allow unvaccinated Canadians to cross U.S. border, Poilievre asks President Joe Biden

American citizens are no longer required to have their shots to visit Canada

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on, during a welcoming ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, March 24, 2023. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says allowing Canadians who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 to cross into the United States was among issues he raised with President Joe Biden. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A patient is attached to a ventilator in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Canada’s race to procure ventilators for COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic had researchers, scientists, industry and a notable astrophysicist working “night and day” to design machines that could be quickly manufactured domestically. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Canada’s stockpile of ventilators up from 500 to 27,000 after push to procure them

Public Services and Procurement Canada says total cost was more than $807 million

A patient is attached to a ventilator in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Canada’s race to procure ventilators for COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic had researchers, scientists, industry and a notable astrophysicist working “night and day” to design machines that could be quickly manufactured domestically. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Quebec City. In B.C., pharmacist Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh is serving a one month suspension for faking his COVID vaccine records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

B.C. pharmacist suspended for faking his own COVID vaccine records

Vaccination became regulatory college requirement in October 2021

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Quebec City. In B.C., pharmacist Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh is serving a one month suspension for faking his COVID vaccine records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Used medical masks overflow a waste bin at the University of Calgary Medical Clinics in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Rise and fall of Canada’s domestic PPE market blamed on government policy

‘We’ve got an industry that is just running on fumes’

Used medical masks overflow a waste bin at the University of Calgary Medical Clinics in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says all British Columbians can “likely” get a COVID-19 boosters in the fall as part of a campaign that might become an annual ritual like the a flu-vaccination campaign.

B.C. announces spring COVID-19 boosters to be available soon

Henry also added that a fall booster will likely be available for all British Columbians

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says all British Columbians can “likely” get a COVID-19 boosters in the fall as part of a campaign that might become an annual ritual like the a flu-vaccination campaign.
FILE - Couples, whose weddings were cancelled or curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, participate in a symbolic multicultural ceremony at Damrosch Park, Sunday, July 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

Pandemic 3 years later: Has the COVID-19 virus won?

Saturday marks three years since the World Health Organization first called the outbreak a pandemic

FILE - Couples, whose weddings were cancelled or curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, participate in a symbolic multicultural ceremony at Damrosch Park, Sunday, July 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)
People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of COVID-19 walk past a multi-colour mural with hearts painted on it, in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. A new study suggests the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic took a relatively limited toll on global mental health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

More mental health resilience during COVID-19 than previously thought, study suggests

Global study challenges media portrayals of mental health decline as ‘a tsunami or catastrophe’

People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of COVID-19 walk past a multi-colour mural with hearts painted on it, in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. A new study suggests the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic took a relatively limited toll on global mental health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Eleven-year-old Ian Milos, shown in a family handout photo, was infected with COVID-19 two years ago and was diagnosed with long COVID by a pediatrician last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Report says long COVID could impact economy and be ‘mass disabling event’ in Canada

It’s becoming clear COVID-19 raises risk of chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension

Eleven-year-old Ian Milos, shown in a family handout photo, was infected with COVID-19 two years ago and was diagnosed with long COVID by a pediatrician last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Scientists examine a step in the vaccine purification process as they design updates to the Novavax’s COVID-19 shots in the company’s research laboratory on May 24, 2022, in Gaithersburg, Md. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Angie Wang

Company planning to make COVID-19 vaccine in Canada could go out of business

US-based Novavax told investors changing market is creating significant uncertainty

Scientists examine a step in the vaccine purification process as they design updates to the Novavax’s COVID-19 shots in the company’s research laboratory on May 24, 2022, in Gaithersburg, Md. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Angie Wang