Tag: Canada

Published by: CBC News
Published on: April 16, 2024
By Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon

A New Brunswicker aged 45 to 64 has died from COVID-19, while the flu sent eight people to the hospital, including two youth aged five to 19, updated data from the province Tuesday shows.

“COVID-19 activity remains moderate,” according to the Respiratory Watch report. “Some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and hospitalizations) decreased slightly during the current reporting period, between March 31 and April 6.

Influenza activity remained “relatively stable,” it says.

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Montreal

First Indigenous family health clinic opens in Montreal

Published April 13, 2024

Published by: CTV News / The Canadian Press
Published on: April 13, 2024
By Katrine Desautels

Montreal’s first family health clinic adapted to Indigenous people’s needs officially opened its doors on Friday morning.

The Native Montreal Family Clinic project, which was launched in 2021, is being led by Native Montréal to ensure the deployment and sustainability of health and social services adapted to the identity and specific needs of the Indigenous clientele in the metropolitan area.

Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement on Friday alongside the Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière.

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cognitive issues

Radio | COVID infections are causing drops in IQ and years of brain aging, studies suggest

Published April 12, 2024

Published by: CBC Radio | Quirks and Quarks
Published on: April 12, 2024
By Amanda Buckiewicz

When COVID-19 first reared its head back in 2019, it brought with it a slew of strange symptoms beyond just respiratory problems. One of the most puzzling symptoms in those early days was something called “brain fog” — cognitive issues like confusion, forgetfulness, and trouble focusing.

And while other symptoms have changed as the virus mutated, brain fog is still a common complaint of COVID sufferers not only during the initial illness, but extending for months or even years afterwards. Several recent studies have been trying to understand exactly what this virus is doing to our brains — and how to stop it.

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British Columbia

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations up slightly as province launches latest vaccine campaign

Published April 11, 2024

Published by: CTV News
Published on: April 11, 2024
By Ian Holliday

The number of people in B.C. hospitals with COVID-19 rose slightly this week as the province began rolling out its latest vaccination campaign.

There were 141 test-positive COVID patients in hospitals across the province as of Thursday, according to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. That’s an increase of nine – or about 6.8 per cent – from last week’s total.

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Montreal

Measles case confirmed on a plane that landed in Montreal

Published April 11, 2024

Published by: CTV News / The Canadian Press
Published on: April 11, 2024

A person with measles was on board a flight from Turkey that landed in Montreal on April 3, the Quebec Health Ministry and public health authorities…

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Ottawa-Gatineau

Hospitalizations nudge upward in otherwise stable respiratory checkup

Published April 11, 2024

Published by: CBC News
Published on: April 11, 2024
By Andrew Foote

Ottawa is back in high-risk respiratory territory because of an increase in new hospitalizations.

COVID-19 and RSV trends are generally seen as low in the weekly respiratory update from Ottawa Public Health (OPH).

Flu wastewater readings and hospitalizations remain very high as this flu season stretches into spring.

OPH said there were 17 new COVID, flu and RSV hospitalizations the week starting March 24, and 27 the week starting March 31.

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Ottawa-Gatineau

Wildfire season: What can Ottawa expect?

Published April 11, 2024

Published by: CTV News
Published on: April 11, 2024
By Ted Raymond

Last summer’s smoky skies could make a return this year, as officials say Canada is on track for a repeat of the 2023 wildfire season – the worst on record.

In Ottawa, wildfire smoke blanketed the capital several times last summer and there were multiple open air fire bans and even concerns Canada Day fireworks could trigger a blaze.

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British Columbia

Mask mandate in hospitals dropped as vaccine booster program ramps up

Published April 8, 2024

Published by: Times Colonist
Published on: April 8, 2024
By Cindy E. Harnett

As respiratory season winds down, a mask mandate in hospitals is being dropped but a COVID spring booster program is ramping up to strengthen waning protection for the most vulnerable.

“We are returning to the rules that were in place prior to respiratory illness season,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said Monday on the suspension of the mask mandate, likely to be a seasonal requirement.

The B.C. Health Ministry says given the decreased rates of viral respiratory infections in the community, additional infection prevention and control measures implemented last fall in health-care settings — such as masks — are no longer required at all times.

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lung disease

Severe COVID leads to higher risk of pulmonary fibrosis: research

Published April 8, 2024

Published by: CBC News
Published on: April 8, 2024

For Vancouver resident Farrell Eckman, having a long conversation or attending a workout class without breaking into coughs is a major accomplishment.

The 50-year-old is one of many people who researchers say developed pulmonary fibrosis — a condition that thickens the tissue in lungs and can affect breathing — after experiencing a severe case of COVID-19.

In January 2022, Eckman was admitted to Vancouver General Hospital because she was having trouble breathing along with flu-like symptoms.

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long COVID

Researchers say more support, education needed to help B.C. long-COVID patients

Published April 5, 2024

Published by: Global News
Published on: April 5, 2024
By Darrian Matassa-Fung

Better long-COVID awareness, education and support are needed for patients, according to Simon Fraser University researchers who conducted a study on the topic.

More education for health-care workers, including doctors and nurses, is one of the recommendations made in a report done by the SFU-based Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society.

The report includes findings from two focus groups of unpaid caregivers, professional care providers, long-COVID researchers and people living with long COVID, identified as “longhaulers.”

“It’s an invisible and new condition,” said Kayli Jamieson, a longhauler who co-led the focus groups as part of a larger study with Kaylee Byers, an assistant professor in SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences. “Many people don’t believe that long COVID is real or exists. Unfortunately, that permeates through the healthcare system.”

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long COVID

More awareness and investment needed to support people with long COVID: SFU report

Published April 4, 2024

Published by: Simon Fraser University
Published on: April 4, 2024
By Jeff Hodson

It’s an invisible and new condition. Many people don’t believe that long COVID is real or exists. And unfortunately, that permeates through the healthcare system. Even outside of the medical system, there is a broader societal awareness that is lacking.

— Kayli Jamieson

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New Brunswick

3 COVID deaths recorded as N.B. cases increase slightly, child under 4 dies from flu

Published April 3, 2024

Published by: CBC News
Published on: April 3, 2024
By Hadeel Ibrahim

Three more New Brunswickers have died from COVID-19, and one child died of influenza, according to data from the province updated Wednesday.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have slightly increased, while influenza hospitalizations remained steady in the period of March 17 to March 23, according to the provincial Respiratory Watch report.

“COVID-19 activity remains moderate; some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and hospitalizations) increased slightly,” the report says.

The person who died of influenza was four years old or younger.

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telework

‘Telework’ Can Be a Life Changer

Published April 2, 2024

Published by: The Tyee
Published on: April 2, 2024
By Brishti Basu

If you are the family member of someone who’s highly immunocompromised, and you’re not able to protect yourself from infection in your workplace and your employer is insisting that you come back and work in an office where people have now shifted to the mindset that [COVID-19] is not that big a deal, if someone gets [sick] and you bring that home, that can be catastrophic.

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Paxlovid

Paxlovid to no longer be provided to provinces for free

Published April 1, 2024

Published by: CTV News
Published on: April 1, 2024
By Charles Lefebvre

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is no longer paying for an antiviral pill used to treat COVID-19.

The PHAC said it will no longer procure Paxlovid, which is intended to be used after being diagnosed with COVID, for provinces and territories.

“The provinces and territories are responsible for determining how best to implement and manage the available supply of COVID-19 therapeutics, including Paxlovid,” a spokesperson for Health Canada said in a statement.

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class action lawsuit

You may be eligible for LifeLabs class-action lawsuit, but you need to apply soon

Published April 1, 2024

Published by: CTV News
Published on: April 1, 2024
By Christl Dabu

Canadian LifeLabs customers have only a few days left to file an application for a class-action settlement resulting from a major data breach.

Those who live in Canada and used LifeLabs’ services on or before Dec. 17, 2019, may apply for the settlement, but must do so by the end of the week.

Settlement class members who complete a valid claim form before the Saturday deadline will be eligible to get an estimated compensation of $50 to $150.

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British Columbia

Number hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C. hits new low for 2024 in latest update

Published March 28, 2024

Published by: CTV News
Published on: March 28, 2024
By Ian Holliday

The number of patients with COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals declined to its lowest level of 2024 in the latest data update from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

There were 133 test-positive patients in provincial hospitals as of Thursday, according to the BCCDC. The last published update to show a total lower than that was in August of last year, when the BCCDC reported just 76 patients hospitalized.

This week’s hospitalized population is less than half of what it was around this time last year. The final published update of March 2023 showed 294 patients in B.C. hospitals.

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Newfoundland and Labrador

Mask mandate to be lifted at N.L. hospitals Monday

Published March 28, 2024

Published by: CBC News
Published on: March 28, 2024

If you’re headed to the hospital on Monday, you won’t need to wear a mask as Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services has updated its masking guidelines.

Masking had been required for patients and visitors at health-care facilities since February, but will no longer be required as of Monday, according to NL Health Services.

People who are seeking care and showing symptoms of viruses like COVID-19 will still be required to wear a mask. They can wear their own medical mask to the facility — but not a cloth mask — or get one on-site.

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vaccines

Do you need a spring COVID-19 vaccine? Research backs extra round for high-risk groups

Published March 28, 2024

Published by: CBC News
Published on: March 28, 2024
By Lauren Pelley

New guidelines suggest certain high-risk groups could benefit from having another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring — and more frequent shots in general — while the broader population could be entering once-a-year territory, much like an annual flu shot.

Medical experts told CBC News that falling behind on the latest shots can come with health risks, particularly for individuals who are older or immunocompromised.

“Even when the risk of infection starts to increase, the vaccines still do a really good job at decreasing risk of severe disease,” said McMaster University researcher and immunologist Matthew Miller.

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