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Showing posts from June, 2020

B.C. to allow designated visits for residents in long-term care after months of restrictions

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B.C. is easing restrictions for visits in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities across the province, allowing residents to have in-person visits for the first time in three months.

U.S. could reach 100,000 new daily coronavirus cases if surge continues, Fauci says

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Dr. Anthony Fauci said coronavirus cases could grow to 100,000 a day in the United States if Americans don't start following public health recommendations.

Nova Scotia launches reviews of Northwood COVID-19 outbreak, long-term care system

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The Nova Scotia government has announced the details of a review that will look into how and why COVID-19 was able to sweep through the Northwood facility in Halifax, as well as a separate review of infection prevention and control in the long-term care sector.

Nova Scotia to begin presumed consent for organ donation next January

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Nova Scotia will become the first province in the country with presumed consent for human organ and tissue donation beginning early next year.

AHS apologizes after false-positive COVID-19 test at Edmonton hospital

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Alberta Health Services is lifting outbreak protocols put in place Saturday at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital after a false-positive COVID-19 test led to the cancellation of some surgeries and placed the facility on alert.

Masks mandatory on public transit in Quebec beginning July 13

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The new rule will apply to anyone over the age of 12. For children younger than that, wearing a mask is strongly recommended by the province, but not obligatory.

Lynn Valley care-home nurse loses job after allegedly failing to wear PPE properly around COVID-19 patients

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A former nurse who worked at the Lynn Valley Care Centre at the peak of its devastating COVID-19 outbreak has lost his job over allegations he didn’t wear his personal protective equipment properly around residents who had the illness.

Nova Scotia identifies new COVID-19 case after 3-week streak

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Nova Scotia's Department of Health said the new case, which was identified Monday in the central region, is travel related and the individual has been self-isolating since returning to the province.

Coroner's report says communication problems, disorganization contributed to death of Montreal marathon runner

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The report says a series of communication mix-ups and organizational lapses at last year's Montreal marathon delayed the time it took for Patrick Neely to get help

Coronavirus: What's happening around the world on Tuesday

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Cities and states across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are closing businesses and reverting back to lockdown measures as coronavirus cases surge following a spate of recent reopenings.

B.C. paramedics responded to 131 overdoses Friday, 'the most recorded in a single day'

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B.C. Emergency Health Services tweeted the alarming number Monday afternoon. It said 131 overdoses is double the daily average.

China study warns of possible new 'pandemic virus' from pigs

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A new flu virus found in Chinese pigs has become more infectious to humans and needs to be watched closely in case it becomes a potential "pandemic virus," a study said, although experts said there is no imminent threat.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says she's concerned about COVID-19 exposure at Vancouver strip club

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Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said news of COVID-19 exposure at Brandi's Exotic Show Lounge should serve as a reminder that British Columbians need to stay vigilant about preventing spread of the disease.

'I have the most beautiful room in the world': A look inside Yellowknife's COVID-19 isolation centre

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The shelter opened on May 4, with funding from the territory's Department of Health and Social Services and contributions from Rio Tinto.

Quebec to make masks mandatory on public transit across province

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While the wearing of face coverings is strongly encouraged when Quebecers are in indoor spaces or cannot leave two metres between each other, sources tell Radio-Canada that they will be mandatory on public transit by mid-July.

Ontario's top doctor speaks as province sees 257 new COVID-19 cases, the majority in Windsor-Essex

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Ontario reported 257 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with 177 of those cases confirmed in the Windsor-Essex public health unit following targeted testing of migrant farm workers over the weekend.

25 confirmed COVID-19 cases now linked to Kingston, Ont., nail salon

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The health unit in the Kingston, Ont., area is confirming three more COVID-19 cases tied to a nail salon in the eastern Ontario city, warning all nail salons will be shut down if more are linked to a positive case.

'A victory for our Black communities': 4 best friends in Calgary all get into med school

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Four Black best friends who met at the University of Calgary not only graduated together this year — each of them were also accepted into medical school.

China approves COVID-19 vaccine for military use, skips final phase of testing

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China's military has received the green light to use a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by its research unit and CanSino Biologics after clinical trials proved it was safe and showed some efficacy, the company said on Monday.

Potential COVID-19 vaccine has re-energized anti-vaccination groups, health experts warn

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Anti-vaccination groups have already launched co-ordinated campaigns to foster fear among people who have questions about the safety of potential coronavirus vaccines, and public health officials need to start combating misinformation now, scientists say.

Born with malformed limbs 52 years ago, thalidomide victim still fights for compensation

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Noëlla Hébert is one of three New Brunswickers who are still in court, after decades of arguing that they deserve to be recognized and compensated as victims of thalidomide.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 findings dim hopes for 'herd immunity' and 'immunity passports'

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A closer look at people who tested positive for COVID-19 but never developed symptoms has found that such asymptomatic carriers have few to no detectable antibodies just weeks after infection, suggesting they may not develop lasting immunity.

The grief in knowing you'll one day outlive your primary caregiver as a person with a physical disability

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Rebecca Wilchynski is 48 years old and has been living with cerebral palsy her entire life. Now, as her mother, who has always served as her primary caregiver, faces medical issues of her own, she must decide if she will give up what independence she has and move to a long-term care facility.

The lessons Canada can take from the U.S.'s mishandling of COVID-19

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A surge in COVID-19 cases in some U.S. states has important lessons for Canada as lockdown measures continue to lift across the country.

The unintended consequences of surgery delays during COVID-19

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The sacrifice Canadians have collectively made to flatten the coronavirus curve also includes immeasurable suffering from postponed surgeries, says a B.C. man who lost his mother not to the virus but to cancer.

Military confirms 40 per cent of COVID-positive troops deployed to long-term care homes were asymptomatic

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A number of Canadian troops infected with the novel coronavirus may have been carrying the virus symptom-free when they were deployed to long-term care homes — and may even have contracted it in the hotels where they were billeted — the country's top military commander acknowledged today.

Quebec reinstates daily COVID-19 data updates after public backlash

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After hearing the public outcry, Quebec's new health minister, Christian Dubé, says the province will resume publishing COVID-19 data every day.

Sisters cross Canada-U.S. border, camp in parents' backyard to be with dying father

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Not even a pandemic or major border border closure between Canada and the United States would stop these two sisters from being with their father at the end of his life.

Coronavirus: What's happening around the world on Friday

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Here's what's happening with COVID-19 in the United States and around the world on Friday.

18 COVID-19 cases now linked to Kingston, Ont., salon

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There are now 18 confirmed COVID-19 cases in people who work at or visited a Kingston, Ont., salon, almost a quarter of the area's total known cases.

Family doctors turn to charity, other businesses to address PPE shortage

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The measures come as Ontario physicians report a spike in the costs of masks, gowns and face shields — all needed for face-to-face visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: What's happening around the world on Thursday

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Here's what's happening with COVID-19 in the United States and around the world on Thursday.

Quebec stops publishing daily COVID-19 data despite leading country in number of cases

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The province's public health institute, INSPQ, had also been publishing daily updates, including the number of cases and hospitalizations in Quebec, the number of tests conducted and how many people have died.

LifeLabs failed to protect personal health information of millions, commissioners say

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LifeLabs failed to protect the personal health information of millions of Canadians, resulting in a "significant privacy breach," according to a joint investigation by Ontario and B.C.'s information and privacy commissioners.

Public school teacher in Fraser Health among 20 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.

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A public school teacher in the Fraser Health region is among the 20 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in B.C., Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Thursday.

Alberta pharmacists to begin offering tests for COVID-19

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Alberta will soon begin testing for COVID-19 at community pharmacies, Health Minister Tyler Shandro said Thursday.

Congo announces end to 2nd-largest Ebola outbreak on record

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The second-largest Ebola outbreak on record is over after nearly two years and more than 2,200 deaths, the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Thursday, even as a separate flare-up of the virus continued on the other side of the country.

Provinces 'failed to support seniors,' Trudeau says following release of troubling new pandemic study

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau floated the idea of bringing in national standards and reopening the Canada Health Act to address some of the vulnerabilities the pandemic has exposed in long-term care homes, while taking a swipe at the province's handling of the issue so far.

Quebec's bid to hire more long-term care staff creates new problems for clients living at home

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Home-care operators say Quebec's attempt to recruit more patient care attendants to work in chronically short-staffed long-term care institutions has led to an exodus of staff, making it difficult to meet the needs of their elderly and vulnerable clients who still live at home.

Canada's COVID-19 deaths in long-term care double the average of other countries, study shows

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A new study finds the proportion of Canadian COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in long-term care facilities is about twice the average of rates from other developed countries.

Could Canada avoid a second wave of COVID-19?

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Experts say the likelihood of a second wave isn’t set in stone, and Canada could instead see several smaller waves in the coming months or avoid a second wave altogether.

COVID-19 surges among young Americans, endangering older adults

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Coronavirus cases are climbing rapidly among young adults in a number of states in the U.S. where bars, stores and restaurants have reopened.

B.C. to allow 'careful' travel within province as it eases more COVID-19 restrictions under Phase 3

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British Columbia is further easing restrictions set in place to control COVID-19, meaning hotels, motels, resorts, spas, and RV parks will soon be allowed to open.

Should police be on mental health calls?

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Ejaz Choudry. D’Andre Campbell. Rodney Levi. In the last few weeks, several Canadians struggling with their mental health have been shot and killed by police after authorities were called. Today on Front Burner, Jennifer Lavoie, a criminology professor who helps train police on how to handle mental health calls, talks to Josh Bloch about why this issue persists, and how it can be stopped.

Elder Carole Dawson, champion of Indigenous health, dies from COVID-19 in Vancouver

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Carole Dawson, a longtime champion of Indigenous health and rights in B.C., has died from COVID-19, according to the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).

Coronavirus: What's happening around the world on Wednesday

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Here's what's happening around the world with COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Number of mental health calls Mounties respond to growing exponentially, Lucki says

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The head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said today the number of mental health calls her officers respond to is growing exponentially, as she defended Mounties' record amid growing calls to reallocate police funding to better fund social services.

Australia scrambles to prevent 2nd COVID-19 wave after 1st death in a month

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Australia reported its first COVID-19 death in more than a month on Wednesday, as concerns about a second wave of infections saw thousands of people queue, sometimes for hours, to be tested for the virus.

Family doctor from Stratford, Ont. is YouTube hit with COVID videos

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The COVID-19 pandemic has turned Stratford-based family physician Sean Blaine into an internet sensation of sorts — as a YouTube commentator with health tips.

Some countries reconsider 2-metre rule for physical distancing, but not here

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Canadian health officials continue to recommend people stay two metres apart from others to curb COVID-19 as the economy reopens, while the distancing rule is changing in Britain.