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Showing posts from May, 2020

Why doctors say it's crucial to focus on COVID-19 spread in working-class neighbourhoods

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Toronto doctors say they’re optimistic politicians are beginning to turn their attention to the spread of COVID-19 in working-class neighbourhoods full of essential workers, and that Ontario's new testing strategy could help tackle one of the virus' 'last bastions' in Canada.

Testing for COVID-19 in sewage could serve as 'advance warning,' help prepare for 2nd wave

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The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the feces of infected people, but in a way, it’s a good thing. It means that testing sewage may be a convenient way to track outbreaks. Here’s a closer look.

Getting cut off safe supply prescription was like a 'slap in the face,' says Vancouver woman

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Melissa Steinhauer says a new doctor refused to renew her prescription for a “safe supply” of opiates, which have been made more widely available in B.C. due to new guidelines for doctors and pharmacies published during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our lockdown is only a glimpse into the difficult lives of the war-torn and displaced

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At least in Canada and other western countries we know that our isolation will end eventually, in contrast to those displaced by conflict and living in camps and shelters around the world, writes Marwa Awad.

Should B.C. remain an outlier when it comes to releasing locations of COVID-19 cases?

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Henry has been consistent in her explanations for why releasing city-by-city data isn’t helpful but says “more data” will likely be provided next week. 

COVID-19 around the world: U.S. cities fear protests may fuel new wave of outbreaks

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The massive protests sweeping across U.S. cities following the police killing of a black man in Minnesota have sent shudders through the health community and elevated fears that the huge crowds will lead to a new surge in cases of the coronavirus.

COVID-19 has Calgary seniors walking around province, across country but virtually

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Marion Rogers says people in the southwest Calgary seniors home where she lives were getting a little squirrely after being forced to stay on the facility's grounds when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in southern Alberta in March.

COVID-19 border closures worry Americans who come to Canada to buy insulin

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Many Americans rely on going up north to buy insulin, where a vial costs roughly a tenth of the price it does in the U.S. But the COVID-19 border restrictions have meant that option is no longer available.

Learning how the coronavirus affects the body offers clues to fight COVID-19

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Doctors and scientists are examining the inflammatory effects of the novel coronavirus for clues to prevention and treatment.

Can a store make me wear a mask to shop? Your COVID-19 questions answered

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We're answering your questions about the pandemic. Send yours to COVID@cbc.ca and we’ll answer as many as we can. We’ll publish a selection of answers every weekday online, and also put some questions to the experts during The National and on CBC News Network.

COVID reopening: hoping it goes right - watching carefully how it might go wrong

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With COVID-19 still circulating, how can we know if we need to lock down again. And will people be willing to make that sacrifice?

2 new cases of COVID-19 in Campbellton linked to doctor brings total to 8, including 2 in ICU

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There are two new cases of COVID-19 in northern New Brunswick, bringing the total cluster in the Campbellton region to eight, all linked to a doctor who contracted the coronavirus outside the province and didn't self-isolate when he returned.

Reversing course, Ford says he is now considering regional reopening of Ontario

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he's considering a regional, phased approach to reopening the province amid the COVID-19 pandemic — an option he had previously resisted.

Liberal MPs call for national standards for long-term care homes

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being pressured by some of his own Liberal backbenchers to implement enforceable national standards for the operation of long-term care homes in Canada.

COVID-19 testing in New Brunswick below 'minimum' prior to new outbreak

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The discovery of six new cases of COVID-19 in the Campbellton area over the last week may trigger increased testing for the virus throughout New Brunswick, which had been slowing noticeably in the province in recent days to the point of falling below "minimum" amounts it set for itself.

Ford says he's done 'taking bullets' for union members who wouldn't inspect care homes

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Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that he's sick of "taking bullets" for union members who, he says, refused to go into the province's long-term care homes to carry out inspections in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic because of safety concerns.

At least 150 people had contact with COVID-positive medical professional in N.B. region

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Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, and Premier Blaine Higgs will be providing an update on COVID-19 at a news conference in Fredericton at 2:30 p.m.

Newlyweds deal with double diagnosis of rare cancer

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Describing it as "the worst luck ever," newlywed couple Luke and Lindsey Belding are coming to terms with each receiving a rare leukemia diagnosis, completely unrelated to each other.

Should I hold my breath when people get too close? Your COVID-19 questions answered

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We're answering your questions about the pandemic. Send yours to COVID@cbc.ca and we’ll answer as many as we can. We’ll publish a selection of answers every weekday online and also put some questions to the experts during The National and on CBC News Network.

Employers need to get serious about preventing workplace injuries in the home during pandemic, expert says

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Canadians working in improvised workspaces in their homes are beginning to get neck, back and shoulder pains. A Regina chiropractor has dubbed it "work-from-home syndrome" and warns that employers need to get serious about preventing workplace injuries in the home.

Babies developed blisters, swelling after touching disinfected shopping carts, Manitoba moms say

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Three Manitoba mothers are warning other parents not to let their children near shopping carts that have been sanitized with disinfecting chemicals, after they say their children developed blisters, rashes and swelling from touching carts.

'Invisible disability': Masks making it harder to communicate, deaf and hard of hearing say

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The task of communicating has become increasingly difficult for the deaf or hard of hearing because so many people have begun wearing masks during the pandemic. Many who are hard of hearing rely on lipreading and 70 per cent of sign language relies on facial expressions and body movements.

Leaving out long-term care was medicare's original sin — and we're paying for it now

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We should be appalled by the reports coming from the Canadian Forces about the wretched conditions in some long-term care homes — appalled, but not surprised.

Alberta auditor general will review government response to COVID-19 pandemic

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Alberta's auditor general will assess the provincial government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and review his office's outstanding recommendations related to seniors care as he determines the scope of the audit.

With air conditioning scarce, Quebec's long-term care homes struggle with heat during pandemic

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People with chronic health conditions and the elderly are especially vulnerable to high heat and humidity — and to COVID-19. That leaves long-term care homes facing a doubly challenging situation: how to deal with the heat while preventing further spread of the virus.

More dental services could resume in Nova Scotia next week

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A public health order shut down most Nova Scotia dental offices in March to try to help clamp down on the coronavirus pandemic. Now, dental clinics and offices should be able to reopen sometime next week for urgent and emergency cases.

Labrador officials look for solutions as pandemic makes fighting substance abuse even harder

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COVID-19 is throwing long-standing inequalities into high relief — and those factors seem to be translating to higher substance use in some communities.

Toronto breaks down geographic spread of COVID-19, showing local hot spots in detail for first time

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Toronto has unveiled detailed, geographic information about the spread of the novel coronavirus, marking the first time such data has been made available in Ontario during the pandemic.

U.S. surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19: Johns Hopkins University

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The U.S. surpassed 100,000 deaths due to COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Staffing, protective equipment still a challenge in Quebec long-term care homes, military report says

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A report prepared by the Canadian military about Quebec's long-term care homes says the division between "hot" and "cold" zones, proper use of protective equipment and staffing shortages remain major challenges in the facilities.

'Zoom fatigue' is setting in: What it is and how to prevent it

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Although the term may not be found in psychology textbooks, experts say "Zoom fatigue," named for the popular videoconferencing software, has become all too common in the COVID-19 era, with so many people working from home and holding meetings online.

How COVID-19 pushed a Hamilton man fighting fentanyl addiction to the brink of relapse

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There's no data to indicate if drugs are causing more deaths in Hamilton now, but with less structure in the day and a sense of anxiety in the air, one expert said there are concerns of more drug use among people battling addiction during the pandemic.

Why B.C.'s containment and recovery from COVID-19 is going smoother than Ontario's

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Over the past seven days, B.C. announced 84 new COVID-19 cases. In Ontario, over the same period, there were 2,807 cases. Epidemiologists say there are likely a number of reasons for that divide.

France revokes decree allowing hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment

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The French government on Wednesday cancelled a decree allowing hospital doctors to administer hydroxychloroquine as a treatment to patients suffering from severe forms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

Why provinces are starting to test people without symptoms for COVID-19

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Not long ago, people with full-blown symptoms couldn’t get tested for COVID-19 in some provinces unless they were extremely ill. Now, even those provinces are starting to test people with no symptoms at all. Why the change? What do they hope to find out? And is there a downside? Here’s a closer look.

Disinformation surging online during pandemic, says Microsoft president

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Misinformation and disinformation linked to the COVID-19 pandemic has been surging online in recent weeks, along with cyber attacks on hospitals, says the head of one of the world's tech giants.

Dangerous blood clots pose a perplexing coronavirus threat

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Dangerous blood clots that can cause strokes and other life-threatening problems are increasingly being reported in patients with COVID-19.

From hanging out in parks to getting groceries, how can you navigate day-to-day risks of COVID-19?

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Living life during a pandemic can be confusing. But experts say you can navigate how to approach different settings and activities once you know the risks.

Ontario won't specify COVID-19 'hotspots' even as premier urges testing

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Premier Doug Ford is pleading with people who live in Ontario’s COVID-19 “hotspots” to get tested for the virus — but officials won’t specify which neighbourhoods have been hardest hit.

Why can I go grocery shopping but not see my friends? Your COVID-19 questions answered

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We're answering your questions about the pandemic. Send yours to COVID@cbc.ca and we’ll answer as many as we can. We’ll publish a selection of answers every weekday online and also put some questions to the experts during The National and on CBC News Network.

Canada not immune to the virus of COVID-19 conspiracies

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CBC News has devoted a considerable number of resources to fact-checking COVID-19 claims in an effort to combat what some have described as “a pandemic of misinformation."

COVID-19 not very infectious 8 days after symptoms show up, Winnipeg study suggests

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COVID-19 appears to be infectious only for the first eight days after patients experience symptoms, Winnipeg researchers conclude in a study that has implications for the way the disease is treated, isolated and prevented.

Slow return for Canada's dental offices as pandemic restrictions ease

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As dental offices start to reopen across the country, they are concerned about having sufficient protective gear and protocols to safely see patients, and seeing enough of them so they can keep the office running. 

COVID-19 disinformation being spread by Russia, China, say experts

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Countries like Russia and China are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to spread disinformation, say experts. While some of the disinformation centres on the origin of the virus, some of it is offering potentially dangerous medical advice.

We need to develop mental health plans now to support front-line health workers

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There can be no denying the psychological impact the pandemic will have on health workers and their families, writes Scott Maxwell.

Married for 68 years, this B.C. couple died 5 hours apart after testing positive for COVID-19

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Juanita and Howard Robinson died in a North Vancouver long-term care home in early April. Their children are telling their story to highlight the hardship of being separated from loved ones in long-term care and remind people that the seniors killed by the coronavirus aren't just statistics.

One of Canada's largest long-term care operators is owned by a federal Crown corporation

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One of the largest operators of seniors' residences and long-term care homes in Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), a federal Crown corporation.

World Health Organization temporarily halts hydroxychloroquine trials

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The World Health Organization says it is temporarily dropping hydroxychloroquine — the malaria drug U.S. President Donald Trump said he was taking — from its global study into experimental COVID-19 treatments.

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada on Monday

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Ontario's premier is expanding COVID-19 testing criteria, saying over the weekend that people who feel they need a test should go to one of the province's 129 assessment centres — even if they don't have symptoms. Here's a look at what's happening in Canada on Monday.

Here's what needs to happen before we can all get vaccinated for COVID-19

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COVID-19 has upended our lives, and we’ve all heard that there will be no return to "full normal" until there is a vaccine for the virus. But how close are we to a vaccine? What steps need to be taken? And how long will that take? Here’s a closer look.