Ellume facing class action complaint over recalled COVID-19 at-home test kits

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Tuesday that since her last report in March the province continues to be in a better place when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday some businesses in the province will want to keep mask or vaccine requirements in place despite the lifting of the official order.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday it is likely the province will see an increase in COVID cases in the next few months as restrictions are lifted.

British Columbians will no longer be required to show proof of COVID-19 immunization to attend a concert, eat at a restaurant or go to the gym as of Friday, April 8.

Maternal COVID-19 vaccination in early pregnancy is not associated with fetal abnormalities detectable on ultrasound, finds a study yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and three global health partners today proposed a strategy to manage future risk from COVID, factoring in different scenarios on how the pandemic could evolve and setting ambitious price tags that would enable key policies to take shape.

Two new studies detail long COVID symptoms, with one from France showing that 85% of patients who had symptoms 2 months after illness onset still had them at 1 year and some symptoms worsened, and one from China revealing that 12% of patients reported rheumatic symptoms at 1-year follow-up.In the first study, researchers in Paris analyzed data from 96

FILE IMAGE - A study sits at a desk in a file image taken on June 14, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Dolly Parton attends the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on March 07, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - A home once owned by country music legend Dolly Parton is now being used as a wedding venue for couples affected by the recent wildfires near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Red Top Destinations said "The Red Top Smoky Mountain Lodging" in Sevierville will be available as a free venue for eligible brides between April 1 and May 1.

NEW DELHI :

Ontario’s health minister says there is no need to reimpose a widespread mask mandate in the province despite evidence of increased COVID-19 spread, alluding to advice from the province’s chief medical officer and other medical advisers.Christine Elliott made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park on Tuesday.She acknowledged that while there has been an increase in hospitalizations and other COVID-19 numbers, that was expected as the province opened up. Ontario COVID update: 1,091 people in hospital, 173 in intensive care “It’s not unanticipated that this would happen,” Elliott said.“This is something that when you’re opening up the province to the degree that we have, and with the transmissibility of this virus, that we expected to see the numbers increase.

Infectious diseases expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch breaks down on the latest COVID headlines including why the sixth wave of the virus is different from past waves.

COVID-19 drug.Immunocompromised adults and older COVID-19 patients who are unvaccinated are eligible to receive Paxlovid but concerns have been raised about difficulty accessing the drug.Health Minister Christine Elliott says Paxlovid was initially distributed through 26 sites and the province intends to distribute it from more locations now that supply has increased.She says pharmacies may be involved in the rollout of the drug at some point, along with other potential sites. No need to reimpose mask mandate despite increasing COVID figures: Ontario health minister Elliott says the province is also planning to expand its education program about the drug so individuals may learn that they are eligible.Her comments came as Ontario reported 1,091 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Tuesday, nearly 40 per cent higher than a week ago.There were 790 people in hospital with COVID-19 last Tuesday.The province also reported 173 COVID-19 patients in intensive care today, compared with 165 a week ago.There were six new COVID-19 deaths logged today and three that the province says occurred more than a week ago have been added to the total count.

FILE-Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sens. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., left, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., conduct a news conference after a Senate luncheon at the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Police Chief has ordered for an immediate independent investigation over a confrontation that had taken place between several police officers and a team of Army Riders during a protest opposite Parliament on Tuesday (5).The Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva has requested the Inspector General of Police to immediately conduct an inquiry into the ‘unethical and ill-mannered behaviour’ of two Police officers and initiate disciplinary action against them when a four -member team of Army Riders on the directions of the Director Operations of the Army HQ arrived at the road entrance to the Parliament complex.Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) has also already informed the IGP and the Secretary to Ministry of Public Security in regard to the incident and requested them to inquire into the unacceptable conduct of those Police Officers.

Ontario’s health minister says the province plans to soon make fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines available to residents aged 60 and older.Christine Elliott says the province will announce a plan tomorrow for expanding eligibility for fourth doses.Fourth doses in Ontario are already available to long-term care and retirement home residents as well as those who are immunocompromised.

COVID-19 booster program over the coming weeks prioritizing adults 80 and over and residents of long-term care or other congregate settings, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) said Tuesday.The advisory body also advised that the aim be to provide a second booster dose six months after the previous booster dose.“While the greatest benefit is expected in adults 80 years of age and older, jurisdictions may also consider offering a second COVID-19 booster dose to adults 70-79 years of age living in the community,” NACI said in its updated guidance.NACI previously recommended that people who are “moderately to severely immunocompromised” receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine six months after getting their third shot. U.S.

TAMPA, Fla. - The surging gas prices have made fuel a prime target for thieves, officials say, and Hillsborough authorities just took an organized theft ring, arresting multiple people in the process.Sheriff Chad Chronister said their investigation began in February after the agency received a phone call about two Circle K gas stations with "tremendous fuel discrepancies." He said by the end of the investigation, a total of seven suspects were identified, one of which may have fled to Cuba. The other six were booked into county jail over the weekend.Chronister said detectives responded to the initial report, saying they began combing through surveillance footage and noticing a pattern of 7 separate trucks at both locations.READ: The complicated reasons gas prices are so high – and what we can do about it"These individuals would defeat the lock mechanism and remove the pulsar device," Sheriff Chronister explained, adding that those devices are used to calculate the gallons that are pumped. "They would remove that device and insert their own homemade device.

COVID-19.The province’s interim health director made the announcement Tuesday, following a meeting between government and health officials the previous evening.“It’s not over yet and we have to rest vigilant,” Dr. Luc Boileau said, referring to the health crisis.

COVID-19 mandates still in place.Guelph Eramosa Township Coun. Corey Woods, who is unvaccinated and tested positive for the virus last Thursday, accused the federal and provincial governments of fear-mongering and said society is villainizing people who choose not to get the required shots.

Our planet and our health are inextricably interlinked. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the resources that we consume for livelihoods, shelter, healing and recreation all determine our quality of life and well-being.

COVID-19. There are 173 people in intensive care with or due to the virus.That marks an increase of 234 hospitalizations and five people in intensive care since Monday’s report.However, not all hospitals report updated figures on weekends, meaning the reported numbers on Monday were likely an undercount.Tuesday’s report marks the highest number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in Ontario since February, though the number of people in ICUs at that time with the virus was much higher.

COVID-19 vaccination Clinic at the White Oaks Mall on Thursday.This will mark the south London, Ont., mall’s second time hosting a clinic after a similar initiative was held in September and October of 2021, which doled out more than 5,700 doses during its run.“The success of our mall-based clinics has shown that providing the COVID-19 vaccine in a convenient and accessible retail setting is an effective way to reach people who may not have been able to attend one of our mass vaccination clinics,” said medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers.

Thousands of businesses across Greater Manchester can claim business rate relief from the council, but the deadline is fast approaching. The funding, offering financial help with business rates for companies across Greater Manchester is part of the £1.5 billion government package to support businesses affected by Covid.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed a 'serious' symptom of coronavirus that hasn't been added the NHS's newly updated list of Covid symptoms. There have been regular overhauls of official symptom lists since the virus broke out - especially more recently as it has mutated and variants have spread.

The continuing mayhem at Manchester Airport is an example of the damage the re-emergence of Covid is doing to our working age population, Wigan’s director of public health has said.

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London, Ont., and Middlesex County have confirmed the region is now under a sixth wave of COVID-19.During a media briefing hosted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit on Monday, medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers said this is another wave driven by the Omicron variant.“It’s just finding its way to anybody who was not protected the first go-around from either previous infection or a booster dose,” Summers said.“The wave will not spike as high as the previous Omicron wave, so it’s not going to go as high, but it’s still likely going to look higher than most of the previous waves.” Testing positive weeks after a COVID-19 diagnosis: What it means for travel Summers said it’s unclear at this time how long the wave will last.He expects to see escalating infections through April before declining through May and onwards thanks to spring weather and broad community immunity from previous infections and booster dose coverage.“Again, there’s a bit of a crystal ball in all of that, but regardless we are not yet at the peak of the wave by any means.”There are a number of data points that the MLHU will be keeping an eye on as the wave washes over the region, including what impact it’s having on hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne has urged the general public to refrain from causing damage to public property when engaged in peaceful demonstrations.In a televised statement he appealed to the public to refrain from engaging in acts of violence.“Although some protests and demonstrations are organized stating that they would be peaceful, and would demonstrate the democratic rights of the people, it is observed that two groups are operating these protests,” said the Defence Secretary.He said that one group is engaged in peaceful protests, whereas the other group is deliberately causing damage to public and private property while inconveniencing the general public at public roads and public places.“The second group is engaged in organized acts of violence,” said the Defence Secretary.“In some areas, the protestors on motorbikes move from place to place and launched attacks on residences and businesses using petrol bombs and stones,” he noted, while adding that another group is engaged in the looting of property.Further, the defense secretary noted that robbers have broken into the residence of protestors and committed theft as well.The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and the three-armed forces with Sri Lanka Police are monitoring these protests and have no objection to the peaceful protests.He, however, noted that necessary measures will be taken to prevent acts of violence, while legal action will be instituted against those responsible for these actions.He also requested the general public NOT to be deceived by those who incite violence.

COLOMBO (News 1st); JVP MP Vijith Herath on Tuesday (5) filed a petition in Parliament.The petition notes that Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi, who looted public funds, had fled the country at 3:30 AM on Tuesday (5).Vijitha Herath called on the Parliament to take the necessary measures to seek INTERPOL assistance to arrest Senadhipathi.He further called on Parliament to even shut down the airport in order to prevent people who looted public funds from fleeing the country and thereafter produce them in court for legal action.

WASHINGTON - The last time President Barack Obama was in the White House was on Jan. 20, 2017, when he left to escort his successor — bent on overturning "Obamacare" — to the Capitol to be inaugurated.Obama returns to the White House on Tuesday for a moment he can savor.

Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) members, released Tuesday, shows more than 80 per cent said they didn’t have enough nurses in their workplaces — more than double the number in 2021.It also shows most have experienced anxiety and feelings of helplessness and that most believe Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe and health minister Paul Merriman have not handled the COVID-19 pandemic well. Rural Saskatchewan long-term care worker describes strain, burnout The findings come after months of high profile departures and after other reports showed health-care workers have left the field.SUN president Tracy Zambory said the results represent a “canary in a coal mine” that show nurses are scared, very overwhelmed and burned out.“Patients are being put at risk because there isn’t enough health care providers to be able to give safe patient care,” she said, telling Global News Moe and Merriman have abandoned healthcare workers.“Everytime a registered nurse shows up and sees their unit, agency or facility so incredibly short staffed… it reminds them that the premier and the minister of health ignored their pleas for help, ignored their calls to say, ‘We have a health-care system that is in crisis’.”The 57.4 per cent of respondents who said they had considered leaving the profession in the past 12 months represents the highest percentage in the past eight years of that count and shows nearly a 12-per cent increase over 2021.Those who said there are temporary or permanent vacancies represented 82.8 per cent, up from 39.7 per cent in 2021.

Reports suggested that the new subtype has been detected in east China's Suzhou, which borders Shanghai. A patient in the region has been infected with a mutation VOC/Omicron variant BA.1.1, unidentified in previously found strains, posing new threats. 

Spain and Italy have both confirmed they will extend Covid travel restrictions for at least another month.

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China sends over 10,000 health workers to aid city

School pupils and students across Scotland have now entered into their Easter holidays this week.

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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he expects to be updated in a few weeks by the Chief Medical Officer on Covid-19 isolation periods.

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia health officials are recommending that people wear masks in public indoor spaces to help thwart a growing number of COVID-19 infections in the city. Philadelphia Department of Health said in a Monday press release that coronavirus case in Philadelphia have increased by more than 50% in the last ten days. This jump comes as COVID-19 infections in Philadelphia have been slowly rising over the last several weeks, according to officials."As we see more cases of COVID-19 in the city, everyone’s risk goes up," Health Commissioner Dr.

Chinese authorities have extended the lockdown of Shanghai to cover all of the financial centre's 26 million people, after city-wide testing saw new Covid-19 cases surge to more than 13,000 amid growing public anger over quarantine rules.

Frustration is growing in China’s largest city of Shanghai, where residents are living under a sweeping COVID-19 lockdown. Cases are rising here in Canada as well, but as Heather Yourex-West shows us, the sixth wave here isn’t likely to see broad public health restrictions re-imposed.

Climbing COVID numbers are impacting our health system in BC. Health officials have been warning that confirmed cases would climb once health restrictions were relaxed.

The federal government will consider whether to include booster shots in the next version of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its workers, the Treasury Board said as it reviews the rules.

As Canada heads towards a sixth wave of COVID-19 with rising cases and hospitalizations across the country, health experts are stressing the need to continue masking and boosting the population.

Premier John Horgan announced in a tweet Monday morning that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating and working from home until his symptoms resolve. Reporter Richard Zussman has more.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare recipients are eligible to receive up to eight free tests per calendar month from participating pharmacies and healthcare providers, a list of which can be found here. "Since we took office, we have more than tripled the number of sites where people can get COVID-19 tests for free, and we’re also delivering close to 250 million at-home, rapid tests to send for free to Americans who need them. Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership, we required state Medicaid programs, insurers and group health plans to make tests free for millions of Americans," said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Monday. With today’s step, we are further expanding health insurance coverage of free over-the-counter tests to Medicare beneficiaries, including our nation’s elderly and people with disabilities," Becerra added. This will be the first time Medicare covers over-the-counter and self-administered tests to beneficiaries and the policy will apply to tests approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a news release about the announcement. A pharmacist hands a woman a free COVID-19 home test that is covered by Medicare at a CVS in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Global’s Keith Baldrey has more on Premier John Horgan announcing he’s tested positive for COVID-19, and a preview of what the province is expected to announce about COVID restrictions on Tuesday.