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Tag: Coronavirus

  • COVID-19 update for March 25: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    COVID-19 update for March 25: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C.

    Publishing date:

    Mar 25, 2022  •  15 hours ago  •  3 minute read  •  13 Comments

    Here's your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C.
    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C. Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus /PNG

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C. for March 25, 2022.

    We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in B.C. right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

    Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our newsletter here.

    B.C.’S COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

    Here are the latest figures given on March 25:

    • Total number of confirmed cases: 355,092
    • New cases: 218
    • Total deaths: 2,983 (two in the past 24 hours)
    • Hospitalized cases: 260
    • Intensive care: 50
    • Total vaccinations: 4,526,941 received first dose (90.8{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of eligible pop. 5+); 4,344,849 second doses (87.2{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}); 2,654,589 third doses (57.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of those 12+)
    • Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: Seven

    IN-DEPTH: Here are all the B.C. cases of the novel coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020

    B.C. GUIDES AND LINKS

    • COVID-19: B.C.’s vaccine passport is here and this is how it works

    • COVID-19: Afraid of needles? Here’s how to overcome your fear and get vaccinated

    • COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in B.C.

    218 new cases reported Friday, two more deaths

    Interior Health reported the highest number of new cases of COVID-19 across the province Friday, with 80 new cases.

    Provincewide, there were 218 new cases of the virus reported on Friday, including 47 in Island Health, 45 in Fraser Health, 28 in Vancouver Coastal Health and 18 in Northern Health.

    There were two more deaths, one in Vancouver Coastal Health and one in Northern Health, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths up to 2,983.

    The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 is 260, including 50 in intensive care.

    — Cayley Dobie

    Six deaths reported Thursday, ICU admissions climb again

    B.C. health officials reported six deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday as the number of people in intensive care also edged up.

    There have now been 2,981 deaths from the virus since the start of the pandemic a little over two years ago.

    Another 271 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the past day, though that number understates the prevalence of the virus due to limited PCR testing.

    The number of people in hospital was relatively stable at 255, with 52 of them in ICU. That’s up from 49 a day earlier.

    — Joseph Ruttle

    Quebec Premier Legault tests positive for COVID-19

    Quebec Premier François Legault has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19.

    In a tweet, Legault said he started experiencing symptoms Thursday afternoon and took a test that revealed he was infected. He said he feels fine and will continue to work at a distance for the next five days in conformity with public health directives.

    “We see with the rise in cases lately that the virus is present in Quebec,” Legault said. “Let’s continue to be prudent. We will get through this together.”

    Read the full story here.

    — Montreal Gazette

    German health minister urges people at risk to get second COVID booster

    Germany’s health minister on Friday urged people over age 60 with risk factors such as high blood pressure or a weak heart to get a second booster shot against COVID-19 to reduce their risk of getting seriously ill.

    Karl Lauterbach said he had asked the STIKO vaccine authority to adjust its current recommendation for a second booster to include a bigger group of people.

    Only 10 per cent of the people for whom a fourth vaccination is currently recommended have received it so far, the minister said.

    —Reuters

    DEATHS BY HEALTH AUTHORITY

    WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS CANADA

    LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

    Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    • Vancouver Coastal Health – Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

    • HealthLink B.C. – Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

    • B.C. Centre for Disease Control – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

    • Government of Canada – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

    • World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

    –with files from The Canadian Press

    Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

  • COVID-19 update for March 25: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    COVID-19 update for March 9: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C.

    Publishing date:

    Mar 09, 2022  •  12 hours ago  •  7 minute read  •  55 Comments

    Here's your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C.
    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C. Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus /PNG

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in B.C. for March 9, 2022.

    We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in B.C. right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

    Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our newsletter here.

    B.C.’S COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

    Here are the latest figures given on March 9:

    • Total number of confirmed cases: 351,415
    • New cases: 274
    • Total deaths: 2,929 (14 reported in past 24 hours)
    • Hospitalized cases: 405
    • Intensive care: 58
    • Total vaccinations: 4,521,087 received first dose (90.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of eligible pop. 5+); 4,315,064 second doses (86.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}); 2,519,018 third doses (58.2{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of those 12+)
    • Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 15

    IN-DEPTH: Here are all the B.C. cases of the novel coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020

    B.C. GUIDES AND LINKS

    • COVID-19: B.C.’s vaccine passport is here and this is how it works

    • COVID-19: Afraid of needles? Here’s how to overcome your fear and get vaccinated

    • COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in B.C.

    Fewer than 900 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered over past day

    There were 891 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in B.C. over the past day, as the percentage of people aged five and over in the province who have had a first dose remained steady at 90.7 per cent.

    In total there were 6,043 doses administered either as first, second or third doses.

    The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 14 deaths in the past 24 hours, with that total now at 2,929. The number of people in hospital either because of COVID-19 or with the disease continues to fall – with 405 cases in hospital on Tuesday, including 58 in intensive care.

    On Tuesday there were 5,604 PCR tests performed – about a quarter of B.C.’s testing capacity – with just over seven per cent of those tests coming back positive.

    Due to limited testing the government does not know how many active cases there are in the community, instead relying on hospitalization numbers and wastewater data to give guidance on where the pandemic is headed.

    Given hospital numbers and wastewater metrics are falling, the pandemic is considered to be improving.

    There are 15 active outbreaks in health-care facilities, two fewer than yesterday.

    Ontario to eliminate most mask mandates on March 21

    Ontario students won’t have to wear masks when they return to school after March break, the province announced Wednesday.

    Most mask requirements will be dropped as of March 21, with remaining mandates for higher risk settings such as long-term care, hospitals and transit, to be dropped on April 27.

    Provincial officials said the move — as case counts and other key indicators are improving — are part of learning to live with and manage COVID-19. During a technical briefing, officials acknowledged that COVID-19 is likely to return next fall and winter or even sooner if a new evasive variant emerges.

    “Removing the mask mandate does not mean the risk is gone. COVID transmission is still occurring and masks can protect you and others from becoming infected,” the Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health.

    Moore said the province is “now learning to live with and manage COVID for the long term.”

    Read full story here.

    — Postmedia News

    Winnipeg zoo giving COVID-19 vaccine to 55 animals including tigers, snow leopards

    The Winnipeg zoo is giving a COVID-19 vaccine to some of its animals that are considered to be at greater risk of contracting the virus.

    The Assiniboine Park Zoo says it has begun using a vaccine made uniquely for animals to protect them against the novel coronavirus.

    Chris Enright, the zoo’s director of veterinary services, says vaccination is a common and safe way of protecting animals in human care from a variety of illnesses.

    The zoo says certain animals are more vulnerable to COVID-19, including primates, big cats such as tigers and snow leopards and those that have closer interaction with human caregivers.

    Fifty-five animals are expected to get the shots.

    The vaccine is to be administered to the animals in two doses about three weeks apart. It is made by Zoetis, an American company which specializes in animal health. The vaccine’s use is authorized on a case-by-case basis by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the zoo said.

    Read full story here.

    — The Canadian Press

    One COVID-19 death reported Tuesday

    One COVID-19 death was reported Tuesday, bringing that total to 2,915 since the pandemic began over two years ago. The average age of people who have died from the disease in B.C. is 82 – that is also the province’s life expectancy.

    The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 254 new cases over the past day and performed 4,038 laboratory tests on Monday – with a test positive rate of 7.8 per cent.

    This is less than a quarter of the the province’s testing capacity. The government is no longer tracking active cases of the disease and is relying on people to use free rapid tests rather than PCR tests – that are more accurate and more expensive.

    The number of people in hospital either because of COVID-19 or with the disease continues to fall. There are now 419 people in hospital including 63 in intensive care.

    Order in place forcing B.C. health care professionals to disclose COVID-19 vaccination status

    The provincial health officer has posted a new provincial health order ordering health care professionals to report their vaccination status to their colleges and for that information to be provided to the Health Ministry by month’s end.

    Dr. Bonnie Henry had previously made an announcement in early 2022 that all health care professionals would need to be vaccinated to work, but the latest order stops short of setting a deadline for that requirement.

    The latest order requires all health care professionals from across a range of fields to report their vaccination status to their respective colleges. Those colleges will then be required to share the information with the ministry, which will verify the information against their vaccination registry.

    The order applies to nurses and midwives, chiropractors, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental surgeons, denturists, dieticians, massage therapists, naturopaths, occupational therapists, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians and surgeons, psychologists, speech and hearing professionals and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

    Read full story here.

    Austria says it is putting its COVID-19 vaccine mandate on ice

    Austria is suspending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, its ministers for health and constitutional affairs said on Wednesday, six days before fines for breaches were due to start being handed out.

    The measure has been in effect since Feb. 5, but enforcement was only due to begin on March 15.

    The decision to introduce it was announced in November, before the wider emergence of the highly contagious but less severe Omicron variant in Austria. The strain on intensive-care units has since eased.

    The measure has been in effect since Feb. 5, but enforcement was only due to begin on March 15.

    The decision to introduce it was announced in November, before the wider emergence of the highly contagious but less severe Omicron variant in Austria. The strain on intensive-care units has since eased.

    —Reuters

    Remember COVID? Why many of us are suffering from brain fog

    As Canada reopens amid loosening pandemic restrictions, some people are finding it hard to recall words or names or compute things in their heads. Maybe you don’t remember all the steps to your morning routine anymore or your child’s teacher’s name.

    Approximately 600 million people worldwide experience cognitive impairment in the form of “brain fog”. This “fog” is a common symptom of what is dubbed “long COVID,” the long-term effects of having contracted the COVID-19 virus.

    Why is this happening and what can be done to combat it?

    “I don’t think we exactly know the answer…these are all, neuroscientifically, not very well-defined things,” said Dr. Adrian Owen, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Western University in London, Ontario.

    Even though “brain fog” lacks a specific scientific definition, he said they are starting to understand how it impacts the brains of people who have had COVID.

    Read the full story here.

    DEATHS BY HEALTH AUTHORITY

    WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS CANADA

    LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

    Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    • Vancouver Coastal Health – Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

    • HealthLink B.C. – Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

    • B.C. Centre for Disease Control – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

    • Government of Canada – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

    • World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

    –with files from The Canadian Press

    Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

  • Indiana coronavirus updates for March 7, 2022

    Indiana coronavirus updates for March 7, 2022

    The latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic for Monday, March 7, 2022.

    INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Monday’s latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana.

    Registrations for the vaccine are now open for Hoosiers 5 and older through the Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.

    RELATED: Here’s everything we know about the COVID-19 vaccine

    RELATED: Here are the most common omicron symptoms being reported

    Franciscan Health adjusts visitation policies

    With COVID-19 coronavirus cases dropping in central Indiana and the number of patients hospitalized with the virus also on the decline, Franciscan Health is relaxing its visitor policies for the four medical campuses in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel.

    The following policies will go into effect 9 a.m. Monday, March 7:

    • Patients will be allowed two visitors at a time during visiting hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  All ages are now permitted as visitors.
    • Active screening of visitors for COVID-like symptoms is being discontinued. Visitors should self-screen for COVID symptoms and only visit the hospital if symptom-free.
    • All visitors 2 and older are required to wear an unvented face mask. Visitors without an unvented mask will be provided one upon entering the hospital.
    • Visitors should continue to observe social distancing and practice good hand hygiene. 

    The new policies were defined with input from the Franciscan Alliance leadership and guidelines from the CDC, Indiana Department of Health and Marion County Health Department.

    Purdue to relax mask protocols in classes, research spaces

    Purdue University announced it will drop its mask mandate and move to mask optional beginning March 14. This means masks won’t be required in classrooms or research spaces. 

    However, the university did say masks will still be required in health care settings and where contractually required. Masks also continue to be required as apart of the quarantine process for those infected or exposed to COVID-19.

    The university’s decision was made based on data showing declining COVID-19 cases, current CDC guidance and the high rate of vaccinations among the campus community. According to Purdue, the campus is now 90{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} vaccinated. 

    Free vaccines and boosters will continue to be available at no cost at Purdue’s campus vaccine clinic. The university will also continue to provide free N95 and KN95 masks throughout campus.  

    Global death toll tops 6 million as pandemic enters 3rd year

    The official global death toll from COVID-19 is topped 6 million people early Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now in its third year, is far from over.

    The milestone is the latest tragic reminder of the unrelenting nature of the pandemic even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe. The death toll, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, stood at 6,000,097 at 5:30 a.m. ET Monday.

    Latest US, world numbers

    There have been more than 79.27 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 5:30 a.m. Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 958,620 deaths recorded in the U.S.

    Worldwide, there have been more than 446.36 million confirmed coronavirus cases with 6 million deaths and more than 10.59 billion vaccine doses administered.


    For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.

    RELATED: Global COVID death toll hits 6 million in 2 years of pandemic

    Marion County COVID-19 vaccination and test clinics continue

    The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) continues to provide free COVID-19 vaccination and testing to anyone interested in receiving these services.

    MCPHD is operating one COVID-19 testing site, which is a drive-thru clinic located at at 3838 N. Rural Street in Indianapolis.

    The clinic’s current hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. This clinic offers PCR testing only and no rapid testing. A list of additional test sites registered with the Indiana Department of Health is available at Coronavirus.IN.gov.

    Appointments for COVID-19 testing at the MCPHD location are not required but are available by visiting MarionHealth.org/indycovid or calling 317-221-5515.

    MCPHD is also offering COVID-19 vaccines at its district health offices, ACTION Health Center, and four other locations in Marion County. Appointments for vaccines are not required but are recommended. 

    Please visit OurShot.IN.gov or call 2-1-1 to find a vaccination clinic.

    Marion County March clinic schedule

    • Northeast District Health Office, 6042 E. 21st St.
      Mondays: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
      Tuesdays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
      Saturday, March 26 only, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • Eagledale Plaza Health Office, 2802 Lafayette Rd.
      Tuesdays: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • Northwest District Health Office, 6940 N. Michigan Rd.
      Thursdays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
      Saturday, March 19 only: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • South District Health Office, 7551 S. Shelby St.
      Mondays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
      Fridays: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
      Saturday, March 12 only: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • ACTION Health Center, 2868 N. Pennsylvania St.
      Wednesdays: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Martindale-Brightwood Public Library Branch, 2435 N. Sherman Dr. (ages 12-over only)
      Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
      Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • College Avenue Public Library Branch, 4180 N. College Ave. (ages 12-over only)
      Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
      Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • East 38th Street Public Library Branch, 5420 E. 38th St.  (ages 12-over only)
      Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
      Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • IndyGo Carson Transit Center, 201 E. Washington St.  (ages 12-over only)
      Tuesdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
      Wednesdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
      Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

    How to order more free COVID-19 test kits from US government 

    Starting next week, the U.S. government will allow Americans to order another round of free at-home COVID-19 tests.

    The second round of orders will begin next week allowing two separate orders of an additional four tests, eight tests total, to be placed.

    President Joe Biden announced the second round of orders will begin during Tuesday’s State of the Union address.

    During the first round of orders back in January, 500,00 tests were available, but nearly half of those tests remain unclaimed.

    To order the at-home tests, you can visit this USPS website starting next week and fill out the required information. All orders will ship completely free.

  • COVID-19 update for March 25: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    COVID-19 update for March 3: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C.

    Publishing date:

    Mar 03, 2022  •  1 day ago  •  6 minute read  •  28 Comments

    Here's your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C.
    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus /PNG

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. for March 3, 2022.

    We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in B.C. right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

    Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our newsletter here.

    B.C.’S COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

    Here are the latest figures given on March 3:

    • Total number of confirmed cases: 349,604
    • New cases: 391
    • Total deaths: 2,896 (13 reported in past 24 hours)
    • Hospitalized cases: 511
    • Intensive care: 79
    • Total vaccinations: 4,517,958 received first dose (90.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of eligible pop. 5+); 4,303,614 second doses (86.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}); 2,590,923 third doses (55.9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of those 12+)
    • Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 21

    IN-DEPTH: Here are all the B.C. cases of the novel coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020

    B.C. GUIDES AND LINKS

    • COVID-19: B.C.’s vaccine passport is here and this is how it works

    • COVID-19: Afraid of needles? Here’s how to overcome your fear and get vaccinated

    • COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in B.C.

    Another 13 deaths reported Thursday

    B.C. health officials reported 13 more deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total death toll in the province to 2,896 since the start of the pandemic.

    Another 391 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus were also reported, though that number reflects selective PCR testing that prioritizes those who are vulnerable or experiencing severe symptoms.

    More than 90 per cent of the eligible population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 86 per cent have had two doses.

    Those numbers have seen only marginal gains in recent weeks as the vaccination campaign focuses on booster doses. Third shots have now been administered to 55.9 per cent of those who are eligible (age 12 and over).

    One new outbreak in care has been declared, at Parkwood Court in Island Health, while another at Rest Haven Lodge, also in Island Health, is over. That leaves 21 health-care facilities still managing an outbreak across the province.

    — Joseph Ruttle

    Fraser Health Authority closing down some large vaccine clinics

    Fraser Health officials are scaling back the large COVID-19 vaccine clinics and will shift the focus to child immunizations.

    The health authority said more than 90 per cent of eligible people 12 years and older in the region have received at least two doses of vaccine, so they are ramping down to meet demand.

    Sarah Siebert, director of clinical operations for Fraser Health’s Pandemic Response COVID-19 Testing and Immunization Centres, said they are consolidating resources in each community. So for example, the Cloverdale Recreation Centre the Poirier Forum testing sites have closed and the one at the Anvil Community Centre in New Westminster will close in the coming weeks.

    The South Surrey Recreation Centre testing site closed last month to vaccines but will reopen on March 17 for kids’ vaccinations. The last day for the vaccines at Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be March 18, while the Langley Event Centre will continue offering vaccines for now.

    —Tiffany Crawford

    Ontario likely to end mask mandate by end of month

    Ontario is poised to remove masking mandates by the end of March if current positive COVID-19 trends continue, chief medical health officer Dr. Kieran Moore says.

    In what’s expected to be his second-last regular weekly COVID-19 update, the province’s top public health doctor said he’ll make recommendations shortly on an appropriate time to lift compulsory face-covering requirement for schools and the general public.

    “But I ask all Ontarians, if you’re vulnerable to this virus, if you haven’t received your full dose of vaccine — first, second, third or fourth dose — that you remain prudent, that we remain kind and considerate to those that decide to wear masks,” Moore said Thursday. “I do believe they are protective, they do decrease your personal risk, but … we can only mandate masking for so long.”

    Read the full story here.

    — Toronto Sun 

    CBSA resumes airport service as federal travel restrictions ease

    The Canadian Border Services Agency is resuming regular service at two B.C. airports after federal travel guidelines eased earlier this week.

    The CBSA will now operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Penticton and Pringe George airports, after earlier suspending service due to COVID-19 in March 2020.

    Following the federal government’s travel restriction update on Feb. 28, international flights are now also permitted to land at three B.C. airports, where they had previously been halted due to the pandemic.

    Those airports include Kamloops and Nanaimo airports, as well as the Vancouver International Airport’s small aircraft station. The CBSA will resume regular clearance services at these three points of entry.

    – Stephanie Ip

    10 deaths reported Tuesday, outbreaks in care drop despite five new ones

    B.C. reported 10 more deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday after a rare report a day earlier with none.

    That raises the death toll to 2,883 since the start of the pandemic.

    Some 442 new cases of the viral disease were confirmed in the past 24 hours, though that number only reflects testing of those who are symptomatic or clinically vulnerable.

    Those who suspect they have COVID-19 but are experiencing only mild symptoms and have no other risk factors are advised to isolate but not to get a test.

    Five new outbreaks have been reported in long-term and acute care, including Mission Memorial Hospital in Fraser Health, Gillis House in Interior Health, and Berwick House Gordon Head, The Heights at Mt. View and Greenwoods, all in Island Health.

    However, the B.C. Health Ministry said 11 other outbreaks across the province were declared over, dropping the number that are active to 21.

    — Joseph Ruttle

    Interior Health moving to pharmacy and clinic-based vaccination

    With vaccination rates reaching new heights, Interior Health is winding down its mass immunization clinics and moving the campaign to pharmacies and IH-operated health centres.

    COVID-19 vaccine appointments in the coming weeks will gradually move out of the large clinics into the pharmacies and health centres in Interior Health.

    Anyone who hasn’t received a vaccine, booster or pediatric vaccine (for children age five to 11) can continue to book appointments as before. Pediatric vaccines will be administered in IH clinics while those 12 and older can go to a pharmacy in their community. More than 90 pharmacies are part of the program in the health region

    Regular and pop-up clinics will continue in some rural and remote communities where access to pharmacies is limited.

    —Joseph Ruttle

    Nerve damage may explain some cases of long COVID: U.S. study

    A small study of patients suffering from persistent symptoms long after a bout of COVID-19 found that nearly 60{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} had nerve damage possibly caused by a defective immune response, a finding that could point to new treatments, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

    The study involved in depth exams of 17 people with so-called long COVID, a condition that arises within three months of a COVID-19 infection and lasts at least two months.

    — Reuters

    DEATHS BY HEALTH AUTHORITY

    LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

    Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    • Vancouver Coastal Health – Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

    • HealthLink B.C. – Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

    • B.C. Centre for Disease Control – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

    • Government of Canada – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

    • World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

    –with files from The Canadian Press

    Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

  • Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup – Consumer Health News

    Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup – Consumer Health News

    Below is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your apply for the 7 days of Feb. 21 to 25, 2022. This roundup includes the most recent exploration information from journal reports and other reliable sources that is most possible to have an impact on clinical observe.

    CDC Loosens Mask Tips as Omicron Surge Subsides

    FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Command and Prevention announced Friday that most Us citizens can now drop their confront coverings in indoor general public configurations, mainly because the agency has transformed how it actions the threat of COVID-19 in nearby communities.

    Read through Whole Textual content

    Critical COVID-19 Ups Threat for PTSD in Family Users

    FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Relatives users of people hospitalized in the intense care device (ICU) with COVID-19-similar acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) expertise a doubled chance for posttraumatic worry disorder signs or symptoms at 90 times post-ICU discharge compared with family members associates of clients with non-COVID-19 ARDS, in accordance to a examine published on the net Feb. 18 in the Journal of the American Clinical Association.

    Read through Complete Textual content

    Tens of millions of Youngsters Globally Influenced by COVID-19 Mother or father, Caregiver Dying

    FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — From April 30 to Oct. 31, 2021, there was a 90. percent maximize in the number of kids impacted by COVID-19-connected orphanhood and caregiver loss of life compared with the variety in the course of March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, in accordance to a research published online Feb. 24 in The Lancet Youngster & Adolescent Wellbeing.

    Examine Comprehensive Textual content

    Extended-Long lasting Cardiovascular Load Noticed Following COVID-19

    FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — The possibility and 1-calendar year load of cardiovascular illness is substantial among the survivors of acute COVID-19, according to a study printed on the net Feb. 7 in Mother nature Medicine.

    Examine Total Text

    COVID-19 Survivors at Better Chance for New Behavioral Health Troubles

    THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Individuals who endure the acute period of COVID-19 are at enhanced chance for subsequent incident behavioral overall health problems, according to a research posted on line Feb. 16 in The BMJ.

    Examine Comprehensive Text

    CDC Close to New Assistance on COVID-19 Limitations

    THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Up to date standards to information COVID-19 restrictions will be announced by the U.S. Facilities for Disease Command and Prevention later this week or early following 7 days, according to a CDC scientist involved in the procedure.

    Go through Complete Textual content

    Indicators/Signs or symptoms Might ID COVID-19 Even With Adverse RT-PCR

    THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalized individuals early in the pandemic who consistently analyzed unfavorable with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) but experienced indications and/or signs of COVID-19 experienced comparable seropositivity as RT-PCR-verified COVID-19 individuals, but were being much less possible to obtain remedy, according to a examine released online Feb. 13 in BMC Infectious Disorders.

    Examine Complete Text

    COVID-19 Vaccination Tied to Decline in Distress in U.S. Older people

    THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — Receipt of COVID-19 vaccination is related with declines in psychological distress claimed by U.S. older people, according to a examine lately published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

    Read Entire Textual content

    New Sanofi-GSK COVID-19 Vaccine Very Effective, Companies Say

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Two doses of a new COVID-19 vaccine from Sanofi and GSK had been 100 percent productive against extreme illness and hospitalizations, the corporations introduced Wednesday.

    Examine Comprehensive Textual content

    Most Absolutely free COVID-19 Checks Have Delivered: White House

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — Additional than 90 {fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of free of charge at-residence COVID-19 tests ordered by means of a federal governing administration internet site have been shipped in an “unparalleled” effort and hard work, the Biden administration senior adviser on tests reported Tuesday.

    Examine Total Text

    COVID-19 Vacation Policies to Europe May perhaps Be Lifted for Vaccinated

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — All tests and quarantine prerequisites for vacationers to European Union member nations ought to be lifted upcoming thirty day period for all those who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19, the European Council reported Tuesday.

    Examine Comprehensive Textual content

    Ivermectin Does Not Avert Progression to Significant COVID-19

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Ivermectin procedure throughout early health issues does not protect against progression to serious condition for higher-hazard sufferers with mild-to-average COVID-19, according to a review posted on line Feb. 18 in JAMA Internal Drugs.

    Read through Total Textual content

    Social Vulnerability Connected to Improved Severity of COVID-19

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Patients with COVID-19 from socially susceptible neighborhoods existing with enhanced severity of ailment and require additional intensive treatment, in accordance to a review released online Feb. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medication.

    Read Whole Text

    Pediatric ED Visits Diminished In the course of Pandemic Compared to 2019

    TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) — When compared with 2019, pediatric emergency department visits lessened in the course of 2020, 2021, and January 2022, even though increases were being observed for visits relevant to behavioral fears, according to research revealed in the Feb. 18 early-release issue of the U.S. Facilities for Disease Manage and Avoidance Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

    Study Complete Text

    Boris Johnson Lifts Last COVID-19 Limitations in England

    TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared Monday that his govt will conclusion all remaining COVID-19 constraints in England, such as the requirement for persons with COVID-19 to self-isolate.

    Browse Comprehensive Textual content

    Lower Hazard Seen for Next Allergic Reaction to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine

    TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For sufferers with an allergic reaction to their initial dose of mRNA severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination, the possibility for recurring quick allergic and extreme rapid allergic reactions affiliated with a second dose is lower, according to a review revealed on the internet Feb. 21 in JAMA Inner Medicine.

    Browse Whole Textual content

  • COVID-19 update for March 25: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    COVID-19 update for Feb. 24: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C.

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C.

    Publishing date:

    Feb 24, 2022  •  8 hours ago  •  5 minute read  •  9 Comments

    Here's your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C.
    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus /PNG

    Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. for Feb. 24, 2022.

    We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in B.C. right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

    Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our newsletter here.

    B.C.’S COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

    Here are the latest figures given on Feb. 24:

    • Total number of confirmed cases: 346,793
    • New cases: 597
    • Total deaths: 2,840 (nine new deaths)
    • Hospitalized cases: 612
    • Intensive care: 102
    • Total vaccinations: 4,513,956 received first dose (90.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of eligible pop. 5+); 4,287,016 second doses (86{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}); 2,555,669 third doses (55.1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of adults)
    • Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 29

    IN-DEPTH: Here are all the B.C. cases of the novel coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020

    B.C. GUIDES AND LINKS

    • COVID-19: B.C.’s vaccine passport is here and this is how it works

    • COVID-19: Afraid of needles? Here’s how to overcome your fear and get vaccinated

    • COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in B.C.

    COVID-19 test positive rate in Northern Health tops 25 per cent

    More than a quarter of all people taking COVID-19 PCR tests in the Northern Health region are reporting positive, compared to just four per cent in Vancouver Coastal Health, according to latest data.

    The seven-day average for Northern Health on Feb. 23 was 25.7 per cent after peaking at 31.2 per cent on Feb. 9.

    This means that for every 100 laboratory tests done in the Northern Health region 26 are coming back positive.

    By contrast, on Feb. 23 the seven-day average in Vancouver Coastal Health was four per cent after peaking at 20.8 per cent on Jan. 4.

    On Feb. 23 the test positive rate in Fraser Health — that is B.C.’s largest health region — was 6.6 per cent.

    Interior Health was 17.2 per cent and Vancouver Island Health was 20.6 per cent.

    Fewer than 700 people receive a first dose of vaccine on Wednesday

    The B.C. Ministry of Health says 672 people received a first dose of vaccine on Wednesday, bringing that total to 90.6 per cent of British Columbians aged five and up.

    Latest data shows 6,459 people got a third booster shot on the same day, while 2,650 people got a second dose.

    There were 597 new cases of COVID-19 identified through PCR testing over the past day, which is not an accurate reflection of cases because of limited testing.

    The number of people in hospital because of, or with, COVID-19 continues to fall and is now at 612 — with 102 of those cases in intensive care.

    Nine people died from the disease over the past day and there are 29 active outbreaks in health care facilities.

    B.C. doctor gets misconduct warning over ‘misleading’ social media posts

    A disciplinary panel will hold a hearing about alleged misconduct by a B.C. doctor after he made “misleading, incorrect or inflammatory” statements about COVID-19 on social media.

    The B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons has issued a citation for Charles Douglas Hoffe, a family doctor who practises in and around Lytton and Kamloops.

    The college alleges Hoffe’s online comments contravened the standards of the Health Professions Act including the Canadian Medical Association’s code of ethics and professionalism.

    Among the wrong or inflammatory statements Hoffe is alleged to have published online around April 2021 include that “ivermectin is an advisable treatment for COVID-19” and that “the public obtain ivermectin from animal feed stores.”

    Read the full story here.

    —Joseph Ruttle

    Some violation tickets dropped in B.C., many more go unpaid

    While about 2,700 tickets totalling almost $2 million have been issued, ICBC says only 736 have been paid. About 390 tickets have been cancelled, withdrawn, determined “not guilty” or remain in progress, with 417 more in dispute.

    Crown prosecutors recently stayed 25 tickets totalling almost $58,000 issued to representatives of four B.C. churches accused of contravening COVID-19-related public health orders last winter.

    Simon Fraser University criminologist Robert Gordon speculated more tickets could be stayed if Crown decides it is no longer in the public interest to pursue them as B.C. moves from “pandemic to endemic.”

    “It is not unusual for certain changes in the law to be preceded by withdrawal of charges,” he said, pointing to various cannabis-related charges that were stayed in advance of legalization. “Crown may indirectly follow the direction of political decisions.”

    Read the full story here.

    —Glenda Luymes

    COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to fall in B.C.

    The number of people in B.C. hospitals either because of COVID-19 or admitted for another reason but with the disease continues to fall.

    According to B.C. Ministry of Health data released on Wednesday, there were 653 people in hospital because of or with COVID-19, of which 108 were in intensive case. These numbers have been falling for the past two weeks as the disease levels off in the province.

    One person was reported to have died over the past day, bringing that total to 2,831.

    There are 29 active outbreaks in health care facilities, a number that is also falling. The percentage of people testing positive to a PCR test is now less than 10 per cent, since peaking at 24 per cent in early January. There were 6,647 PCR tests administered on Tuesday.

    Free rapid tests to be distributed in B.C. through pharmacies

    B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix says free COVID-19 rapid tests will begin to be made available through pharmacies on Friday.

    Dix said people aged 70 and over would be able to get a free five-pack through select pharmacies, and that the age group would be lowered over the next few weeks to make them available to all British Columbians within a month.

    Dix said the number of pharmacies distributing the test kits would grow rapidly over the next few weeks.

    Pharmacies distributing the kits can be found at the B.C. Pharmacy Association website.

    DEATHS BY HEALTH AUTHORITY

    WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS CANADA

    LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

    Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

    • B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

    • Vancouver Coastal Health — Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

    • HealthLink B.C. — Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

    • B.C. Centre for Disease Control — Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

    • Government of Canada — Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

    • World Health Organization — Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

    —with files from The Canadian Press

    Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.