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Category: News

Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

COVID-19 hospitalizations drop in weekly BCCDC update

Published March 21, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
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By Ian Holliday

The number of COVID-positive patients in B.C. hospitals declined this week, according to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

There were 148 test-positive patients in hospitals across the province as of Thursday, a decrease of 15 – or about nine per cent – from the 163 reported in hospital at this time last week.

The latest data continues the trend of relatively stable hospitalization levels seen throughout 2024 so far, with the first update of the year remaining the only one to show more than 200 COVID patients receiving hospital treatment.

Continue readingCOVID-19 hospitalizations drop in weekly BCCDC update
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Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Quebecers over 80 are urged to get COVID vaccine booster this spring

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: Montreal Gazette / The Canadian Press
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Quebec’s immunization committee is recommending a booster dose of the monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine this spring to seniors ages 80 and over as well as to people who are immunocompromised or on dialysis.

The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve and certain parts of the population remain more vulnerable to the virus, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) said this week in publishing its vaccination recommendations.

A person vaccinated against COVID-19 is less likely to develop serious illness, but a gradual decrease in this protection is observed over a period of six months following vaccination. A booster dose is therefore necessary to maintain adequate protection, the INSPQ notes in its most recent opinion.

Continue readingQuebecers over 80 are urged to get COVID vaccine booster this spring
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Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Vaccination contre la COVID-19: l’INSPQ publie ses recommandations pour le printemps

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: The Canadian Press
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By Katrine Desautels

The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve and some population groups remain more vulnerable to the virus. This week, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) published its vaccination recommendations for spring 2024.

A person vaccinated against COVID-19 is less likely to develop a serious illness, but a gradual decrease in this protection is observed over a period of six months after vaccination. A booster dose is thus necessary to maintain adequate protection, recalls the INSPQ in its latest opinion.

Serious complications of COVID-19 are much more common in people 80+ years of age. For this age group, about one in 30 infected people must be hospitalized. For those aged 60 to 79, the incidence of hospitalizations and deaths is lower, except for those living with a chronic disease.

Continue readingVaccination contre la COVID-19: l’INSPQ publie ses recommandations pour le printemps
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Measles is highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable: A primer on recent outbreaks, transmission, symptoms and complications, including ‘immune amnesia’Colourized transmission electron micrograph of a measles virus particle (red). Photo: microscopy by CDC; layout, colorization and visual effects by NIAID. Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Measles is highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable: A primer on recent outbreaks, transmission, symptoms and complications, including ‘immune amnesia’

Published March 21, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Conversation
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By Mansour Haeryfar

Canada is seeing a resurgence of measles, with cases in the first quarter of 2024 already far surpassing the total for all of 2023. There were 12 cases last year, and more than three times that number so far in 2024, with 38 reported as of March 19.

Most of these cases (28) are in Québec, and eight are in Ontario, while Saskatchewan and British Columbia have each reported one case.

As an immunologist with a focus on host-microbe interactions and antiviral immunity, I have been following recent measles outbreaks.

Continue readingMeasles is highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable: A primer on recent outbreaks, transmission, symptoms and complications, including ‘immune amnesia’
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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Respiratory virus levels mostly steady, but 13 flu hospitalizations in latest update

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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Respiratory disease levels have remained mostly steady in the past week, Ottawa Public Health says in its latest update.

Influenza remains a major concern with 13 more patients hospitalized in the seven days ended March 16. There were 14 new hospitalizations for COVID-19, which OPH described as “low and decreasing since last week.”

There were 45 more confirmed COVID-19 cases, about half of them in patients 65 years of age and older.

Continue readingRespiratory virus levels mostly steady, but 13 flu hospitalizations in latest update
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Topic: studentsView all posts for the topic: students

Probe links COVID spread to school bus riders from sick driver

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: CIDRAP
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By Mary Van Beusekom

The proportion of children infected with COVID-19 while riding a bus to a school in Germany was about four times higher than in peers who didn’t ride the bus, illustrating efficient transmission during multiple short rides on public transport, finds a study published this week in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

A team led by researchers from the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin and public health officials used surveillance data, lab analyses, case-patient and household interviews, a cohort study of all students in grades 1 to 4, and a cohort study of bus riders to investigate a 2021 COVID-19 outbreak that involved an infected bus driver and his passengers. The rides lasted 9 to 18 minutes, and multiple schools in a single district were involved.

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Topic: shinglesView all posts for the topic: shingles

Shingles cases are increasing in New South Wales. Experts say COVID might be why

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: ABC News
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By Sam Nichols

I think that GPs would all agree that we’ve probably seen more cases of shingles over the last period of time over COVID. Absolutely, shingles is an illness that, theoretically and I think in practical reality, has been increased through COVID-19.

Continue readingShingles cases are increasing in New South Wales. Experts say COVID might be why
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Topic: ScotlandView all posts for the topic: Scotland

Government ‘dismissed’ concerns over airborne Covid transmission, inquiry told

Published March 20, 2024

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Published by: Independent
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By Sarah Ward

The Scottish Government “dismissed” concerns about the airborne transmission of Covid during the pandemic, an inquiry has heard.

Colin Poolman, director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland, also paid tribute at the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry to the “ultimate sacrifice” made by health workers who lost their lives in the pandemic.

He told the inquiry that attempts were made from 2020 by the RCN to raise concerns about airborne transmission with the Scottish Government, due to considerations about personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilation.

Continue readingGovernment ‘dismissed’ concerns over airborne Covid transmission, inquiry told
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Topic: cognitive issuesView all posts for the topic: cognitive issues

COVID’s toll on the brain: new clues emerge

Published March 20, 2024

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Published by: Nature
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By Claudia López Lloreda

Loss of smell, headaches, memory problems: COVID-19 can bring about a troubling storm of neurological symptoms that make everyday tasks difficult. Now new research adds to the evidence that inflammation in the brain might underlie these symptoms.

Not all data point in the same direction. Some new studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, directly infects brain cells. Those findings bolster the hypothesis that direct infection contributes to COVID-19-related brain problems. But the idea that brain inflammation is key has gotten fresh support: one study, for example, has identified specific brain areas prone to inflammation in people with COVID-19.

Continue readingCOVID’s toll on the brain: new clues emerge
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Topic: United KingdomView all posts for the topic: United Kingdom

New economic analysis reveals Long Covid could be a long-term drag on economic growth and add pressure to already strained NHS

Published March 20, 2024

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Published by: Cambridge Econometrics
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A new report by global economics consultancy Cambridge Econometrics reveals that Long Covid could have wider economic ramifications for the UK causing a drag on economic growth and added pressure on the NHS if no long-term healthcare funding commitments are made.

Funded by direct giving fund Balvi, and in partnership with Professor Emeritus in Public Health Ruairidh Milne from the University of Southampton, the report used available evidence on the cost of Long Covid treatment, economic inactivity among those living with the condition, and prevalence in the UK population to consider the long-term macroeconomic impacts on wider UK society by 2030.

Based on the assumption that there are no long-term healthcare funding commitments to manage Long Covid, the results estimate that Long Covid is likely to reduce GDP by around £1.5bn and 138,000 jobs each year. Were prevalence to increase to 4 million people per year by 2030, the negative impacts would increase to a reduction of around £2.7bn in GDP and 311,000 job losses each year.

Continue readingNew economic analysis reveals Long Covid could be a long-term drag on economic growth and add pressure to already strained NHS
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Topic: IrelandView all posts for the topic: Ireland

‘Long Covid’ sick pay scheme to end in move that will impact 120 healthcare workers

Published March 20, 2024

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Published by: The Irish Times
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By Jennifer Bray

A dedicated sick pay scheme for people suffering from the effects of “long Covid” is due to end in two weeks’ time in a move which will affect around 120 healthcare workers.

In July 2022 the Government introduced a temporary scheme to provide special leave with pay for eligible staff suffering with the symptoms of long Covid, such as fatigue and exhaustion. While the scheme was previously extended following approval by the Department of Public Expenditure, it will now end on March 31st. The Department of Public Expenditure has told the Department of Health that no further extensions will be granted.

Continue reading‘Long Covid’ sick pay scheme to end in move that will impact 120 healthcare workers
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Topic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response

Video | Four years in, Dr. Raj Bhardwaj discusses how far we’ve come in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020

Published March 19, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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CBC Calgary’s weekly health columnist, Dr. Raj Bhardwaj, discusses what we’ve learned and how far we’ve come with science and treatments since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue readingVideo | Four years in, Dr. Raj Bhardwaj discusses how far we’ve come in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020
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Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick

Spring COVID-19 vaccines available April 2 for high-risk New Brunswickers

Published March 19, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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Spring COVID-19 vaccines will be available April 2 to New Brunswickers considered most at risk of severe illness.

This includes people aged 65 or older, residents of nursing homes and adult residential facilities, and immunocompromised people aged six months or older, the Department of Health said in a news release Monday.

Continue readingSpring COVID-19 vaccines available April 2 for high-risk New Brunswickers
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Topic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response

Radio | Dr. Raj Bhardwaj on COVID-19

Published March 19, 2024

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Published by: CBC
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By Calgary Eyeopener with Loren McGinnis, Angela Knight

It’s been four years since the world shut down due to COVID-19. House doctor Raj Bhardwaj joins us with a look at what we have learned about the virus since those early days.

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Topic: Nova ScotiaView all posts for the topic: Nova Scotia

High-risk groups can now book spring COVID-19 vaccination

Published March 18, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Anjuli Patil

People considered to have the highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 can now make an appointment online for a spring dose of the vaccine.

The dose will be available from March 25 to May 31.

Those who are eligible to book for the vaccination include:

  • People aged 65 or older;
  • People aged 18 and older living in long-term care, nursing homes, senior congregate living settings or residential care facilities;
  • People who are six months and older who meet the criteria for being moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment;
  • People aged 50 years and older who identify as Black, African Nova Scotian or First Nations.
Continue readingHigh-risk groups can now book spring COVID-19 vaccination
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Topic: TorontoView all posts for the topic: Toronto

Second case of measles confirmed in Toronto

Published March 18, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Katherine DeClerq

A second lab-confirmed case of measles has been identified in Toronto.

The city’s public health agency said that an infant who recently returned from travel has contracted the disease. The child is recovering at home.

The first Toronto case was identified on Feb. 16.

Toronto Public Health is warning that anyone who attended the Agincourt Public Library between 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on March 11 may have been exposed. Individuals should monitor for symptoms until April 1 and double check that their vaccinations are up to date.

Continue readingSecond case of measles confirmed in Toronto
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