Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, other states record decline in Covid cases, says govt. Details here

education institutions, that were shut in late December and early January. 

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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!!

pub dubbed the 'oldest in Britain' has closed down after a staggering 13 centuries of pulling pints.Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, Hertfordshire has sadly gone into administration following the "devastating" impact of Covid-19 on the business.Landlord Christo Tofalli announced the heartbreaking news on Friday with a statement on Facebook which has been flooded with over 240 comments and shared 121 times.Pandemic restrictions were the final nail in the pub's coffin according to Christo, who explained they were just about coping with escalating business rates and taxes before Covid hit. The pub was reportedly established in 793AD, with the building itself dates back to the 11th century, HertsLive reports.

Conservative leaders like Andrew Scheer, Pierre Poilievre and Scott Moe have recently criticized media’s reporting of issues like the trucker protest and COVID-19.

Cities in British Columbia faced another day of vehicle convoys and rallies, Saturday, in solidarity with protesters occupying downtown Ottawa opposing COVID-19 mandates.

Pierre Poilievre has launched his bid to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, with other members of Parliament already pledging their support.

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Demonstrations took to the road in British Columbia against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, and in support of protesters who have been camped near Parliament Hill in Ottawa for one week.

DANCING On Ice star Brendan Cole has sparked controversy for ITV after liking a post from an online account – that claims Covid is a conspiracy. Former Strictly dancer Brendan, 45, backed a video on an Instagram account called Nuremberg 2.0, which he follows.

entertainment parks and B2B exhibitions to open at 50% capacity.

There were 48,947 booster doses administered yesterday, taking the total to date to 1,561,837. Also, 4,807 paediatric doses were given yesterday, bringing the total to 197,471.

Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers, but has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 10: Joe Rogan introduces fighters during the UFC 269 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) NEW YORK - Spotify’s popular U.S.

COVID-19 hospitalizations involving children under 10 in Quebec have taken place since Dec. 5, new data shows, yet the overall number of kids in hospital with respiratory infections is lower than normal.There have been 784 COVID-19-related hospitalizations of children under 10 since the start of the pandemic — two per cent of the total number of COVID-19 patients in the province, the government-run research centre Institut national de santé publique du Quebec indicated.

suspended the fundraising effort, which had raised about 10 million Canadian (US $7.8 million), but said Friday it will refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the money raised in support of those protesting COVID-19 measures in Ottawa.The company said in a statement they believed the intention of the Freedom Convoy fundraiser was to support a peaceful protest when it was first created, but said they now have "evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity."Thousands of protesters railing against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions descended on the capital last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill. Police estimate about 250 remained, but deputy police chief Steve Bell said they expected 300 to 400 more trucks this weekend and more than 1,000 protesters on foot.

World Health Organization said on Saturday he had discussed with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang the need for stronger collaboration on the origins of COVID-19, a subject of controversy that has strained Beijing’s relations with the West.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has previously pressed China to be more forthcoming with data and information related to the origin of the virus. ‘Shouldn’t be happening’: WHO tracking ‘worrying’ increase in deaths as Omicron surges “Pleased to meet with Premier Li Keqiang,” Tedros tweeted.

COVID-19 in New Brunswick, according to the province’s COVID-19 dashboard. There have now been 258 deaths linked to the virus in New Brunswick.There are now 162 people in hospital, down one since Friday.

Andrea Bordeaux is speaking out about her exit from Run the World.

COVID-19 in Nova Scotia have climbed to 102, the province announced Saturday.It’s the second-highest number of hospitalizations Nova Scotia has seen so far. The current record is 103 people in hospital, set on May 18, 2021, during the third wave.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures until all their demands are met.In the meantime, Ottawa and several other cities across Canada are working to try to ensure that escalating protests remain peaceful over the weekend.Police in Ottawa have said they are expecting as many as 400 more trucks and up to 2,000 people on foot to arrive this weekend to join the protest that has been rebranded by critics, including a lot of frustrated downtown residents, as an occupation.

COVID-19 on Saturday as the number of hospitalizations and intensive care patients continues to drop.The health department says hospitalizations decreased by 94 compared with the prior day to 2,447.#COVID19 – En date du 4 février, voici la situation au Québec: https://t.co/pwoUoaBgaF pic.twitter.com/1DyRLUi7Kg— Santé Québec (@sante_qc) February 5, 2022The number of people listed in intensive care fell by three to 181.Officials reported a 96-patient drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations Friday following a decrease of 93 on Thursday.The province is reporting 2,955 new cases confirmed by molecular testing, which is limited to certain higher-risk groups.Health workers administered 46,030 doses of COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

BTS’ Jimin has been discharged from hospital after undergoing surgery on his appendix and treatment for COVID-19, Big Hit Music has confirmed.The singer was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and tested positive for COVID-19 in January, with surgery required on his appendix.In a statement posted to the agency’s fan community platform Weverse, Big Hit informed fans that Jimin had recovered from the virus and that his quarantine had come to an end today (February 5).“Jimin was tested positive for COVID-19 and diagnosed with acute appendicitis on Sunday, January 30 and underwent surgery on Monday, January 31,” the statement read. “He has since received inpatient care and tested negative on his PCR test before being discharged from the hospital.“Jimin showed no extraordinary symptoms during his hospital stay.

◾New cases in State: 12,009◾New cases in B'lore: 4,532◾Positivity rate in State: 9.04%◾Discharges: 25,854◾Active cases - State: 1,09,203 (B'lore- 46k)◾Deaths:50 (B'lore- 15)◾Tests: 1,32,796#COVID19 #Omicron

COVID-19, as the province continues to feel the impact of the latest wave of the pandemic.That’s according to new data released by the province on Saturday morning.The new numbers suggest a decrease of 141 hospitalizations. On Friday 2,634 people were seeking care in a hospital.

₹145, said sources.

Classes 10, 12 exams to be held offline

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is set to miss the Club World Cup after testing positive for Covid.The Blues announced news of the German's positive test shortly before their FA Cup fourth-round match against Plymouth Argyle.As a result, assistant coach Arno Michels led the team against the League One Pilgrims at Stamford Bridge. And Michels will now be forced to take charge for at least one of Chelsea's Club World Cup games, too, while Tuchel quarantines in the UK.

Mumbai in the last 24 hours, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday. The city also saw four deaths due to the infections in the same duration.

Kerala has reported 33,538 new positive cases on Saturday taking the caseload to 62,44,654. The health department said 46,813 persons recuperated from the disease today, taking the number of recoveries to 58,33,762. 

World Health Organization said on Saturday he had discussed with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang the need for stronger collaboration on the origins of Covid-19, a subject of controversy that has strained Beijing's relations with the West.

Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he had tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

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Phillip Schofield, 59, has revealed he’s tried everything to be able to make it to host Dancing on Ice alongside co-star Holly Willoughby, 40, in an emotional Instagram post this morning. The presenter was struck down with Covid earlier this week, meaning he had to pull out of fronting This Morning at the last minute.Phillip was hoping he’d be given the all clear just in time to host Sunday's edition of Dancing on Ice.However, the star has taken to social media to inform his three million followers that despite doing two lateral flow tests “to be absolutely sure”, the results on both have sadly come back positive.Taking a picture of the tests resting on a granite worktop, Phillip wrote today: “Did two tests to be absolutely sure (crying face emoji).”The ITV favourite then took the opportunity to wish his colleague Stephen Mulhern good luck as he steps in to replace him.“Sorry @dancingonice Have an amazing show @stephenmulhern it’s SO much fun x @hollywilloughby.”A spokesperson for Dancing on Ice commented on the news shortly after Phillip’s tearful post.They said: “Sunday's episode of Dancing on Ice will be hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern while Phillip Schofield continues to self-isolate."A source also told The Mirror of Phillip’s replacement: "Phil is off recovering, Stephen was delighted to be asked to step in to fill his shoes and present alongside Holly."He gets on with everyone so bosses are more than happy for him to step up. “Everyone's wishing Phil a quick recovery and hoping to see him back in his rightful place later this month.”Phillip confirmed he had tested positive for Covid after a busy time last weekend.He had been out and about attending the theatre alongside his estranged wife Stephanie

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booster or precautionary vaccine dose. 

https://t.co/5SPNhskPKe pic.twitter.com/dIK3Psm6qX

Ashley Wadsworth’s friends and family were happily following along with the pictures and updates she sent back home from her U.K. adventure.

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Thousands of demonstrators are expected to pile into the Canadian capital of Ottawa later as a week-long occupation of the city by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates is to ramp up, with other cities also braced for protests.

In a lengthy comment posted to his Instagram page, the popular podcaster and former stand up comic and UFC colour commentator addressed the recent spate of artists pulling their music from Spotify over concerns regarding his podcast spreading misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Rogan proposed that “controversial” episodes of his podcast would now feature a warning before each episode, and he promised to be more “balanced” in whom he pursued as far as guests, allowing those from the mainstream medical community to more immediately address other guests who propagate non-mainstream views.

Mayor Kennedy Stewart took aim at people planning a protest against ongoing COVID-19 containment measures Saturday. “Vancouver doesn’t want you here,” he said in a statement late Friday afternoon.

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COVID-19 mandates.In a memo emailed to all Vancouver acute and medical staff, Vancouver Coastal Health said the route for Saturday’s protest was expected to take it past Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital.Staff were urged to stay indoors during the convoy, not to engage with any protesters they encounter and to “refrain from wearing scrubs and/or your ID badge outside of the hospital during the demonstration.” Victoria police deploy security cameras ahead of weekend ‘convoy’ protest “We acknowledge the right to peacefully and legally protest,” the memo states, before noting legislation passed in November making it illegal to intimidate people or impede access to a health-care facility within a 20-metre bubble zone.“In order to ensure safe access for staff, patients, clients and visitors, Integrated Protection Services (IPS) and local law enforcement will be closely monitoring the situation,” the memo adds.Staff who feel threatened are being asked to contact site security.

The Canadian economy lost 200,000 jobs in January amid stricter public health rules put in place to slow the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. Absence due to illness also rose to a record high, with one in 10 employees off sick.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has made a significant shift over the past few days – going from saying COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted in late March, to much sooner.