Kerala sees 26,729 new Covid-19 cases, 22 deaths in 24 hours

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Covid lockdown was introduced, which means by now most of us are used to testing ourselves to see if we have been infected with the virus.Many people may now associate the phrase ‘positive result’ with a confirmed case of the infectious virus that has caused the pandemic.But, that was not always the case.This was clear when a woman messaged a friend with a picture of her pregnancy test - which gave a positive result.Having snapped a photo of the white stick portraying two red lines, the women wrote “positive” with a neutral face emoji.However, there was a bit of a modern day mix-up.Just like how lateral flow tests show two red lines for a positive result, the friend thought they tested for Covid - not for being pregnant.The confused friend replied: “Damn, I hope you feel better.”Along with a prayer emoji, they added: “Quarantine.”Stunned at the response, the pregnant woman slammed: “Are you stupid?”A screenshot of the text was posted to Facebook by user Amber Lee Clark which has now racked up thousands of likes and 33,000 shares.People were left in stitches at the confusion so tagged their mates with laughing emojis whilst they poked fun at the mix-up.One person chuckled: “I hope she takes all the necessary precautions that the CDC has lined out. Don’t need that s*** spreading”Another added: “Name your kid Covid.”Whilst a third user related: “Remember when I sent you my Covid results and you thought I was pregnant?”Someone else shared: “I laughed too hard at this.” Get all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletter

Patty Hajdu says the number of COVID-19 infections in First Nations communities has begun to decline, bringing hope that the worst of the Omicron wave has passed.Hajdu says she understands why Indigenous leaders are sounding an alarm that progress could be lost in regions where provincial governments are rapidly moving to lift public health orders.“Indigenous leaders obviously are concerned,” Hajdu said during a news conference Thursday. High anxiety levels expected in Canadians wary of COVID restrictions lifting - experts Daily active case counts in Indigenous communities have declined 13.2 per cent from last week.

Taking lateral flow tests regularly continues to be an important part of Scotland's fight against the spread of Covid.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during the 'Save America' rally at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on January 29, 2022 in Conroe, Texas. Trump's visit was his first Texas MAGA rally since 2019.

Simon Cowell will miss the next round of auditions for Britain's Got Talent as he has contracted Covid-19.The 62 year old will be unable to judge the latest round of hopefuls on the ITV talent show while he self-isolates. A spokesperson for the music mogul confirmed the news to Mail Online, saying: "Simon was unable to attend filming today as he was isolating at home after testing positive for Covid-19." Current rules for contracting Covid-19 state people need to isolate for ten days but may leave after five if certain conditions are met. Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Amanda Holden were spotted heading in to film the show and will be left with golden buzzer duties until the show's creator returns.

From symptoms to subvariants, UN health agency explains all that you need to know about Omicron

PARIS :

Britain without taking any coronavirus tests starting Friday after the government scrapped one of the final restrictions imposed over the past two years in response to Covid-19.

Prince Charles getting Covid again should be "ringing royal alarm bells," according to an expert who warns of some "regal whiplash". The 73-year-old is set to snatch an almost 200-year record by becoming the oldest person to be crowned monarch.

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Withdrawal of restrictions

Boris Johnson ending Covid isolation rules is a "distraction" from the PM's lockdown party scandal, according to a Scots health expert.

SYDNEY :

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of he World Health Organization (WHO), Buti Manamela, Deputy Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Africa, Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health of South Africa and Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy of Belgium today visit a number of public and private sector partners that are collaborating to develop and build WHO’s global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa.

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Protester numbers outside New Zealand's parliament have increased as police scaled back efforts to clear anti-vaccine demonstrators involved in violent clashes a day earlier.

Disruptive blockades protesting COVID-19 mandates are escalating in Ontario, prompting more calls for the province to take action. So why has Ontario Premier Doug Ford been mostly absent over the unrest? Eric Sorensen explains the possible strategy behind keeping a low-profile, as concerns grow over potentially politicizing pandemic strategy.

Ottawa police on Thursday provided an update on their ongoing enforcement measures against trucker protests demonstrating against COVID-19 vaccine mandates throughout parts of the city.

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Unhappy Olympic athletes are calling out organizers of the Beijing Games with a litany of complaints about everything from COVID-19 protocols to inadequate catering.

Camilla Parker-Bowles has broken her silence after she was handed the future title of 'Queen Consort' by the Queen on the eve of the Platinum Jubilee last weekend.The Duchess of Cornwall, 74, said she was "very, very honoured" and "very touched" to be bestowed the honour by Her Majesty while on a royal visit to Nourish Hub community food centre in West London.She went ahead with the public appearance after testing negative for Covid despite spending the previous evening with husband Prince Charles, who remained in self-isolation after contracting the virus for the second time yesterday (February 10).Charles, who is said not to be experiencing any symptoms of the virus, was forced on Thursday to cancel his visit the Great Hall at Winchester Castle and the unveiling of a statue of Jewish-British historical figure Licoricia of Winchester.It was also revealed that he had seen his mum the Queen two days before testing positive.Describing the situation, Camilla told Willie Hartley Russell, high sheriff for Berkshire: "He’s diagnosed now. Luckily (she’s negative).

Simon Cowell has been forced to pull out of Britain's Got Talent auditions after testing positive for Covid.The ITV entertainment show is back this year after being cancelled in 2021 because of the pandemic and auditions have been under way at the London Palladium.Due to his positive test result, the 62-year-old TV personality could not take his seat at the judge's table. Simon's spokesperson exclusively told Mail Online that the star is currently isolating at his London home after contracting the virus.His spokesperson said: "Simon was unable to attend filming today as he was isolating at home after testing positive for Covid-19." Simon was scheduled to be on the set of the talent competition on Thursday alongside his fellow judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.A week before testing positive and withdrawing from the audition process, Simon was rushed to hospital after being caught in a horrific e-bike accident near his home in West London.The incident which happened last Thursday night saw Simon fall off his e-bike while reaching speeds of 20mph.This is the second e-bike accident the father-of-one experienced, just 18 months after breaking his back on an e-bike in Los Angeles.

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In this photo illustration, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) logo is seen displayed on an Android mobile phone. WASHINGTON (AP) - The CIA has a secret, undisclosed data repository that includes information collected about Americans, two Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Thursday. While neither the agency nor lawmakers would disclose specifics about the data, the senators alleged the CIA had long hidden details about the program from the public and Congress.Sens.

LONDON (AP) - AstraZeneca recorded a big jump in revenue on Thursday as it begins to take a profit from its coronavirus vaccine for the first time.The company recorded full-year revenues of $37.4 billion, an increase of 38% from the year before at constant exchange rates. Part of the boost came from $4 billion in sales of its COVID-19 vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford.Despite rising revenue, AstraZeneca reported a pre-tax loss of $265 million due to costs from its purchase of U.S.

The language of the UCP has seen a significant shift this week as it moves to drop COVID-19 restrictions in the province, with words like “damaging” and “freedom” being used much more often in public communications.

Global’s Keith Baldrey looks a how B.C.’s COVID-19 numbers have improved since January.

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B.C. health officials release a written report Thursday, Feb. 10, with the latest COVID-19 case numbers. Legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey has analysis.

Valentine’s Day. Some believe the holiday is just a marketing tactic spread by greeting card companies or is only for people who are romantically involved.Cue the solution to those worries: Galentine’s Day. But what is this unofficial holiday, who can celebrate the occasion and when is it? Gather up your gal pals, and find out the details below.According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Galentine’s Day is a "day for women to celebrate their friendships with their lady friends." Essentially, the meaning of Galentine’s Day is Valentine’s Day for your gals.

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Many New Jersey children may soon have to experience snow days from the inside looking out if some state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle get their way.Legislation before the state would give school districts the option of using snow days during inclement weather. But if the districts choose not to take a snow day, then the day away from the physical school building would be a remote learning day and it would count toward the state's 180-day education requirement.There's no denying that the unfettered joy of waking up to word of a snow day is a rite of passage for many kids.

The Big Boost continues today, promoting the booster dose to anyone over 18 who has had their second dose more than 3 months ago. Many vaccination centres will be open extended hours over the weekend to encourage people to get their booster.

Health Minister Jason Copping explains why the Alberta government chose to start loosening COVID-19 health measures immediately instead of waiting for numbers to come down.

Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen called on members of the trucker convoys blockading roads and highways across the country over opposition to COVID-19 public health measures to “take down the barricades, stop the disruptive action, and come together.”

Health Minister Jason Copping explains why the Alberta government chose to scrap its restrictions exemption program immediately.

Health Minister Jason Copping explains the reasoning behind the removal of masking mandates for children under 12 in Alberta.

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - ‘Who can it be knocking at my door?' isn't just the snappy opening line to a popular ‘80s song, authorities say it's actually an extremely important question. Police are reminding residents to know who is knocking before they open the door after an extra cautious Cherry Hill resident mistook an unidentified township worker for an imposter and warned others on social media. Officials said the confusion stemmed from the township worker using a personal car, but now the encounter is being used as a teaching moment.

Ontario’s top doctor says a timeline for lifting all COVID-19 measures in the province is coming soon.Dr. Kieran Moore was asked during a COVID-19 media briefing Thursday whether the public can expect an update soon on when measures, including masking and the proof of vaccination system, will be lifted.“We will be reviewing the evidence and … the evidence is showing we’re making remarkable improvement in all of the key metrics in Ontario and that forces us to review all public health measures that are in play,” Moore said.

Instagram, informing us that at this point the doctors have done everything that they can to help her. It seems at this point it’s just a case of waiting to see if it has been enough. Tyrese certainly is not losing faith.

Los Angeles - Ye, commonly known as Kanye West, is threatening to cancel his performance at Coachella over comments Billie Eilish made about rapper Travis Scott at a recent concert.The rapper posted a screenshot to his Instagram Thursday regarding Eilish’s reported comments about Scott at a concert in Atlanta. "Billie Eilish dissed Travis Scott at her concert after she stopped the show to give her fan an inhaler! ‘I wait for the people to be okay before I keep going,’" the post West screenshotted read. In the comments, West wrote, "COME ON BILLIE WE LOVE YOU PLEASE APOLOGIZE TO TRAV AND TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES."He continued: "NO ONE INTENDED THIS TO HAPPEN TRAV DIDN’T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE WAS ON STAGE AND WAS VERY HURT BY WHAT HAPPENED AND YES TRAV WILL BE WITH ME AT COACHELLA BUT NOW I NEED BILLIE TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE I PERFORM." At a recent concert, Eilish was seen stopping her show to make sure a fan who could not breathe was given an inhaler and seemingly dissed Travis Scott by saying "I wait for the people to be OK before I keep going."Billie Eilish performs onstage during her "Happier Than Ever" tour opener at Smoothie King Center on February 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation) Scott was the headliner for the sold-out Astroworld Festival in NRG Park in Houston in November, which was attended by an estimated 50,000 people.

Quebec logs 35 new deaths as hospitalizations continue to drop Health Minister Christian Dubé has said he would introduce a bill in March to lift the state of emergency, but he has also said it would be up to the opposition as to whether the legislation passes before June.Eric Duhaime, the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, which has one seat in the province’s legislature but has seen its support rise in recent polls, said he thinks the government is delaying the introduction of the bill to avoid scrutiny.Quebec’s Public Health Act requires the government to submit a report on the state of emergency, including details about contracts that were awarded without public tenders, within a specific period after the emergency order is lifted. If the bill is passed in June, Duhaime told reporters in Quebec City on Thursday that the government could avoid tabling that report until after an October election.“The (legislature) will not be in session until November,” he said.

Peterborough Public Health reported a new death and hospitalized case along with 26 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data released late Thursday afternoon. Timeline to lift all COVID-19 measures in Ontario coming soon, top doctor says The health unit’s COVID-19 tracker, issued at 4:22 p.m., reported the following data for the jurisdiction of Peterborough, Peterborough County, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation: 54 since the pandemic was declared. The health unit says death reported Thursday was a woman in her 90s who was vaccinated.: 26 since the Wednesday, Feb.

Dr. Kieran Moore was asked on Thursday about the eventual removal of COVID-19 restrictions in the province, including mask mandates and proof of vaccination.

The Washington Post is reporting that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials are telling vaccine providers to prepare for a Feb 21 rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years, just 1 week after advisers from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are set to vote on an emergency authorization of the vaccine.

A cross-sectional study of more than half a million National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 athletes and 3.5 million nonathletes suggests that participation in collegiate athletics was not tied to higher COVID-19 test positivity in the 2020-21 academic year.