Coronavirus lockdown curbs in parts of the North could be relaxed 'in a few days'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that the province would drop the proof of vaccination requirement starting March 1, though masking would remain in place. Capacity limits will also be removed on restaurants, bars and other indoor venues on Feb.

Alberta students are no longer required to wear masks in school, and kids 12 and under don’t have to be masked in any setting.Carolyn Kury de Castillo reports on how students and parents reacted on Monday.

A few days ahead of schedule, Ontario will be moving forward with its reopening plans and within a few weeks, the province is scrapping the vaccine passport program. Caryn Lieberman reports.

Interim Conservative Party Leader Candice Bergen reacted Monday evening to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act to help put an end to the anti-COVID-19 mandates protests. “Conservatives want to see the end of the blockades, we want them ended peacefully and quickly and in a way that Canadians feel that they’ve been listened to, heard and respected by their prime minister.

Bobby Andrew Johnson, 25, was sentenced to six to 15 years in state prison for selling five handguns he stole from unlocked cars in Bucks County.  (Bucks County District Attorney's Office)BUCKS COUNTY, Pa - A 25-year-old man was sentenced to six to 15 years in state prison on Monday for stealing five handguns and selling them, authorities said. According to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, Bobby Andrew Johnson, formerly of Richlandtown, stole handguns and other objects from unlocked cars in Upper Bucks County from April 2018 to September 2018.Johnson is accused of selling five stolen handguns, including one which was found at the home of a minor, according to the DA. During an investigation into stolen guns in multiple counties, police were led to Johnson, who admitted he took items from cars and made about $30,000 in profits. A previous 2015 felony burglary conviction also prevented Johnson from being able to possess a firearm. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges including five counts each of not to possess a firearm, illegal sale or transfer of firearms, theft by unlawful taking, theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. In addition to his sentence, Commons Pleas Judge Theodore C. Fritsch ordered Johnson to pay $1,785 in restitution.

PHILADELPHIA - A street in Mount Airy was rededicated Monday to honor Richard Allen, one of America’s most influential Black leaders. Allens Lane was originally named after former Philadelphia mayor William Allen. He was one of the wealthiest in Philadelphia during his time, using his money to support public interests including the building of Independence Hall and the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania. William Allen also opposed the Declaration of Independence and was a known slave owner. The street has now been rededicated to honor Richard Allen, a former slave who started the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which became the first national Black church denomination in the United States. Richard Allen fought endlessly for racial justice and equality.

Police say 21-year-old Kwa’jree Turner was walking to his car outside of LA Fitness in Bear, Del. when someone shot him several times.

The Big Boost Week continues to see tens of thousands of people going out to get their booster dose each day. Yesterday, 47,573 booster doses were administered across the motu – that’s twice as many as Sunday – and brings the total so far to almost two million doses.

Trump Tower, home to the Trump Organization, stands along Fifth Avenue on June 30, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK - The accounting firm that prepared former President Donald Trump’s annual financial statements says the documents, used to secure lucrative loans and burnish Trump's image as a wealthy businessman, "should no longer be relied upon" after New York's attorney general said they regularly misstated the value of assets.In a letter to the Trump Organization's lawyer Feb.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Several high-profile celebrities were shown on NBC’s telecast of the Super Bowl flouting California’s indoor mask mandate.Social media erupted after seeing Jay-Z, Charlize Theron, LeBron James, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck enjoying themselves at the game without a mask while they were not eating or drinking, a violation of California’s indoor mask mandate that is in place until Feb. 15.Twitter users were quick to point out that children in California are forced to wear masks at schools where strict coronavirus restrictions include being forced to eat outside in the rain in some cases. "Here’s the video of every celebrity without a mask during the Super Bowl.

A 21-year-old man was shot multiple times in the side Monday night in Hunting Park.

Nature Climate Change.The study calculated that 42% of this megadrought can be attributed to human-caused climate change."Climate change is changing the baseline conditions toward a drier, gradually drier state in the West and that means the worst-case scenario keeps getting worse," said study lead author Park Williams, a climate hydrologist at UCLA. "This is right in line with what people were thinking of in the 1900s as a worst-case scenario.

On the heels of the Ford government’s announcement of the easing of restrictions, business owners in Ontario expressing a cautious optimism over the changes. Erica Vella reports.

INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 9, 2022: Los Angeles Rams free safety Taylor Rapp (24) tosses the ball to girlfriend Dani Johnson after an interception against the 49ers in the first half on January 9, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.(Gina Fera INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Los Angeles Rams Taylor Rapp got two rings Sunday night at SoFi Stadium, but only had to pay for one. The third-year safety dropped to one knee on the field after the Rams' 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, to propose to his girlfriend, Dani Johnson.The Rams posted the moment on their Twitter page after the victory after their second Super Bowl win in franchise history.

LOS ANGELES - Like nearly every industry negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic, pharmacies are no exception. According to a recent report from The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA), pharmacists and pharmacy personnel say they are being stretched thin and it could impact your health. According to a 2022 National Pharmacy Workplace Survey published in December, many pharmacy technicians and personnel working in the industry shared concern over stress leading to "occupational burnout."75% of respondents answered negatively to questions regarding them receiving enough time and personnel to safely perform or meet duties.Because of the concern of burnout, both the APhA and the NASPA say they identified many factors that could lead to technicians making medication errors that could negatively impact consumers. These factors that could contribute to medication errors include: "Addressing pharmacy personnel harassment and bullying by patients/consumers is critical. Pharmacy personnel should not fear for their safety when providing patient care and serving their community’s health care needs," said Rebecca Snead, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of NASPA.

FALLS TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A Bucks County community in the throes of the opioid epidemic is questioning a new proposal from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that would loosen guidelines on prescribing powerful prescription drugs. "If the last 20 years tells us anything the medical community underestimated how addictive these drugs were going to be," Falls Township Police Department Chief Nelson Whitney said. The CDC's previous guidance, issued six years ago, helped slow the kind of prescribing that ignited the worst overdose epidemic in U.S. history.

COVID-19 pandemic to be undone.Premier Doug Ford unveiled on Monday that Ontario would be fast-tracking previously announced steps to lift restrictions, including moving the next step of its reopening plan up to Thursday instead of next Monday.Social gathering limits will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors on Thursday, while capacity limits will be removed in places such as restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theatres. Capacity at businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and retail stores will be set at the number of people who can maintain a distance of two metres.Less than two weeks later, on March 1, capacity limits will be lifted in all remaining indoor public settings, and proof-of-vaccination requirements will end for all settings.

COVID-19 fatalities in Alberta since the pandemic began has risen by 35 deaths, the province announced Monday.Alberta Health’s website said 3,776 deaths have now been linked to the novel coronavirus since the pandemic began, up from 3,741 on Friday.However, the total number of hospital patients with COVID-19 in Alberta dropped to 1,528 on Monday, down from 1,566 on Friday. The number of patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units also decreased slightly to 124 on Monday, down from 127 on Friday.According to Alberta Health, the province had 20,865 lab-confirmed active cases of the disease on Monday afternoon, down from 24,154 on Friday.Over the weekend, 2,647 new COVID-19 cases (1,146 on Feb.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responds after 11 people were arrested and guns, ammunition and body armor were seized by RCMP at the Coutts border crossing protest.

A look at where Manitoba’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU numbers stand to begin the week.

Ontario is ending its vaccine certificate system on March 1, when capacity limits in public settings and restrictions on social gathering sizes will fully lift as well, though masking requirements will remain for now.Premier Doug Ford insisted the steps are not a result of pressure from anti-vaccine mandate protesters.“Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor, but despite it,” he said Monday. Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place “The extraordinary measures that we introduced during this pandemic were always intended as a last resort.

Isabelle Huppert has tested positive for COVID-19.

Alberta RCMP say they have detained 11 people after an investigation at the Coutts border crossing led to the seizure of more than dozen long guns, hand guns, ammunition and body armour.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow continues to prove that his life’s work is off the gridiron, calling attention to the medical needs of children in hard-hit areas around the globe. Tebow’s foundation, along with the nonprofit CURE international, recently broke ground on a new ward on CURE’s Children Hospital of Zimbabwe, which the Tim Tebow Foundation will help fund. The ward, set to open in January 2023, will include 40 new beds and will allow the hospital to perform 2,000 surgical procedures a year for children who have treatable conditions."Our mission statement is to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need," Tebow, 34, told FOX Television Stations.RELATED: 5-year-old Maryland girl diagnosed with rare autoimmune diseaseTebow, along with other advocates, has been touring parts of Africa — including children's hospitals — for the past several days to witness the medical plight of children.Tim Tebow encourages CURE Zimbabwe patient Ropafadzo during his visit for the groundbreaking of the new children's ward that will serve thousands more children in the years to come.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador delivers a press conference about the results of Sunday's midterm elections at the National Palace in Mexico City on June 7, 2021. (Photo by Alfredo Estrella / AE / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AE/AFP via Getty Images)MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s president said Monday the U.S.

Sketch shows Sarah Palin in federal court in New York, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022.

VIRGINIA - The Virginia House of Delegates banned school mask mandates Monday, handing a victory to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin after his effort to impose the ban by executive order stalled in court.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherThe measure already passed the Senate.

Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Legault said he still needs approval from public health officials before loosening the requirement to show proof of vaccination.“We want to remove most of the measures, but we have to be careful because of the hospital situation,” he said.

COVID-19 measures and vaccination mandates have mostly been peaceful.“I think we don’t need it,” he said. “So far with the Sûreté du Québec, we were able to keep control.“I think at this moment it would not help the social climate.

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths will remain above pre-Omicron levels into March, despite the city passing the peak of the latest wave.New Scarsin forecasting, revealed during a board of health (BOH) meeting on Monday, projected a scenario where the city will have to deal with about 20,000 new COVID-19 cases and another 300 hospitalizations between Feb. 14 and Mar.

Daily COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, which is grappling with a quickly growing Omicron wave, topped 2,000 for the first time today as the public health system struggled to cope.

The COVID-19 surge caused by the Omicron variant continues to recede in the United States, with the nation reporting a 7-day average of 175,492 new daily cases, with 2,458 daily deaths, according to the Washington Post tracker.

The Polaris Dawn crew is pictured in a provided image. (Photo credit: Polaris Program / John Kraus) LOS ANGELES - Plans for three more crewed SpaceX private missions were announced this week, the first of which is targeted for launch later this year and will again be commanded by Jared Isaacman — a billionaire tech entrepreneur who previously experienced his own SpaceX flight. If all goes well, the last of the three missions could be the first crewed flight aboard SpaceX’s Starship, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built.Isaacman, who founded the credit card processing company Shift4Payments, on Monday unveiled the Polaris Program— which aims to launch up to three human spaceflight missions in the future.

Police in East Lansdowne, Pennsylavania, arrested Yousuf Bahal after he allegedly shot multiple rounds from his AR-15, killing a woman in a neighboring home.  (East Lansdowne Police Department)EAST LANSDOWNE, Pa - Police in East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania have arrested a man accused of shooting his AR-15 outside of his home on Sunday.Police said they responded to reports of gunfire in the Unit Block of Penn Blvd. When they arrived on scene, Yousuf Bahal was found actively firing the weapon, according to police. East Landsdowne police officer Daryl Savitski arrived on scene and Bahal dropped the weapon before being taken into custody. Authorities say while searching the area, a 35-year-old woman in a neighboring home was found with multiple gunshot wounds.She was transported to U.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to invoke emergency powers across all of Canada to quell the protests by demonstrators who have paralyzed Ottawa and blocked border crossings in anger over the country's COVID-19 restrictions, a senior government official said Monday.READ: Ambassador Bridge officially reopened after weekThe prime minister met virtually with the leaders of Canada's provinces and planned to address the nation late in the afternoon.In recent days, Trudeau rejected calls to use the military but otherwise said "all options are on the table" to end the protests, including invoking the Emergencies Act, which gives the government broad powers to restore order.The government official who confirmed Trudeau's plans gave no immediate details on precisely how Trudeau intends to use his emergency authority.

PAXTON, Fla. - Firefighters don’t just put out fires.Rescue workers in Florida saved a dog that got stuck in a deep hole. Fortunately, the dog was reportedly very friendly and was happy to see the firefighters that descended into the hole.The South Walton Fire District posted about the incident, which occurred last Wednesday, to its Facebook page.

Two studies to be presented at upcoming professional society meetings suggest that some long COVID-19 symptoms may be related to the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the vagus nerve and that the use of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP)—which increases blood flow—can improve some of those symptoms, respectively.

People who received a different brand of COVID-19 vaccine booster than they did in the primary series had lower rates of infection than those who received the same brand, according to a study in Singapore published late last week in JAMA.The study also found that participants who received a booster of

COVID-19 mask mandate in classrooms.The Alberta Federation of Labour said in a news release that a request for an injunction to keep masks in place was filed Sunday on behalf of several parents who have children living with disabilities.Students in schools were no longer required to wear face coverings starting Monday following an announcement by Premier Jason Kenney last week that the province plans to lift all pandemic restrictions in the coming weeks if COVID-19 indicators remain stable or trend downward. Nor were children 12 and under having to wear masks in any setting.The union said it is also challenging Education Minister Adrianna LaGrange’s announcement that it’s now illegal for schools boards to bring in their own rules to override the province.

COVID-19 update, both new hospitalizations and intensive care unit cases had a decrease of roughly 10 per cent.

The Prime Minister's announcement that the legal rule to self-isolate could end this month has been branded as 'concerning' by Greater Manchester' public health leader.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Philadelphia ordinance that requires gun owners to tell police when a firearm has been lost or stolen was ruled illegal Monday by a state court, with one of the judges who voted to throw out the law lamenting that their ruling would put people’s lives at risk.A three-judge Commonwealth Court panel ruled unanimously against the city law and issued a permanent injunction, saying the state Uniform Firearms Act preempts it. Philadelphia Police had sought a $2,000 fine against a man charged with violating the lost-and-stolen reporting mandate.The defendant had pleaded guilty in January 2019 to other firearms offenses, telling a city judge he had been the straw purchaser of six guns.

Premier League players have been banned by FIFA after breaking Covid regulations last year.Giovani Lo Celso, Christian Romero, Emiliano Martinez, and Emiliano Buendia have all been punished for their roles in Brazil and Argentina's World Cup qualification clash.The group had all dodged Brazil's Covid rules, which stated all arrivals must spend 14 days in quarantine after entering the country.However, the Premier League players all travelled from the hotel to the stadium with their national teammates.The resulting situation caused chaotic scenes when health officials stormed the pitch after six minutes to haul the players off for breaking the rules.FIFA released a statement: "After a thorough investigation of the various factual elements and in light of the applicable regulations."The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that the match should be replayed on a date and at a location to be decided by FIFA."In addition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has concluded that the abandonment of the match stemmed from several deficiencies of the parties involved towards their respective responsibilities and/or obligations in connection with the former."As such, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has also decided to suspend the Argentinian players Emiliano Buendía, Emiliano Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero for two matches each for not complying with the FIFA Return to Football International Match Protocol." What do you think of the punishment? Let us know in the comments section Both countries FA's have also been fined due to their failure to maintain order and security.Argentina have been hit with a £160,000 fine, while Brazil were ordered to fork over £300,000.The two nations will also pay an additional £40,000 fine

Chief political correspondent David Akin has the latest on the Ottawa protests, as police moved in over the weekend to clear the blockage at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario.

Addressing a news conference Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed that military intervention on civilians should be avoided “at all costs.” This is why, he said, the solution is focused on police forces, enforcing existing laws and protecting public order are the ways to deal with the ongoing trucker protests and border blockades.

Justin Trudeau consulted premiers about using the Emergencies Act Monday, while an Ontario judge granted an injunction to enforce noise and idling bylaws related to the ongoing anti-vaccine mandate protests in Ottawa.City solicitor David White requested the injunction Friday, saying the protesters were flagrantly violating bylaws against relentless noise, idling of trucks, setting off fireworks, and open air fires.The injunction, which does not have an end date, was designed to give the police and bylaw officers an extra tool to enforce city bylaws, lawyers acting for the city of Ottawa said Monday. Trudeau expected to invoke Emergencies Act to aid convoy blockade response: sources The Attorney General’s office intervened in the court hearing to make it clear that the injunction would also apply to federal property in Canada’s capital city.The protest by antigovernment demonstrators blockading city streets around Parliament Hill is now in its third week and has spread to several Canada-U.S.

Middlesex-London Health Unit reported a total of four deaths and 257 COVID-19 cases from Saturday to Monday.The deaths involved three individuals in their 80s and 90s and one in their 50s.LHSC, meanwhile, is caring for 89 inpatients with COVID-19, 17 of whom are in adult critical care.As noted, LHSC is caring for 89 COVID-19 inpatients, with 17 inpatients in adult critical care. Last Monday, LHSC was caring for 119 COVID-19 inpatients, with 25 in adult critical care.Of the 89, there were 10 in Children’s Hospital with five or fewer in pediatric critical care.

The number of people to have tested positive for coronavirus in Bolton has increased for a fourth week in a row – but the mayor of Greater Manchester says a full local lockdown of the region is not yet necessary.There were 27.1 positive tests of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in the borough in the seven days up to August 8, rising from 23 the week before.Bolton is following the general trend in Greater Manchester – although Oldham has shot up to 108.8 and Wigan remains much lower at 7.3.The region's mayor Andy Burnham has written to the health secretary urging him not to enforce a Leicester-style local lockdown in any borough.Bolton douncil’s director of public health Dr Helen Lowey has warned against complacency as coronavirus continues to