AHS restricts testing criteria as private labs brace for an increase in demand

COVID-19 situation on Tuesday, but says residents can’t let their guard down if they want to slow down the virus’ spread.During a media briefing hosted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit, acting medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers said that while “COVID rates continue to be high in our region… some early indications are consistently suggesting that we are seeing a plateau in the burden of illness in our community.“It is important to note that the rates of COVID-19 and the burden of illness in our community remains exceptionally high and higher than it was prior to any wave.” Announcement on Ontario COVID restrictions coming this week, official says The suggestion of a potential plateau is nothing new.Last week, Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table scientific director Dr.

Good evening and welcome to today's Daily Record headline briefing.

Yesterday, 13,028 child (paediatric) vaccine first doses were administered to 5 to 11-year-olds throughout New Zealand.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

back-to-in-class learning for the majority of remote First Nations students across Ontario due to limited access to, N95 masks, HEPA filters and rapid antigen tests, all items promised by the Ford government to the province’s other schools.Students in the province resumed classes after the holidays via online learning in an effort to curb surging COVID-19 cases. With new safety measures in place, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced students would return to in-class learning on Jan.

Sha’Carri Richardson was told she would not run in the 100-meter race after she tested positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana, at the Olympic trials – voiding her first-place results. President Biden hasn't come out in support of legalizing marijuana at the federal level but has said he supports decriminalizing possession of the drug. AdvertisementSo far, 18 states have legalized recreational use and 37 allow for some sort of medical marijuana.  

COLOMBO (News 1st); It will be a Sri Lanka – India clash in the Under 19 Asia Cup Finals as Sri Lanka cruised through beating Pakistan in their Semi-Final on Thursday (30).The Lion cubs secured a 22 run victory against Pakistan in a nail-biting encounter in Dubai.After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka Under-19s were all out for a paltry 147 runs in 44.5 overs.In reply chasing an easy target of 148, Pakistan batters were shell-shocked as they were bowled out for 125 runs in 49.3 overs.Off Spinner, Trevin Mathew gave Sri Lanka the glimpse of a resurrection right from the start bagging 4 wickets as he destroyed the Pakistani top order. It was a show of spinners as Skipper Dunith Wellalage bagged 3 wickets as well.Sri Lanka : 147 all out (44.5 overs) Yasiru Rodrigo 31*, Matheesha Pathirana 31 | Syed Zameer 4/32, A Khan 2/26, A Ali 2/27.Pakistan : 125 all out (49.3 overs) A Khan 36 | Trevin Mathew 4/14, Dunith Wellalage 3/31 v SL U19s 147.Sri Lanka won by 22 runs!Meanwhile, in the 2nd semi-final at Sharjah, India tasted sweet revenge as they got the better of reigning World Under 19 champions Bangladesh whom they met during the previous World Cup Final.India completely outclassed Bangladesh defeating the neighbours by a mammoth 103 runs.India scored 243 for the loss of 8 wickets, while the opponents were bowled out for a meagre 140 runs.Sri Lanka will play India in the final of the Under 19 Asia Cup Final on Friday (31).Previously  the group match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was called off after one of the umpires tested positive for Covid-19 in Sharjah.

Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to plummet across Greater Manchester, as one borough has seen a weekly drop of almost 60 per cent.

As many Ontario students get set to head back to class tomorrow, the majority of those living in First Nation communities are not. Leaders say the provincial and federal governments have failed to provide them with the supplies needed to keep students safe.

Forty percent of the eligible population have now received their booster shot.

Covid-19 linked to a pet shop worker in the city. Hong Kong is planning to cull two thousand helpless animals after 11 hamsters tested positive with the Delta variant at the store.It comes after a pet-shop employee, a customer, and the customer's partner all tested positive or provisionally positive, officials confirmed.Authorities believe it could be an example of animal-to-human transmission which has prompted officials to act in a bid to maintain their "zero Covid" strategy.

COVID-19, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says.This marks the first time the virus has been detected in wildlife in the province.In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, the ministry said samples were collected from five free-ranging white-tailed deer in southwestern Ontario back in November.According to the ministry, the deer have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 virus found in 3 Quebec deer, Canadian officials say These are the first cases reported in free-ranging Ontario wildlife,” the Facebook post reads.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Ending the U.S.

COVID-19 safety plans, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a media briefing.These plans include occupancy limits based on seven square metres per person, up to a maximum of 25 people per space, Henry added.The vaccine card will still be required to enter gyms or fitness centres. The province considers those with two COVID-19 shots (or one Johnson & Johnson shot) as fully vaccinated.Masks must be worn at all times with the exception of when someone is exercising, Henry said but if people can keep their masks on when exercising, that is best.There will be no changes for the B.C.

COVID-19 protocols has hit about 30 per cent at some stores and is continuing to rise, Gary Sands, senior vice-president of public policy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, said Tuesday.Without access to rapid testing in many provinces, he said workers are repeatedly forced to isolate for a week or more after an exposure to COVID-19.If the situation worsens, some grocery stores won’t be able to stay open _ threatening food security in rural and remote areas that rely on a sole independent grocer, Sands said. Truckers warn vaccine mandate at U.S.

SEATTLE - The Center for Covid Control announced it is "pausing operations" at all of its 300 testing locations until Jan. 22 after widespread reports of consumer complaints and allegations of fake tests.On Wednesday, FOX 13 News reported that the Better Business Bureau was investigating the Illinois-based COVID-19 testing company that is being inundated with negative reviews and complaints.

Boris Johnson is expected to announce an easing of England’s coronavirus restrictions tomorrow.

(Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)HARRISBURG, Pa. - A statewide court has given lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf two weeks to break a stalemate around redrawing Pennsylvania's congressional districts to account for a decade of demographic shifts.The Commonwealth Court issued the order Friday, acting on a request last month for it to get involved in the process.

COVID-19 tests to licensed child care programs in the community.In a press release issued Tuesday, the city said it is working with the provincial government to distribute the tests.According to the city, two test kits will be allotted per staff member or care provider and infant, toddler and preschool child in care. Child care centres concerned about limited N95 mask supply from Ontario government The city said the tests “are to be used when they present any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus and its variants.”“Children, child care staff members and child care providers will continue to be actively screened every day for symptoms upon entering a child care program, as has been the process throughout the pandemic,” the release reads.The city said it will help to ensure the test kids are distributed “as quickly as possible” to community-based child care programs, including licensed home child care agencies.According to the release, child care programs that are located in schools will receive the test kits directly from their school or school board.In a statement, Toronto Mayor John Tory said the city is “committed to supporting any effort to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to keep children, their families and child care workers safe.”“By providing one more tool to help detect symptomatic cases, we can make a concerted effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 and keep child care programs open for the families that need them,” he said.Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr.

A man walks past a pet shop where an employee and a customer later tested positive for Covid-19 after handling hamsters, sparking the city's government to plan a cull of over 1,000 of the animals after some tested positive for coronavirus. (Photo by Hong Kong authorities said Tuesday that they will kill about 2,000 small animals, including hamsters, after several tested positive for the coronavirus at a pet store where an employee was also infected.The city will also stop the sale of hamsters and the import of small mammals, according to officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

COVID-19 tests and ramp up on-site vaccination clinics Tuesday as more students headed back to class in-person.The province has said it will provide two rapid COVID-19 tests for staff and students now that PCR tests are less accessible to everyone due to high case volumes.The Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay, Ont., where classes ran in-person Monday and Tuesday, said 16,000 rapid tests were in schools on the first day of classes.In southwestern Ontario, the St. Clair Catholic District School Board said it would be sending the test kits home with students on Jan.

COVID on Tuesday, though just over half of them were initially admitted due to virus complications, with 580 in intensive care units.The province recently began distinguishing between those who were admitted to hospital directly because of COVID, and those who were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.Of the 4,183 people in hospital with COVID-19, which is up by 296 since yesterday, 53.5 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 46.5 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.This is an increase from 3,220 people in hospital last Tuesday.There are 580 people in ICUs, which is up by two from the previous day. Around 82 per cent of those in intensive care with COVID were admitted because of the virus, while around 18 per cent were admitted for other reasons.The number of people in ICUs is up from 477 from last week.

The child (paediatric) Pfizer vaccine is now available for 5–11 year-olds at centres throughout New Zealand, including walk-ins, drive-throughs, hauora providers, community pharmacies, and general practices. More than 120,000 doses of the

Today Americans can order four free COVID-19 at-home antigen tests at COVIDtests.gov, 1 month after President Joe Biden said he was securing 500 million free tests for Americans.

hawaiicovid19.com.# # #PDF: Surging COVID-19 case counts & test volume force changes to data reporting and case investigation

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Jim Justice, governor of West Virginia, during a rally in Charleston, West Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has issued a safety notice to raise awareness of a product recall of two batches of the the Genrui Covid-19 rapid antigen test.

There have been 17,065 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health today while over 3,700 positive antigen tests were registered on the Health Service Executive's website.

WASHINGTON - The White House is finalizing plans to ship 500 million free at-home COVID-19 tests to Americans nationwide and has awarded its first contracts as part of this pledge."We are actively finalizing the details of the distribution mechanism, including a website as we've talked about," White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday. "I would expect us to provide those details next week, and yes, these tests will be sent out through the mail.""What I can say is, last night we issued out our first letter award to provide tests toward this half a billion.

PHILADELPHIA - A large water main break has burst in the Kensington section of the city.The water main break was first reported at F and Clearfield Streets at approximately 11:25 a.m. There is no word yet on the size of the water main break. A cause of the break is also not yet known. ___DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP | FOX 29 WEATHER AUTHORITY APPSUBSCRIBE: Good Day Digest Newsletter | FOX 29 Philly on YouTubeAdvertisementFOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The Department of Health has been notified of 6,329 additional PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, as well as 4,810 positive antigen tests logged.

STOCKHOLM :

Students are seen walking out of Redondo Union High School in protest of in-person classes on Jan. 12, 2022.

WASHINGTON - A new federal website to request free COVID-19 test kits -- originally scheduled to launch Wednesday -- is online now.Americans can request free COVID-19 test kits -- four per address -- at COVIDTESTS.GOV. The tests are free from the U.S. government and the first shipments are set to go out by the end of January. Here's what you need to know:Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherSUBSCRIBE TO FOX 5 DC ON YOUTUBEFree At-Home COVID-19 Tests (USPS) HOW CAN I REQUEST A FREE TEST?GET FREE AT-⁠HOME COVID-⁠19 TESTS AT COVIDTESTS.GOVStarting Tuesday, Jan.

A provided image shows the 555.55-carat black diamond, are "one of the hardest materials known to man."  (Photo credit: Provided / Sotheby’s Dubai) ()Black diamonds, also known as carbonado, are extremely rare. They are found naturally only in Brazil and Central Africa — two regions once connected as part of the supercontinent and believed to have been struck by meteorites, the auction house said.They contain traces of nitrogen and hydrogen that are abundant in interstellar space, as well as osbornite, a mineral uniquely present in meteors.Black diamonds are "one of the hardest materials known to man" and are difficult to cut and polish. "The Enigma – a natural faceted stone of record-breaking size and quality is therefore truly unique, marking an important moment for black diamonds at auction," Sotheby’s said.Other items up for auction have made headlines recently, including a rare copy of the U.S.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Most access to a major city adjacent to Beijing was suspended Thursday as China tried to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious omicron variant, which poses a test to its "zero-tolerance" COVID-19 policy and its ability to successfully host the Winter Olympics.Tianjin, a port and manufacturing center with 14 million people, is one of a half-dozen cities where the government is imposing lockdowns and other restrictions as part of a policy that aims to track down every virus case. But the outbreak in a city so close to the Olympic host is particularly worrying.Throughout the pandemic, authorities have been especially protective of Beijing since it is the seat of government and home to senior politicians.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's indoor dining establishments now require customers and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as the two-week period also allowing for negative tests has come to an end. The mandate, which was announced back in December, went into effect on Jan. 3. The city says it was implemented in response to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia. It includes a two-week grace period - ending on Jan.

Today Capital and Coast will become the first DHB area to reach the 90% fully vaccinated milestone for Māori. When the region’s clinics closed for the day yesterday, they were only 32 second doses short and they’re expected to reach this significant milestone at some point today. 

Parents pull children out of Ontario daycares due to COVID testing changes Christa O’Connor, executive director of Creative Beginnings Childcare Centre, says her organization received 240 masks in total for its two locations in the Waterloo region for 56 staff, which she says would last them about four days.In Toronto, Blossoming Minds Learning Centre executive director Maggie Moser says her centre has received 120 masks to supply a total of 40 staff _ enough for about three days.Moser says her centre has gone ahead and ordered 160 N95 masks, the maximum that could be ordered from a certain manufacturer, for about $300.She says the centre plans to order more in the future, depending on the number of masks supplied from the government.In a statement, a spokeswoman for Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the province has “exceeded the advice of public health by purchasing and delivering N95s to all education and child care staff.” 

The vaccine remains New Zealand’s key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron.

Australia has suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic as a fast-moving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalisation rates to record levels, even as daily infections eased slightly.

WASHINGTON - Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 tests from the comfort of their home next week.The Biden administration has pledged to provide 1 billion COVID-19 test kits to American households at no cost. To facilitate those orders, the White House has launched the website covidtests.gov, which will begin taking orders on Wednesday, Jan.

Yesterday, on the first day they became available, 14,367 child (paediatric) vaccine first doses were administered to 5 to 11-year-olds throughout New Zealand.

The Netherlands will ease some of the toughest Covid-19 restrictions in Europe, allowing shops, gyms and hairdressers to reopen.

The positive case reported yesterday in an Auckland MIQ worker has now been linked to the border through whole genome sequencing. This has provided confirmation that the worker has the Omicron variant. In response, we are taking a conservative approach, and our obj

Dancing on Ice star Bez has tested positive for Covid-19. It comes just 24 hours after he made his skating debut on the ITV show with partner, Angela.

New rules around isolation and testing will come into effect from Friday.

Forty five percent of the population currently eligible have now received their booster shot.