Press "Enter" to skip to content

Tag: Canada

Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID

Why Canadians with long COVID feel forgotten by the health-care system: ‘The pandemic still isn’t over’

Published August 16, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Toronto Star
Published on:
By Kevin Jiang

Parts of Tracey Thompson’s home are papered with notes.

Post-its and sheets of paper are pinned to her fridge and bookshelves, chronicling everything from doctor’s appointments to errands and upcoming tasks — physical reminders of what the 57-year-old says her brain can no longer keep track.

Five years after the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thompson has become one of the faces of long COVID, her journey chronicled by numerous news articles.

“I understand why more folks aren’t willing to be interviewed because they can garner a lot of negative attention,” she told the Star. “While telling my story can feel repetitive and is often stressful, there are still folks who don’t know what’s wrong with them or what the risks are, so I feel obligated to keep talking.”

Her profile may be higher than most, but Thompson is far from alone.

Continue readingWhy Canadians with long COVID feel forgotten by the health-care system: ‘The pandemic still isn’t over’
Comments closed
Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID

Do you have long COVID? Here’s how to tell, and what we know about the condition so far

Published August 16, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Toronto Star
Published on:
By Kevin Jiang

It has been more than five years since the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet innumerable Canadians are still living with the consequences months or even years after their initial infection.

Much remains unknown about long COVID, or Post COVID Condition (PCC), despite the ailment affecting millions of Canadians and leaving thousands out of work. But as research continues to develop, scientists have gleaned some pieces of the puzzle.

Here’s what we know so far about what long COVID is, why it happens and how to tell if you have it.

Continue readingDo you have long COVID? Here’s how to tell, and what we know about the condition so far
Comments closed
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Funding Changes Might Leave BC’s Long-COVID Patients in the Lurch

Published August 12, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Tyee
Published on:
By Michelle Gamage

Upcoming changes to B.C.’s Medical Services Plan could affect how thousands of long-COVID patients access care.

Starting Sept. 1, MSP is capping all online group medical visits to just 20 patients, to “ensure there can still be a one-on-one interaction between each patient and the attending physician,” the Health Ministry told The Tyee.

Most long-COVID care in B.C. is currently delivered through large online group telehealth sessions from the Bowen Island-based BC Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS, and Fibromyalgia, or BC-CLMF, which currently has over 5,200 patients — with 25 more referred every day, Dr. Ric Arseneau told The Tyee.

Continue readingFunding Changes Might Leave BC’s Long-COVID Patients in the Lurch
Comments closed
Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Canada likely to lose measles elimination status as outbreak continues: expert

Published August 6, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Pauline Chan

Canada is at risk of losing its measles elimination status as an outbreak that started in New Brunswick last year continues to grow.

Measles has been considered eliminated in Canada since 1998, and the country saw an average of 91 cases annually before October 2024, when the outbreak began. The designation means that, within a certain geographical region, there has been no sustained measles transmission over 12 consecutive months.

Since then, of the 4,394 measles infections nationwide, Health Canada data shows that most individuals were exposed to the virus domestically (94 per cent) and were not vaccinated (88 per cent).

Continue readingCanada likely to lose measles elimination status as outbreak continues: expert
Comments closed
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Alberta’s Perverse New Barriers to COVID Vaccines

Published August 5, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Tyee
Published on:
By Andrew Nikiforuk

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s radical new rules for COVID immunization pose a genuine threat to the elderly, the working poor and pregnant moms.

Smith, who revived her ailing political career by peddling conspiratorial COVID theories, has designed a program that is not only punitive but discriminatory, bureaucratic and Soviet in nature.

“This policy is so bad that it’s actually worse than their usual failure to plan properly,” said James Talbot, the province’s former chief medical officer of health. “In fact, it is so bad it looks like they are actually planning to fail.”

Here are the three basic tenets of any successful public health program: make it available, make it accessible and make it affordable. Smith turns all three upside down.

Continue readingAlberta’s Perverse New Barriers to COVID Vaccines
Comments closed
Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Wildfire smoke blanketing Ottawa could linger into Tuesday

Published August 4, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Ted Raymond

Environment Canada says a cloud of wildfire smoke that is covering the nation’s capital could hang overhead into Tuesday.

A special air quality statement is in effect for much of the region as smoke continues to affect most of southern and eastern Ontario.

“The wildfire smoke may persist into tonight and possibly Tuesday before finally easing,” Environment Canada says. “Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.”

Continue readingWildfire smoke blanketing Ottawa could linger into Tuesday
Comments closed
Topic: TorontoView all posts for the topic: Toronto

First human case of West Nile virus acquired in Canada this year confirmed

Published July 31, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Canadian Press
Published on:
By Nicole Ireland

TORONTO – The Public Health Agency of Canada says this year’s first human case of West Nile virus acquired within the country has been confirmed in Toronto.

The confirmation comes after Toronto Public Health said its first laboratory-confirmed case of the virus in 2025 is an adult resident of the city with no travel history.

The virus is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes.

PHAC’s West Nile surveillance report says that as of July 12, two other Canadian residents were infected this year while travelling outside of the country.

Continue readingFirst human case of West Nile virus acquired in Canada this year confirmed
Comments closed
Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID

B.C. plans to cut payments for long-COVID clinics, leaving patients in lurch

Published July 27, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Victoria Times Colonist
Published on:
By Alec Lazenby, Vancouver Sun

A virtual clinic that treats patients for long COVID and other chronic conditions is warning that it may have to partially shut down if the province goes ahead with changes on Sept. 1 that would limit the number of patients who can take part in online group appointments.

The B.C. Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia, run by internal medicine doctors Ric Arseneau and R. Jane McKay, treats 5,000 patients for a variety of chronic diseases, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, which causes extreme fatigue, and PoTS, a heart rate condition.

After each patient goes through an initial one-on-one consultation, follow-up appointments can take the form of a virtual group medical visit of up to 12 patients, where either Arseneau or McKay take at least one to two questions per patient, or a group medication visit of up to 50 patients, which allows for presentations on different medications and then takes questions from patients.

Continue readingB.C. plans to cut payments for long-COVID clinics, leaving patients in lurch
Comments closed
Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Wildfires: Montreal has the worst air quality in the world

Published July 26, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Radio-Canada
Published on:
By Patrick MacIntyre

Smoke from forest fires is responsible for poor air quality in southern Quebec, northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Montreal is also on Saturday the city where air quality is the worst in the world, according to IQAir’s ranking.

With a score of 191, Montreal ranks first, ahead of cities like Kinshasa in Congo and Manama in Bahrain. Toronto is also part of the top 10, it ranks 8th with a score of 110.

A score between 101 and 150 on the IQAir index indicates that conditions are poor for vulnerable people. If the index is higher than 150, the conditions are bad for everyone’s health.

Continue readingWildfires: Montreal has the worst air quality in the world
Comments closed
Topic: labour rightsView all posts for the topic: labour rights

Human Rights Tribunal Affirms Immunocompromised Worker’s Right to Seek Workplace Accommodations

Published July 22, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: PressProgress
Published on:
By Emma Arkell

A human rights tribunal has found that an employer’s failure to provide accommodation for an immunocompromised worker amounted to discrimination on the basis of disability.

The April decision by the BC Human Rights Tribunal affirmed that immunodeficiency is a physical disability, and that in raising concerns about his immunodeficiency multiple times, the worker who brought the case forward had given his employer enough information to trigger the employer’s responsibility to look into ways to accommodate that disability.

Gabrielle Peters, a disabled writer and policy analyst based in Vancouver, praised the decision as broadening the discussion of what it means to create an accessible workplace.

Continue readingHuman Rights Tribunal Affirms Immunocompromised Worker’s Right to Seek Workplace Accommodations
Comments closed
Topic: ManitobaView all posts for the topic: Manitoba

Wildfire smoke leads to air quality warnings for much of Manitoba this weekend

Published July 19, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Santiago Arias Orozco

Smoke billowing from wildfires is leading to poor air quality and reducing visibility throughout most of Manitoba this weekend.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued warnings Saturday morning for a large swath of the province, including Winnipeg and Brandon in the south, the Interlake and Thompson in the north.

“We have asthma so we try to just like think about how our chest is feeling … and go from there,” Aleecia Doyle said of she and her son, Liam Doyle. The pair ventured to Old Market Square to catch some of the entertainment for Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival opening weekend.

Continue readingWildfire smoke leads to air quality warnings for much of Manitoba this weekend
Comments closed
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

B.C. health minister praises U.S. recruitment, says 780 applications in 2 months

Published July 16, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News / The Canadian Press
Published on:

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s health minister says the province has received almost 780 job applications from qualified American health professionals as part of its recruitment campaign.

Josie Osborne says more than 2,250 doctors, nurses and other health professionals have signed up for webinars and expressed interest in working in B.C. since March.

Bylaw changes implemented by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. this month mean U.S.-trained doctors can become fully licensed in B.C., without further assessment if they hold certifications from various American medical boards.

Osborne says that means Canadian doctors trained in the U.S. can “come home” and the path also becomes easier for American physicians.

Continue readingB.C. health minister praises U.S. recruitment, says 780 applications in 2 months
Comments closed
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Alberta wastewater unlocked key information about COVID-19. Could it help with measles too?

Published July 16, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Jennifer Lee

As Alberta’s measles outbreaks grow, researchers are now watching the province’s wastewater for the highly contagious virus and hoping to determine if the technology could eventually serve as an early detection tool.

The magnitude of Alberta’s outbreaks and the speed at which cases are climbing has sparked widespread concern. As of midday Tuesday, 1,323 cases had been confirmed since the outbreaks began in March.

Piggybacking off weekly wastewater samples, collected through the provincial COVID-19 surveillance program, the team has designed a test that can identify both the wild type measles virus (indicating actual infection) and vaccine-related shedding in the wastewater.

Continue readingAlberta wastewater unlocked key information about COVID-19. Could it help with measles too?
Comments closed
Topic: SaskatchewanView all posts for the topic: Saskatchewan

Saskatoon under air quality warning as wildfire smoke blows in from the north

Published July 14, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Rory MacLean

Saskatoon residents are feeling the lingering effects of the province’s northern wildfires on Monday, as a northerly wind has blown heavy smoke into central Saskatchewan.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an air quality warning after 4 a.m. Monday, advising anyone likely to be affected by smoke, including infants and young children, seniors, people with chronic conditions and those who work outdoors to limit time outside and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms.

The air quality index for the day is listed as 10-plus — considered a very high risk to health.

“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” Environment Canada said.

Continue readingSaskatoon under air quality warning as wildfire smoke blows in from the north
Comments closed
Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Alberta’s measles outbreaks surpass case counts reported for entire U.S.

Published July 14, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Jennifer Lee

Alberta has now confirmed more measles cases than the entire United States has reported this year.

The province has been battling outbreaks since March and as of noon Monday, total case counts in the province had ballooned to 1,314.

The latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that country has amassed 1,288 cases this year.

Continue readingAlberta’s measles outbreaks surpass case counts reported for entire U.S.
Comments closed
Topic: air qualityView all posts for the topic: air quality

Toronto has some of the worst air quality in the world right now — and a new study says smog and wildfire smoke can damage your heart

Published July 14, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Toronto Star
Published on:
By Omar Mosleh

With the city once again blanketed in wildfire smoke, experts are warning that long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to higher risk of heart failure.

Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement on Sunday night due to wildfire smoke from northern Ontario pushing Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index to 10+, classified as “very high risk.” Poor air quality was expected to persist Monday and possibly into Tuesday.

The effects of air pollution on the heart are underscored in a recent study, which found that long-term exposure to air pollution, in particular fine particulate matter, was linked to higher levels of diffuse myocardial fibrosis, a type of heart scarring that can lead to higher risk of heart failure.

Continue readingToronto has some of the worst air quality in the world right now — and a new study says smog and wildfire smoke can damage your heart
Comments closed
Topic: TorontoView all posts for the topic: Toronto

Air quality alert issued for Toronto, GTA as forest fire smoke pushes levels to ‘high risk’

Published July 14, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Toronto Star
Published on:
By Allie Moustakis

Toronto and much of the GTA are under a special air quality statement as smoke from forest fires in northern Ontario pushes into the region, Environment Canada warned Sunday night.

The agency says winds are carrying smoke into the area, reducing visibility and pushing the Air Quality Health Index to 10+, classified as “very high risk,” early Monday morning. Poor air quality is expected to persist into Monday and possibly Tuesday, Environment Canada added.

Torontonians are urged to reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities, particularly if you experience coughing, runny nose, throat or eye irritation or any other symptoms.

People aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition and people who work outdoors are most at risk, Environment Canada says, adding that more serious symptoms such as chest pain or severe coughing should be treated as medical emergencies.

Continue readingAir quality alert issued for Toronto, GTA as forest fire smoke pushes levels to ‘high risk’
Comments closed
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

BC’s Largest Pocket of Measles Cases Likely Peaking, Officials Say

Published July 10, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Tyee
Published on:
By Michelle Gamage

The largest outbreak of measles in B.C. might be cresting, but there are still pockets of people without immunity spread across the province, which could lead to future outbreaks, say public health officials.

Most of the province’s confirmed 102 cases are in the northeast, where the disease has been spreading for the last couple weeks, said Dr. Martin Lavoie, deputy provincial health officer, at a press conference earlier today.

“This is not a pandemic, but measles is very serious,” Lavoie said.

He added that while there’s 102 confirmed cases there’s likely more as some people are resting and recovering at home, and have not been directly counted by health officials.

Dr. Jong Kim, chief medical officer for Northern Health, said B.C. has “likely seen the height of the wave” of the outbreak in the northeast, but that further cases are still possible, especially if the virus finds another pocket of the population where people have not received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Continue readingBC’s Largest Pocket of Measles Cases Likely Peaking, Officials Say
Comments closed