Nearly half of people over 80 in Ottawa have not received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, leaving them at risk for severe outcomes if they become infected, Ottawa’s medical officer of health is warning.
Comments closedTag: SARS-CoV-2
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta
COVID, flu vaccine uptake low in Alberta heading into holiday season
With vaccination numbers lagging and the holiday season approaching, health experts are calling on Albertans to roll up their sleeves for their flu and COVID-19 shots.
As of Nov. 25, 17 people in Alberta had died of the flu during this respiratory virus season, and close to 500 were hospitalized, according to provincial data. In the same time frame, 245 deaths and almost 2,300 hospitalizations were tied to COVID-19.
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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia
Now is not the time to end Covid-related services in BC
After 2023, funding for Covid-related services is set to end in BC.
For nearly four years now, British Columbians have been grappling with Covid-19. We’re currently aided by health management initiatives like vaccination, testing, and protective equipment for healthcare workers. Since 2021, these measures have been funded by BC’s Pandemic Recovery Contingencies, a three-year plan that also sustains economic recovery programs and supports for vulnerable community members.
This plan expires at the end of 2023. After that, our government anticipates that “most initiatives will wind down or be integrated into existing government programs.”
Comments closedTopic: anti-vaxxersView all posts for the topic: anti-vaxxers
Randy Hillier’s Charter case against charges from COVID-19 lockdown protests in Cornwall, Kemptville dismissed
A judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed former MPP Randy Hillier’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge against Reopening Ontario Act charges laid against him in the spring of 2021.
Comments closedTopic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia
How to stay informed on COVID-19
BC public health has made it too confusing to keep up on COVID-19 information. With the government changing information about COVID-19 data and obscuring data collection, knowingly downplaying risks about transmission, and overall unclear messaging, it’s no wonder people are misinformed.
Comments closedTopic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario
Ontario hospital ERs have closed 867 times so far this year, health coalition says
Emergency departments and other hospital services have closed a record number of times in Ontario so far in 2023, according to a new Ontario Health Coalition report being described as “staggering.”
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Topic: NovavaxView all posts for the topic: Novavax
Health Canada approves updated Novavax vaccine to protect against COVID-19
Health Canada has authorized an adapted vaccine from Novavax to prevent COVID-19 in people age 12 and older.
The vaccine uses a traditional approach to defend the body against COVID.
It contains a version of the viral spike protein and is also authorized as a booster for those 18 and older, according to Health Canada’s webpage.
Comments closedTopic: air samplersView all posts for the topic: air samplers
Study: School air sampling worked as well as other methods in tracking COVID, flu
Air sampling was as effective in monitoring COVID-19 and influenza A (IAV) activity as three other methods in a Wisconsin school district from September 2022 to January 2023, according to a study published today in JAMA Network Open.
Comments closedTopic: NunavutView all posts for the topic: Nunavut
Winter brings higher risk of flu, COVID-19, Health Department warns
With winter increasing the chance of contracting influenza and COVID-19, the Department of Health says it’s important that people get their shots.
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Topic: take actionView all posts for the topic: take action
Renew pandemic support in BC’s 2024 Budget
Read DoNoHarm BC’s 2024/25 provincial budget recommendations for pandemic resilience and economic recovery. Then email your MLA ASAP! The final budget will be announced on February 22.
Comments closedTopic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau
COVID-19 hospitalizations higher than last December, MOH warns
Ottawa’s medical officer of health is warning that COVID-19 levels in the community are high and the number of people in hospital because of the disease is higher than it was at this time last year.
In her verbal report to the Board of Health on Monday, Dr. Vera Etches said there is a lot of COVID-19 in the community.
Comments closedTopic: cognitive issuesView all posts for the topic: cognitive issues
Small study finds brain alterations after COVID Omicron infection
Researchers in China report thinning of the gray matter and other changes in certain parts of the brain in 61 men after COVID-19 Omicron infection.
For the study, published late last week in JAMA Network Open, the researchers evaluated 61 men before and after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in January 2023. The men had been part of a larger cohort who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychiatric screenings before infection in August and September 2022. Average age was 43 years.
Comments closedTopic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau
Ottawa Public Health wrapping up COVID-19 operations, cutting pandemic staff
Ottawa Public Health will layoff most of its COVID-19 staff by the end of the year and wrap up its immunization programming at the end of March, as the Ontario government stops reimbursing for extraordinary costs related to the pandemic.
Comments closedTopic: conspiracy theoriesView all posts for the topic: conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories are popular in Canada, especially among conservatives: poll
The Earth is flat. We have been secretly contacted by intelligent beings from other planets. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did not land on the moon in 1969. They may sound like bizarre statements, but a new poll suggests a sizable number of Canadians believe in these and other conspiracy theories.
Comments closedTopic: United StatesView all posts for the topic: United States
US prison deaths soared by 77% during height of Covid-19 crisis, study finds
A study of US prison deaths at the height of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 has found that mortality rates soared by 77% relative to 2019, or more than three times the increase in the general population.
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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau
Ottawa Public Health to let go most remaining COVID-19 staff as province ends special pandemic funding
Ottawa Public Health will let go most of its remaining COVID-19 staff by the end of the year as the province stops directly reimbursing most costs related to the pandemic.
OPH will continue offering vaccines to the most vulnerable, including long-term care residents and recent immigrants, but will wrap up broader COVID-19 efforts by the end of March.
Comments closedTopic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec
Les virus respiratoires prennent d’assaut les urgences du Québec
A trio of respiratory viruses hover over Quebec and send many patients to the emergency room.
According to Jean Longtin, a microbiologist-infectiologist at the CHU in Québec-Université Laval, it is mainly the respiratory syncytial virus, the RSV, influenza and COVID-19 that are currently circulating.
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