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Tag: Canada

Topic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario

Ford government under fire over ER wait times

Published January 11, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CityNews
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By Richard Southern, Mike Visser

Calls are growing for the Ontario government to recall the legislature and deal with rising emergency room wait times.

“We’re extremely busy,” said Dr. Kashif Pirzada, an emergency room physician at one Greater Toronto Area hospital. “I walk in, there’s usually 10, 15 ambulances outside waiting to bring patients in.”

The situation is so bad that some hospitals like Markham Stouffville and Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay are advising patients to consider alternatives to the emergency room if their condition isn’t urgent.

Continue readingFord government under fire over ER wait times
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Topic: Nova ScotiaView all posts for the topic: Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Health changes COVID-19 rapid test supplier over expiry dates

Published January 11, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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By Alex Cooke

The Nova Scotia government has changed the brand of COVID-19 rapid tests it distributes due to the newer tests having a longer expiry date.

In a statement, Nova Scotia Health spokesperson Jennifer Lewandowski said the province has transitioned to the Flowflex COVID-19 rapid tests, as they have a longer expiry date than the previously used BTNX rapid tests.

Continue readingNova Scotia Health changes COVID-19 rapid test supplier over expiry dates
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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Health Canada ignored warning signs before Ottawa spent billions on BTNX rapid tests

Published January 11, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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By Patti Sonntag

Health Canada ignored critical warnings about a rapid-test supplier before approving its COVID-19 kits for distribution nationwide, Global News has found.

A year-long Global News investigation into federal procurement revealed that BTNX, a Toronto-area rapid-test supplier that buys the devices from China, deleted dozens of specimens, or samples, from a study it submitted to Health Canada in October 2020. Deleting the specimens increased the estimate of the rapid test’s ability to detect the virus.

Continue readingHealth Canada ignored warning signs before Ottawa spent billions on BTNX rapid tests
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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Latest COVID-19 variant wrestles its way to the top in Alberta

Published January 10, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Jennifer Lee

A new COVID-19 variant appears to be on its way to taking over in Alberta, with one expert predicting it likely already accounts for the lion’s share of the province’s cases.

JN.1 is an offshoot of BA.2.86, which has evolved, like many of its predecessors, to better evade our immune defences.

It is now the dominant strain in Canada. Data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows it accounted for about 66 per cent of COVID-19 cases nationwide by the end of December.

Continue readingLatest COVID-19 variant wrestles its way to the top in Alberta
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Topic: anti-vaxxersView all posts for the topic: anti-vaxxers

Non, les vaccins contre la COVID-19 n’ont pas fait 17 millions de morts

Published January 10, 2024

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Published by: Radio-Canada
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By Mélanie Meloche-Holubowski

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign did not result in millions of deaths, as claimed by a former University of Ottawa professor during an interview on Monday’s Network X show with conspiracy activist Alex Jones.

Denis Rancourt, a former University of Ottawa professor, was invited this week to participate in Alex Jones’ Infowars. The appearance came three days after Tucker Carlson’s show referred to Rancourt’s claims that COVID-19 vaccines have killed at least 17 million people worldwide.

Continue readingNon, les vaccins contre la COVID-19 n’ont pas fait 17 millions de morts
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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Interior Health drops all COVID-19 rapid tests at facilities

Published January 9, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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Interior Health (IH) has completely withdrawn its COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RAT) from its facilities.

This is according to an internal memo obtained by Global News.

“(The rapid tests) are not reliable for diagnosis of COVID-19,” the memo stated.

“As such COVID-19 RAT testing can no longer be used to direct clinical care or infection prevention and control measures, and must be discontinued immediately in Interior Health affiliated emergency rooms, hospitals, long-term care facilities (and) outpatient settings.”

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Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick

N.B. adds 17 more COVID-19 deaths, child under 4 among first flu deaths, warning about strep

Published January 9, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon

COVID-19 has killed 17 more New Brunswickers, including six over the holidays, while influenza has claimed nine lives. These are the first flu deaths of the season and they include a child under four, the latest data from the province shows.

Dr. Yves Léger, the province’s acting chief medical officer of health, held a rare meeting with reporters Tuesday because of the rise in respiratory illnesses.

Continue readingN.B. adds 17 more COVID-19 deaths, child under 4 among first flu deaths, warning about strep
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Topic: SaskatchewanView all posts for the topic: Saskatchewan

‘Every bed is full’: Saskatoon doctors at a loss in the face of jam-packed ERs

Published January 8, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Keenan Sorokan

Emergency room physicians in Saskatoon are becoming all too used to repeated apologies to patients for a system they say isn’t functioning as intended.

Dr. James Stempien says every shift presents a new set of challenges that rarely existed five to 10 years ago.

Rather than showing up to an emergency room, seeing a doctor and then being admitted to an appropriate ward of the hospital, more and more patients are being admitted and treated in the emergency room, linen rooms or hallways because there is nowhere else for them to go.

Continue reading‘Every bed is full’: Saskatoon doctors at a loss in the face of jam-packed ERs
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Topic: Nova ScotiaView all posts for the topic: Nova Scotia

Sydney doctor calls for higher public flu vaccination rates to ease ER waits

Published January 5, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Tom Ayers

Emergency room wait times are up at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, N.S., mostly due to seasonal flu and respiratory illnesses and a resurgence of COVID, according to an emergency department doctor.

“The emergency department is crazy busy,” said Dr. Margaret Fraser, a family physician who does shifts at the regional ER. “We’re seeing very long wait times for patients — 12, 14, 18 hours — and high volumes of patients with respiratory illness, unfortunately.”

Continue readingSydney doctor calls for higher public flu vaccination rates to ease ER waits
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JN.1 is Canada’s new dominant COVID-19 subvariant. Here’s what to knowThis scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Image captured and colourized at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana. Credit: NIAID.
Topic: JN.1View all posts for the topic: JN.1

JN.1 is Canada’s new dominant COVID-19 subvariant. Here’s what to know

Published January 5, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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By Katie Dangerfield

A new COVID-19 subvariant, known as JN.1, has emerged and is now the prevailing strain across Canada, prompting health experts to caution that it may be more infectious and could even have extra symptoms.

Currently, the subvariant makes up the highest proportion of all COVID-19 variants, accounting for more than half (51.9 per cent) of all infections in Canada, according to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

JN.1 was first detected in Canada on Oct. 9, and since then has rapidly increased.

Continue readingJN.1 is Canada’s new dominant COVID-19 subvariant. Here’s what to know
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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

219 in hospital with COVID-19 in B.C.’s 1st update of 2024

Published January 4, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Ian Holliday

Nearly four years after B.C. confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus that would come to be known as COVID-19, the province begins 2024 with 219 people in hospital with the disease.

That’s a notable jump since the last update provided by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control on Dec. 21, when there were 153 test-positive patients in hospital across the province.

In its latest update, the BCCDC says this roughly 43-per-cent increase in the hospitalized population “is being monitored.”

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Topic: respiratory syncytial virusView all posts for the topic: respiratory syncytial virus

Health Canada approves RSV vaccine for maternal immunization

Published January 4, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Jessica Wong

Health Canada has approved a new vaccine geared toward protecting two groups most severely affected by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): newborns, who would receive antibodies through maternal immunization, and Canadians over 60.

Pfizer Canada’s bivalent vaccine, called Abrysvo, aims to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by the virus.

It is the first RSV vaccine in Canada approved for use in pregnancy to provide protection for infants from birth to six months of age, and the second approved for seniors aged 60 and over.

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Topic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario

More than 260 Ontario long-term care residents died after getting COVID-19 in last four months

Published January 3, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Katherine DeClerq

Respiratory virus outbreaks in Ontario’s long-term care homes remains dominated by COVID-19, with nearly 16,000 cases of the virus reported in the last four months.

According to a newly released report by Public Health Ontario, there have been 850 confirmed outbreaks in long-term care homes since Aug. 27, 2023.

This is compared to 32 influenza outbreaks and 32 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) outbreaks.

Continue readingMore than 260 Ontario long-term care residents died after getting COVID-19 in last four months
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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Albertans can now book appointments for the updated Novavax vaccine

Published January 3, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Jennifer Lee

A limited supply of the updated Novavax vaccine is rolling out in Alberta this week with appointment booking starting Wednesday and shots going into arms as of Friday.

Alberta Health said it has approximately 5,000 doses of the Novavax XBB.1.5 vaccine in stock.

The latest version of the protein-based vaccine was approved by Health Canada in early December.

Continue readingAlbertans can now book appointments for the updated Novavax vaccine
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Topic: labour rightsView all posts for the topic: labour rights

Camp operator penalized $206,000 after B.C. worker found dead of COVID-19

Published January 2, 2024

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Published by: Prince George Citizen
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By Stefan Labbé

An industrial camp operator has been fined over $200,000 for failing to implement COVID-19 safety measures after a worker died of the virus in their Dawson Creek, B.C., room.

The WorkSafeBC fine, handed down in September 2023 but released to the public last week, penalizes Horizon North Camp & Catering & Dexterra Group Inc. $206,346.90 for failing to implement a number of procedures.

Those include failing to enforce physical distancing, temperature checks, reporting symptoms, isolating workers and seeking medical attention.

Continue readingCamp operator penalized $206,000 after B.C. worker found dead of COVID-19
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Topic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario

More COVID infections now than during some pandemic points, wastewater data shows

Published January 2, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Isha Bhargava

As COVID wastewater data hits significant highs in the Middlesex-London area, more cases of the virus and other respiratory infections can be expected in the new year, says the region’s top doctor.

The start of 2024 will be the midst of respiratory virus season, with continued COVID activity and an increase in influenza infections and other cold and cough viruses, said medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers.

Continue readingMore COVID infections now than during some pandemic points, wastewater data shows
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Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Pas de répit dans les urgences du Québec

Published December 30, 2023

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Published by: Radio-Canada
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Hospital emergency rooms in Quebec are overflowing again, after a calmer period at Christmas. The resurgence of respiratory viruses is sending many Quebecers to emergency rooms.

In healthcare facilities in the Montreal area, average occupancy was over 100% on Saturday night. Other regions were also particularly affected, such as Laval and Laurentides, where occupancy rates were close to 140%, according to Index Santé.

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Topic: Waterloo RegionView all posts for the topic: Waterloo Region

COVID-19 outbreaks on the rise in Waterloo Region

Published December 29, 2023

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Published by: Waterloo Region Record
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The number of active COVID-19 outbreaks in high-risk settings increased by more than 50 per cent this past week, according to the Waterloo Region public health unit’s weekly dashboard update.

There are 15 outbreaks in high-risk settings — up from seven last week — including two in congregate settings, such as group homes or shelters, one in hospital and 12 in long-term care/retirement homes.

One new death was reported. So far this year, COVID-19 has been a direct or contributing cause in 41 deaths reported by public health in the region.

Continue readingCOVID-19 outbreaks on the rise in Waterloo Region
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