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Tag: SARS-CoV-2

Topic: AustraliaView all posts for the topic: Australia

Too many patients are catching COVID in Australian hospitals, doctors say. So why are hospitals rolling back precautions?

Published February 10, 2024

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Published by: ABC News
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By Hayley Gleeson

Steve Irons’ older brother Jim was only supposed to be in hospital for a short while. A retired stockman from Maryborough, Queensland, Jim was diagnosed with leukaemia just before Christmas in 2022. He was flown to Brisbane for testing, then back to Maryborough Hospital, where doctors were putting together a plan for him to be treated at home.

But a patient in the room next door to Jim’s had COVID, Steve says, and on January 14 last year, Jim tested positive too. “After four days, when the hospital told me he was no longer infectious, I took the risk and decided to visit him,” says Steve, who’d flown up from Tasmania. “I sat with him for three days, playing country music, reading to him.”

And then, on Saturday January 21, Jim Irons died of COVID-19 pneumonia and acute myeloid leukaemia, aged 79. It still distresses Steve to know his brother would have lived longer had he not caught a dangerous virus in a place he should have been safe.

Continue readingToo many patients are catching COVID in Australian hospitals, doctors say. So why are hospitals rolling back precautions?
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Topic: Waterloo RegionView all posts for the topic: Waterloo Region

Group of University of Waterloo students demanding improved response to COVID-19-related issues

Published February 9, 2024

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Published by: CityNews
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By Josh Piercey

A group of students at the University of Waterloo (UW) have penned an open letter to administration demanding the institution meet certain standards of care due to its ‘silence and inaction about the ongoing health crisis.’

Their group, called the Covid Action, Response and Equity (CARE) Coalition UW, is made up of about 10 students attending the university.

Continue readingGroup of University of Waterloo students demanding improved response to COVID-19-related issues
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Topic: New ZealandView all posts for the topic: New Zealand

Covid-19: Vaccines saved thousands of lives during Omicron outbreak, study estimates

Published February 9, 2024

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Published by: RNZ
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A new study estimates vaccines prevented between 4000 and 12,000 deaths during the Omicron phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The paper, published in the medical journal Vaccine, models scenarios with different levels of vaccine coverage in the 18 months from January 2022.

The authors say the elimination strategy meant most people were able to be vaccinated before being exposed to the virus.

The researchers say it meant there were between 34,000 and 56,000 fewer hospitalisations over the period.

Continue readingCovid-19: Vaccines saved thousands of lives during Omicron outbreak, study estimates
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Topic: ocular diseasesView all posts for the topic: ocular diseases

Video | Doctors raise worries over COVID eye condition causing inflammation

Published February 8, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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The world is now used to COVID-19 and while the illness isn’t dominating our lives like it used to, it’s still with us. Now doctors are sounding the alarm about a growing number of cases affecting people’s eyes.

They are still learning about why and how it happens, as well as how it can affect vision. Mike Drolet hears about one man’s experience and what optometrists are saying about the condition.

Continue readingVideo | Doctors raise worries over COVID eye condition causing inflammation
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Topic: convoy occupationView all posts for the topic: convoy occupation

Convoy organizers claim Ottawa police board should pay damages in proposed class-action lawsuit

Published February 8, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Aedan Helmer

Convoy protest organizers defending a proposed class-action lawsuit now argue the Ottawa Police Services Board should be on the hook for any potential damages to be paid out, claiming protesters were following police directions when they parked hundreds of trucks in downtown Ottawa during the 2022 demonstration.

“None of the defendants … had originally expected to park any vehicles on the streets of downtown Ottawa as part of the protest,” according to a new third-party claim filed by the lawyer for the defendants, which include organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and Pat King.

Continue readingConvoy organizers claim Ottawa police board should pay damages in proposed class-action lawsuit
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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Protect Our Province masking message on New West billboard takes aim at COVID

Published February 8, 2024

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Published by: New Westminster Record
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The pandemic has highlighted the lasting health impacts viruses can have, long after the acute infection is over and done with.

Many viruses, not just Covid, play a role in causing more serious long-term diseases. Epstein- Barr Virus (EBV), the mononucleosis or kissing disease virus, is associated with Multiple Sclerosis.

Recently, B.C. rolled out an at home self-test for Human Papilloma Virus, that’s because HPV can cause throat and cervical cancer.

After the Great Influenza of 1918, it took us years to learn that children born in and around that time were later at higher risk for Parkinson’s disease (remember Robert De Niro in the movie Awakenings), not to mention cardiac disease and diabetes.

Continue readingProtect Our Province masking message on New West billboard takes aim at COVID
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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

COVID-19 cases continue downward trend

Published February 8, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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COVID-19 infections showed another drop in the last seven days, with Ottawa Public Health reporting 144 new cases as of Tuesday.

That compares with 177 new cases reported last week and 264 new cases the week before.

The health agency reported five new deaths from COVID-19, compared with four a week earlier.

Continue readingCOVID-19 cases continue downward trend
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Topic: seniorsView all posts for the topic: seniors

Thousands of seniors are still dying of Covid-19. Do we not care anymore?

Published February 8, 2024

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Published by: CNN
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By Judith Graham

The Covid-19 pandemic would be a wake-up call for America, advocates for the elderly predicted: incontrovertible proof that the nation wasn’t doing enough to care for vulnerable older adults.

The death toll was shocking, as were reports of chaos in nursing homes and seniors suffering from isolation, depression, untreated illness, and neglect. Around 900,000 older adults have died of Covid-19 to date, accounting for 3 of every 4 Americans who have perished in the pandemic.

But decisive actions that advocates had hoped for haven’t materialized. Today, most people — and government officials — appear to accept Covid as a part of ordinary life. Many seniors at high risk aren’t getting antiviral therapies for Covid, and most older adults in nursing homes aren’t getting updated vaccines. Efforts to strengthen care quality in nursing homes and assisted living centers have stalled amid debate over costs and the availability of staff. And only a small percentage of people are masking or taking other precautions in public despite a new wave of covid, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus infections hospitalizing and killing seniors.

Continue readingThousands of seniors are still dying of Covid-19. Do we not care anymore?
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Topic: United KingdomView all posts for the topic: United Kingdom

UK to scrap Covid intensive care kit despite offer to send to Ukraine

Published February 7, 2024

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Published by: Financial Times
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By Laura Hughes

The UK government is due to scrap the country’s entire reserve of coronavirus pandemic intensive care equipment next month, despite requests to send 2,000 respirators to Ukraine.

The Covid Strategic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Reserve was created in April 2020 due to concerns about a shortage of respiratory equipment during the pandemic. It includes 6,682 Ventura breathing aids, which are set to be disassembled and recycled by April 1, government officials have confirmed.

The Afya Foundation, a US charity that distributes disused quality medical supplies around the world, said its partners in Ukraine have confirmed hospitals there are in desperate need of additional medical equipment and it was standing by to ship 2,000 of the devices to the country.

Continue readingUK to scrap Covid intensive care kit despite offer to send to Ukraine
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Topic: convoy occupationView all posts for the topic: convoy occupation

Judge tosses motion to dismiss proposed class-action lawsuit against convoy participants

Published February 6, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Aedan Helmer

Downtown Ottawa residents and business owners who launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against organizers of the 2022 convoy protest moved one step closer to having their day in court as a judge tossed a defence motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

“There is sufficient basis to conclude that the plaintiffs have a meritorious case,” Superior Court Justice Calum MacLeod said in his ruling, released Monday.

“There is evidence that certain plaintiffs were subjected to what they contend to have been extreme amounts of noise, horn honking, incessant diesel fumes and other pollution, blockage of the streets and intimidation.

Continue readingJudge tosses motion to dismiss proposed class-action lawsuit against convoy participants
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Topic: convoy occupationView all posts for the topic: convoy occupation

Lawsuit against convoy organizers moves forward

Published February 6, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By David Fraser

There is evidence that certain plaintiffs were subjected to what they contend to have been extreme amounts of noise, horn honking, incessant diesel fumes and other pollution, blockage of the streets and intimidation. There is evidence that plaintiffs had difficulty accessing their properties and that business was disrupted, reservations cancelled, and revenue negatively impacted.

Continue readingLawsuit against convoy organizers moves forward
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Topic: New JerseyView all posts for the topic: New Jersey

Not wearing a mask during COVID-19 health emergency isn’t a free speech right, appeals court says

Published February 6, 2024

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Published by: The Associated Press
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By Mike Catalini

A federal appeals court shot down claims Monday that New Jersey residents’ refusal to wear face masks at school board meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak constituted protected speech under the First Amendment.

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in two related cases stemming from lawsuits against officials in Freehold and Cranford, New Jersey.

The suits revolved around claims that the plaintiffs were retaliated against by school boards because they refused to wear masks during public meetings. In one of the suits, the court sent the case back to a lower court for consideration. In the other, it said the plaintiff failed to show she was retaliated against.

Continue readingNot wearing a mask during COVID-19 health emergency isn’t a free speech right, appeals court says
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BC’s pandemic budget may “wind down” in 2024Photo of two masked friends walking in a corridor in an underground public transit station. Photo by Charlotte May / Pexels.
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

BC’s pandemic budget may “wind down” in 2024

Published February 6, 2024

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Published by: The Peak
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By Michelle Young

BC’s budget and fiscal report covers a “three year fiscal plan” for housing, sustainability, and healthcare. The report states, “As the funding for pandemic contingencies are set to wind down by the end of 2023/24, it is anticipated that the Ministry of Health will wind down or integrate any services into ministry operations, as appropriate, to support the ongoing health and well-being of British Columbians.”

The report did not elaborate, and The Peak reached out to the Ministry of Health for more information, who said they “will have an update to share following the release of the 2024/25 budget at the end of next month.”

DoNoHarm BC, who advocates for safer COVID-19 protections in the province, is concerned about the effects a potential budget cut could have for residents and provides a series of recommendations.

Continue readingBC’s pandemic budget may “wind down” in 2024
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Topic: United StatesView all posts for the topic: United States

New Analysis Reveals Many Excess Deaths Attributed to Natural Causes Are Actually Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths

Published February 6, 2024

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Published by: Boston University
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By Jillian McKoy

Nearly 1,170,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States according to official federal counts, but multiple excess mortality studies suggest that these totals are vastly undercounted. While excess mortality provides an estimation of deaths that likely would not have occurred under normal, non-pandemic conditions, there is still little evidence into whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus contributed to these additional deaths, or whether these deaths were caused by other factors such as healthcare disruptions or socioeconomic challenges.

Now, a new study led by the School of Public Health and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) provides the first concrete data showing that many of these excess deaths were indeed uncounted COVID-19 deaths.

Continue readingNew Analysis Reveals Many Excess Deaths Attributed to Natural Causes Are Actually Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths
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Topic: Newfoundland and LabradorView all posts for the topic: Newfoundland and Labrador

Mask mandates return to N.L. hospitals today. Here’s what you need to know

Published February 5, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Ryan Cooke

If you’re heading to a hospital or other health-care facility after 8 a.m. on Monday, you will be required to put on a mask.

The province has returned to masking mandates in health-care centres for the first time since May 2023. The move comes amid concerns about respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, strep A and other airborne viruses.

The provincial health department has said it’s a temporary measure, and will be re-evaluated on March 31.

Continue readingMask mandates return to N.L. hospitals today. Here’s what you need to know
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Topic: air samplersView all posts for the topic: air samplers

Air sampling in Dane County schools tracks flu, COVID-19

Published February 4, 2024

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Published by: Wisconsin State Journal
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By David Wahlberg

Air sampling in Dane County schools is helping health officials track flu and COVID-19, similar to how wastewater is increasingly monitored around the country for the coronavirus to gauge activity as fewer people get tested for COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the school year, flu and COVID-19 data from 16 air monitors at 15 schools in or near the county has been reported on Public Health Madison and Dane County’s respiratory illness dashboard. The devices, roughly the size of microwave ovens, are placed in communal spaces such as cafeterias. They suck air, including airborne viruses, into spongy material that is analyzed for viral genetic material.

Continue readingAir sampling in Dane County schools tracks flu, COVID-19
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