Ontario Premier Doug Ford, citing rising numbers of Covid-19 cases that are accelerating at "an alarming rate," announced Monday that the entire Canadian province will shut down effective Saturday. This story has been shared 356,779 times. Lets get the border open.. When fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and a rival paramilitary group known as the RSF, Wajan Mohamed feared for her sister's safety. Much cooler temperatures with chance of showers most of the week. Horgan called on young people in particular to do more to fight transmission and not to gather. As COVID-19 lingers, the need for national pharmacare progress is clear: experts. Museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals will all close. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Niagara Falls, Ontario Mayor Jim Diodati said he supports Congressman Brian Higgins' plan to fully reopen the border in July. Is there going to be another variant that emerges that causes more widespread harm? During that time, indoor dining and activity at fitness centres are paused, while the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort will be closed as cases spread in the community. People age 20 to 39 have accounted for a rising proportion of cases in recent weeks and have been hospitalized more often and for longer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes. (Lars Hagberg /The Canadian Press via AP). In theMiddle East, anew factory in Abu Dhabi will start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm later this year under a joint venture between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42. WATCH |How can people reduce COVID-19 risks outdoors? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the U.S. has administered 169 million doses and 32 percent of the American population has at least one dose. Ontario is locking down again, unlike the U.S. cities and states. They got vaccinated many of them three times. Capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies will be limited to 50 per cent capacity of a particular room. It is very different from defining a pandemic., Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch agreed, saying the official designation of a virus as endemic in a country is not all scientific.. The new public health orders go into effect at midnight and will be in place until April 19. Please try again. FUREY: Ontarians are locked down again -- and that's unacceptable, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced by big-name star on 'American Idol', LILLEY: Three years after Trudeau's gun ban, nothing has changed, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, DEAR ABBY: Ex-girlfriend believes she wasn't cheating. It hobbles our ability to explain to the public the status of the disease., Read more: And now, even more public health measures are apparently on the way, as per the guidance of the COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, which released new modelling projections and consequent recommendations for further action on Thursday. © 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Too early to call COVID-19 an endemic: epidemiologist, WATCH: A Winnipeg epidemiologist says it's still too early to call COVID-19 an "endemic" Mar 7, 2022. They had since resumed in class learning. Ontario needs stronger public health measures to fight Omicron, experts Under COVID-19 restrictions in place in 19 high-risk zones, including Paris, stores allowed to stay open include those selling food, books, flowers and chocolate, and hairdressers. Those born in earlier birth years will be able to book appointmentsfirst, with additional birth years in Phase 2B becomingeligible as more vaccine doses arrive. And Henry and Premier John Horgan stressed the importance of following all existing orders, including limiting indoor gatherings and outdoor dining to ones own household. An endemic virus refers to the constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Heres what you need to know, Major announcement on Canadas most wanted list in Toronto this morning, Maple Leafs host Panthers to start the 2nd round, Ontario education and mental health ministers to make an announcement, 'A beacon of protection': Girl's death sparks training for judges in Ontario, One person arrested for slapping police horse during Maple Leafs celebrations, North York restaurant manager charged after allegedly sexually assaulting two victims, PSAC says tentative agreement reached with Treasury Board for 120,000 workers, How to create a 'win-win' situation for workplace mental health: psychologist, King Charles to uphold long-standing royal tradition of celebrating birthday twice, Trump lawyer seeks mistrial in rape case, citing judge bias, Mother-to-baby HIV transmission shouldn't be happening in Canada, researchers say, Nearly half of Canadians didn't use all their vacation days in 2022: survey, Michael J. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Besides, nobody ever claimed it was easy. The Local Lockdown Program is available from October 24, 2021, to May 7, 2022. Premier @fordnation says the province cant afford another lockdown and wants to see the economy booming again. But it has not required employers to allow and support work-from-home plans. Covid-19: Canada's largest city moves back into lockdown https://t.co/Fv1clS0WGF. Experts weigh in. Several rivers and lakes in Quebec remained under special surveillance by public security Monday morning as weather forecasts predicted rainfall for days in various areas of the province. cannot wage this battle alone.. COVID-19 hospitalizations in the province stood at477, with120 in intensive care, according to a provincial dashboard. Hong Kong will allow non-residents to fly in again May 1; Shanghai still under lockdown. On the same day London Police Chief Steve Williams retirement takes effect, a new chief was announced. "We just have a little more to go to hit that 75 per cent and we'll do it. everyone, please get out there and get vaccinated.". Our vaccine effort across B.C. Will A COVID Third Wave Force Ontario Into Lockdown? - Refinery29 Will 2023 be the year COVID-19 becomes endemic in Canada? Experts weigh At the moment, we are leading the world in first vaccinations, with a rate of almost 80 per cent, while approximately 60 per cent of eligible adults in the province arenow fully inoculated. Canada is heading towards a potential sixth COVID-19 wave, experts say, as cases and hospitalizations have started to creep back up again across the country. B.C. On Monday, authorities in the eastern Punjab province also announced a two-week-long partial lockdown in high-risk cities startingApril 1 in an attempt to containthe spread of the virus. Tragic battle looms as COVID spreads in China, Shanghai hospital warns, Canada better prepared to deal with emerging COVID-19 variants: Dr. Tam, Dr. Tam urges Canadians to consider mask-use, getting latest vaccines amid COVID-19 surge, COVID-19: China races to vaccinate elderly as funeral homes struggle with deaths, B.C. We can't afford another lockdown,"the premier said in response to a question about future restrictionsduring a media briefing on Thursday. Covid-19 in Canada: Ontario Locks Down With Virus 'Killing Faster and The move for all. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. "It was going to be brutal one way or the other. They lost out on so much, so many big life moments. They downloaded the vaccine passport QR app, which we were told would be what guaranteed no more lockdowns. Cinemas and theme parks would be able to increase capacity to 75 per centfrom 50 per cent. Retail will be allowed to remain open as long as they restrict to curbside pick-up. Indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms, will be closed, except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and select professional and elite amateur sport leagues. Manitoba says it will recommend the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine only for people 55 and older at this time while it waits for more information about a rare but serious side-effect in some young European women who received the vaccine. Whether it's a mental health day or a reduced workload, there are a number of ways that employers and employees can deal with workplace stress to the benefit of everyone, a Toronto-based psychologist says. According to data released by the province, 841 COVID-19 patients were in hospital, with 382 of those listed as being in intensive care units. Like the U.S., Ontario is seeing record new infections. All publicly funded and private schools will move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17, subject to public health trends and operational considerations. COVID-19 cases appear to be on the rise in Ontario again and business groups are calling for a vaccine certificate system as a means to avoid another lockdown. On March 18, the Department of Homeland Security announced the border would continue to be closed to non-essential travel through April 21. Henry also reversed her decision to temporarily allow small indoor religious services. Vaccination efforts have been ramping up across the country. Alberta elections: What to expect as writ drops? Yet here in Ontario, where the province has just been plunged once again into lockdown because of healthcare capacity issues, all of the top healthcare execs are still sitting comfortably in their cushy jobs. The move was a response to COVID-19 outbreaks on the Island that were concentrated among young people. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Health officials also said another 136 cases of the more contagious coronavirus variants of concern have been identified in the province. P.E.I. And what happens after they do all of that, in the face of a milder variant: everything gets shut down and theyre told they must do more. WHO has even added caveats to its weekly epidemiological reports on global COVID-19 circulation and case numbers, noting that any trends should be interpreted with due consideration of the limitations of the COVID-19 surveillance systems.. Test positivity rates have also risen from around six per cent on average to nearly 10 per cent across the province and much higher in some areas signalling rapid case growth. On Monday morning, one sizable flood was observed, at Quesnel Bay on the Ottawa River in Rigaud, in the Montrgie region. "Yea, I support that, I mean I think it's aggressive because of where they are at right now but it's doable," he said. Andrew Cuomohailed a "monumental step forward" as he announcedstate residents over 30 will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations starting Tuesday, and everyone over 16 will be eligible starting April 6. Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas will be closed, but rehearsals and recorded performances are permitted with restrictions. King Charles coronation: What is the Stone of Scone? Hong Kong will allow non-residents who are vaccinated and have a negative virus test to fly into the city . We've received your submission. Fire officials confirmed the fire started in the garage and spread partially to the home. Canada's largest city will close most non-essential businesses and. Ontario Locks Down With Virus 'Killing Faster and Younger' Almost half new ICU patients in Canadian province are under 60 'This is a new pandemic. "I would rather wait if it means one or two months for Pfizer, Moderna and [Johnson & Johnson] than roll the dice on this AstraZeneca," he said. Saturday during summer-like weekend, 2 wildfires burn west of Edmonton, evacuation order expected to last into Monday. In addition to celebrating his birthday on Nov. 14, King Charles III will maintain the long-standing royal tradition of marking the occasion in June as well. Its just not that easy, they parrot. On Saturday, the province reported more than 1,000 new cases for the first time since mid-February. They went without seeing loved ones for months on end. Matt Anderson, who took the podium at Mondays announcement, is President and CEO of Ontario Health. Ontario, home to 38% of Canada's population, announced a record 4,812 cases on Friday. It turns out, declaring or deciding that a virus is endemic is not a straightforward or clearly-defined practice. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Prince Edward Island hasyet to provideupdated case numbers. issuspending use of theAstraZenecavaccine for people under 55, whileAlberta's top public health doctor announced that the province will temporarily stop offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under age 55. Only last week, Henry eased restrictions on indoor religious services, but that has also been reversed. Its also a scandal that Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott continue to accept their game plans. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. Ontario shuts down for at least a month as ICU admissions jump Clothes, furniture and beauty shops are not allowed to open. Dr. Joss Reimer, head of the province'svaccine task force, said that there has beennooverall increased risk of blood clotslinked to the vaccine detected in Manitoba, but although associated risks are probably rare, "I'm not comfortable with 'probably.'". In Atlantic Canada, health officials inNew Brunswickreported 11new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Record daily COVID-19 case numbers, increasing variant cases and signs of exponential growth led the British Columbia government to enact a circuit-breaker lockdown today. Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, Stay up to date on the latest, breaking news, Non-U.S. residents banned from purchasing tickets to Maple Leafs road games in Florida, Queen Street stretch is officially closed for nearly 5 years. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, which was introduced in October 2021 and became law on December 17, 2021, provides income support of $300 per week to workers whose employment is affected as a result of a public health lockdown and who are either unable to work or have lost 50 per cent or more of their income due to such restrictions. In Ontario,meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford said he"won't hesitate" to stop the use of the vaccinefor people under55 years of age. 2023 Toronto Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Doug Ford says he is 99 per cent sure there will never be another lockdown in Ontario. Quebec and Ontario public health bodies are reminding residents that as the snow melts, ticks emerge. Ontario is locking down again, unlike the U.S. cities and states. And I think its unwise to be overconfident that the worst is behind us.. After much deliberation throughout the day, Canadians reportedly are. Web Desk Updated: November 21, 2020 14:22 IST. The Canadian province of Ontario, the country's most populous, will enter another lockdown on the weekend for 28 days, local media reported, as it grapples with rising COVID-19 cases and intensive . Ontario Provincial Police have laid a charge in the crash that sent CTV News Kitchener reporter Stephanie Villella to hospital with life-threatening injuries earlier this year. Parts of Canada begin 2022 with record COVID-19 cases after low - CP24 Lets all of us stay outside and stay apart, said Henry. On Wednesday, Ontario recorded more than 1,500 cases, which FYI is the highest single-day total since February, with over half of the cases from new strains (variants of concern).. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted. Newfoundland and Labradorand Nova Scotiareported no new cases on Monday. For the last several months, WHO officials have been urging countries to beef up tracking, testing and sequencing of COVID-19, following a marked decline in surveillance measures as public health restrictions have been relaxed worldwide. Access articles from across Canada with one account. The U.S. and Canada are collaborating in a meaningful way again. Canada holds back on locking down border - Press-Republican But Canada is among many countries that have seen a significant reduction in testing for COVID-19, due to provinces and territories adopting testing policies that rely mainly on rapid tests to detect the virus, which are not tracked. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has received a shipment of 100,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China. Retail stores will be limited to 50% capacity in Ontario and indoor social gatherings will be capped at five people. Data and surveillance that provides information about how a virus is behaving and changing in a population is key to determining responses, including on decisions about whether it remains an emergency situation, Deonandan said. Ontario shuts schools, indoor dining, gyms amid infections - New York Post Legal Statement. Ford said they are expecting a tsunami of cases and noted just one percent of 100,000 new cases a day could overwhelm hospitals. Hospital officials are recognizing a major planning milestone for the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital project. All Whistler Blackcomb ski resort will be closed for the same period. Genetic sequencing data that is available shows continuing increases in immune evasive variants, notably BQ.1 and BQ1.1, while the previously dominant BA.5 lineage variants are declining, said Anna Maddison, a spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, in a statement to Global News. Almost half of Canadians reported that they didn't use all their vacation days in 2022, with more than half reporting that they feel deprived of vacation time, according to a new report. Read more: 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Quebec goes into lockdown over Omicron surge - New York Post In a statement from March 21, Higgins, who serves as co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus, said, A great deal of positive developments have occurred over the last several months. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Dr. Elaine Ma administers a vaccine during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario, on Sunday. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. In terms of simple business closures, Toronto has probably had the longest lockdown in North America, and possibly the world, says Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent . All rights reserved. You need add physicians and nurses, etc. Premier Franois Legaulthas said he doesn't have immediate plans to step up restrictions, but he cautioned that a third wave of COVID-19 is at the province's doorstep as he urged people to follow existing guidelines. A welcome email is on its way. Ontario is seeing record new infections and there are concerns about hospital capacity. A person draws out Moderna vaccine during a drive through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario, on Sunday. Read more about cookies here. Outdoor facilities will be permitted to operate but with the number of spectators not to exceed 50 per cent occupancy and other requirements. Our vaccine rollout is steadily increasing, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. It was going to be brutal one way or the other.