Coronavirus vaccine will need high uptake for life to shift toward normal: officials

Queen Elizabeth was photographed for the first time since the public was concerned for her safety.

Other symptoms to look out for

Covid-19 outbreak in the US are pointing sharply downward.

Ottawa blockade that has kept the capital at a standstill for nearly three full weeks are calling the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act a scare tactic.Trucks, RVs and other vehicles with Canadian flags or banners with the word “freedom” in giant letters along their front grilles remain on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, with drivers saying they will stay put until all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions are lifted.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the act on Monday for the first time in Canadian history, with details of the regulations contained in cabinet orders published Tuesday night.Under the act, bringing children to the antigovernment blockades, participating in the protests directly, or bringing aid such as food or fuel to those involved could result in a fine of up to $5,000 or five years in prison Bringing children, food or fuel to convoy blockades prohibited under Emergencies Act Blockades are not allowed on Parliament Hill and surrounding streets, official residences, war monuments, airports, harbours, border crossings, piers, lighthouses, canals, interprovincial and international bridges, hospitals and COVID-19 vaccine clinics, trade corridors and infrastructure needed for the supply of utilities including power generation and transmission.The cabinet orders are now in effect but must all be confirmed by motions to be put to both the House of Commons and the Senate for a vote.The government could take until next week to table the motion invoking the act itself, but has only until Thursday to do so for the motions on the specific powers being enacted, which will remain in place for 30 days unless the government revokes them sooner.

Freedom Convoy” blockade of downtown Ottawa are being warned by police to “leave the area now” as questions heat up about when police will act to remove the demonstrators who have paralyzed the nation’s capital for 20 days.“You must leave the area now. Anyone blocking streets, or assisting others in the blocking streets, are committing a criminal offence and you may be arrested.

As the Emergencies Act is invoked to stop the convoy protests in Ottawa, the federal government is aiming to cut off the movement’s financial resources.

PHILADELPHIA - The Wells Fargo Center says fans will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination when attending events at the arena.The announcement comes as Philadelphia announced on Wednesday that it was immediately ending the vaccine requirement for establishments that serve food for onsite consumption. The arena fell under the city’s criteria for establishments that were required to ask for proof of vaccination from customers and staff.The vaccine requirement had gone into place on Jan. 3.

Renfrewshire children between the ages of five and 11 are to be offered a Covid-19 vaccine.

The Department of Health has been notified of a further 5,268 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19.

SAN FRANCISCO - Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to pay $90 million to settle a decade-old, class-action lawsuit over the social media giant’s use of "cookies" in 2010 and 2011 that tracked people online — even after they logged off of Facebook.The company, which posted profits of $39.37 billion in 2021, will pay the $90 million settlement to users who previously submitted verified claims, after lawyer fees are deducted. Meta has also agreed to delete all the data it "wrongfully collected" during that period. The proposed settlement was filed late Monday in the U.S.

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Authorities in Bucks County say they are looking to identify and locate a person of interest in a homicide that occurred on Tuesday. Bristol Township police responded to the 700 block of Winder Drive at 7:15 p.m. and found a deceased 78-year-old man inside of a home. After a preliminary investigation, authorities say they identified Brian Joseph Carey, 41, as a person of interest. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office identified Carey as the victim’s stepson.Carey is believed to be driving a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer that belonged to the victim.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

COVID-19 as the province began phasing out its vaccine passport system Wednesday.The daily tally showed pandemic-related hospitalizations stood at 1,995, a drop of 57 compared with the previous day. This includes 129 patients in intensive care units, a decrease of three.Officials say 130 people were admitted to hospitals in the past 24-hour period, while 187 were discharged.The province reported 2,328 new novel coronavirus cases, but the number isn’t representative of the situation since only high-risk groups can access government-run screening clinics.On that note, 23,053 tests were administered Monday.

Manitoba COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions down while no new deaths reported Global News will stream the press conference on this page.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The bicycle ride was hard enough already.And then add in getting charged by a bull.At least two videos have surfaced showing a bull in Bakersfield, Calif., charging a bicyclist, participating in the Rock Cobbler, an 80-mile course described as a "stupidly hard (bike) ride bordering on a race," according to the website.Richard Pepper, who shot one of the videos on Feb. 12, captured the moment a bull charged at a bicyclist, who didn't slow down or swerve on his path, but kept moving in the direction of the large animal, which butted its head twice at the rider, who fell off his bike. SEE ALSO: Video captures flock of birds suddenly falling from the sky in MexicoPepper told Storyful when he got to this part of the trail, there were already about 15 riders stopped because of the bull."More racers were coming in from behind.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia has dropped its vaccine mandate in indoor dining establishments and unveiled a new, multi-tiered system they say will guide decisions on easing - or implementing - restrictions in the future. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole announced the news during Wednesday, amid a recent drop in new cases and positivity rates in the city.Bettigole says the new system, made up of four tiers, will allow officials to use metrics to drive their decisions on COVID-19 restrictions.

Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 78,50,494, said the state health department on Wednesday. 

#COVID19 restrictions in the state. pic.twitter.com/7HgNPxxQds

Coachella has loosened the reigns on COVID-19 safety even more. In a shocking return to pre-pandemic form, Goldenvoice, the company that produces Coachella, Day N Vegas, Camp Flog Gnaw, and formerly Panorama NYC, has announced that there will now be no protocols in place for the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

A covert operation conducted by an Edmonton security firm determined some protesters occupying the Coutts border had become so emboldened by the blockade’s success they discussed blocking cargo terminals at airports across the country in an ongoing attempt to force a change of government in Ottawa.

Paislee Shultis, a young girl kidnapped two years ago at the age of four, has been found alive in her home state of New York.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

COVID on Wednesday, with 364 in intensive care units as overall figures continue to trend downwards.This is down by 147 hospitalizations but a decrease of 20 in ICUs since the previous day. Last Wednesday, there were 2,059 hospitalizations with 449 in ICU.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 1,403 people in hospital with COVID-19, 54 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 46 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.Of the 364 people in ICUs with the virus, 82 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while 18 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia officials have announced that the city would be ending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor dining under a new, tiered system of safety standards and protective measures.  City leaders and health officials announced the new standards during their weekly briefing on Wednesday as case counts have dropped significantly over the past several weeks.

Statistics Canada says annual pace of inflation topped five per cent for the first time in more than 30 years.The agency says the annual inflation rate rose to 5.1 per cent in January compared with a gain for 4.8 per cent in December.Driving much of the increase in January were prices for housing, gasoline and groceries.

Charles Hamelin added to his Olympic legacy on Wednesday after helping Canada win gold in the men’s 5,000-metre relay speed skating final in Beijing.Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion took home the top prize with a time of six minutes 41.25 seconds. South Korea finished with silver after skating 6:41.69, and Italy clocked in at 6:43.431 for bronze.The short-track event was the last Olympic competition for 37-year-old Hamelin, and the medal win places him alongside Cindy Klassen as the most decorated winter Canadian Olympian.“I just think if you put the work in, anything is possible,” Hamelin told reporters after the win.“Finishing on top of the podium with these guys, it is living your dream.”A five-time Olympian, the Sainte-Julie, Que., native has now won six Olympic medals, including four gold, making him Canada’s most decorated male winter Olympian.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is fighting for his life after he was stabbed multiple times inside a Kensington home. The incident happened at approximately 4:39 a.m. on the 2900 block of Ruth Street. Police say a 30-year-old man was stabbed to the forehead, abdomen, left shoulder, and both thighs. He was rushed to Temple University Hospital where he is listed in critical condition. An arrest has been made and a weapon was recovered.

Motorists in traffic drive south on Highway 101 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Anyone who has ever been temporarily blinded by high-beam headlights from an oncoming car will be happy to hear this.U.S.

With ANI inputsNever miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

SYDNEY - A swimmer off of a Sydney beach in Australia died on Wednesday after suffering "catastrophic injuries" from a great white shark — the first fatal shark attack in the area since 1963.The attack was reported at about 4:35 p.m. local time near Buchan Point, Malabar, where Little Bay Beach is located, according to a statement from New South Wales police.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a man that was stabbed to death early Wednesday in North Philadelphia. The incident happened just after 1 a.m. on the 700 block of Huntington Street.Police say the man was stabbed one time in the back and was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.There is no word on any arrests yet.

Data on alcohol drinking is unreliable

Mumbai, taking the cumulative tally to 10,54,732, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday.

Ottawa is getting sweeping new powers after triggering the Emergencies Act to end Canada’s disruptive protests against COVID mandates.

UK on Delta-Omicron recombinant variant of SARS-COV-2

Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 64,40,371, according to the state health department. 

PTI on Wednesday. 

BEIJING - Minutes after failing to score in the shootout as the Americans’ last chance to stay alive at the Olympics, captain Andy Miele took off his gloves to wipe the tears coming out of his eyes."I’m just sad it’s over," he said.With one bad bounce in the final minute of regulation that became the tying goal and an unsuccessful shootout, the United States is out of the men’s hockey tournament at the Beijing Games after a shocking 3-2 loss to Slovakia in the quarterfinals Wednesday. The previously unbeaten U.S. that earned the top seed in the knockout round and looked poised for a deep run instead was dealt the same result as the 2018 group in the last Olympics without NHL players."This one’s going to sting for a little bit," veteran defenseman Steven Kampfer said.

NEW YORK - Police say they have found a little New York girl who had been missing for nearly three years.Paislee Shultis, then 4 years old, was reported missing from Cayuga Heights in Tompkins County on July 13, 2019.  At the time of her disappearance, police thought that she might have been abducted by her non-custodial parents, Kimberly Cooper and Kirk Shultis Jr.On Monday, police in Saugerties say they had a warrant to search the home of Paislee's grandfather after receiving a tip. The girl's biological father was one of the residents.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam provided criteria, outlining the four questions people should ask themselves to make a decision on attending indoor gatherings in the fall and winter.

coronavirus pandemic.“Canadians should ask themselves some quick check questions — two about their risk factors and two about the location of the event or activity they’re thinking of attending,” Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said at a briefing in Ottawa.

Photo of two face masks laying on a pillow. (Photo by Jordan Smith/FOX Television Stations) People should skip kissing and consider wearing a mask when having sex to reduce your chances of being exposed to the novel coronavirus, according to Canada's top doctor on Wednesday.Dr.

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam on Tuesday said they are still trying to determine the percentage of the population that should get vaccinated in order for it to be effective on a wide scale, but the international consensus is the 50 per cent mark.

coronavirus, Canada’s chief medical officer said on Wednesday, adding that going solo remains the lowest risk sexual option in a pandemic.Dr. Theresa Tam said in a statement there is little chance of catching COVID-19 from semen or vaginal fluid, but sexual activity with new partners does increase the risk of contracting the virus, particularly if there is close contact like kissing.“Like other activities during COVID-19 that involve physical closeness, there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of getting infected and spreading the virus,” she said.

Asked whether the COVID Alert app was a “flop” given the relatively low amount of people who have downloaded it, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam on Tuesday said that the app still needs time to determine effectiveness, in part because it’s currently only in one province.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr.

COVID-19 in schools as children head back to class.It is important that each school have a plan and that everyone knows what to do when there’s an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Dr. Theresa Tam told a news briefing Friday.