Ontario lays out plan to ease province’s COVID-19 public health restrictions

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has COVID-19.

HOLMESBURG - The twice a year ritual – springing forward and falling back - is enough to make a person a little cuckoo."Losing that hour of sleep messes up everything," CJ Eiler commented.At the Henry of Mayfair clock shop, the twice a year ritual of springing forward and falling back may become a thing of the past."Yes, I do change clocks. I change a lot of clocks.

*WARNING: Article contains strong language that may not be suitable for some readers.*CHICAGO — Family members of Jussie Smollett claim they have received harassing and threatening phone calls since the actor began serving five months of jail time for staging a hate crime hoax in 2019.Smollett's defense team released a statement on Monday that said Jussie's siblings started getting "bombarded with phone threats" on Friday, the morning after the former Empire actor checked into the Cook County Jail.DOWNLOAD THE FOX 32 CHICAGO APP FOR BREAKING NEWS ALERTS"The morning after Jussie checked into the jail, his sibling who’s [sic] phone number is his emergency contact started being bombarded with phone threats about harm that would be done to Jussie in the jail," the statement said.Attorneys said a male caller used profane, racist and homophobic language and the call came from an unlisted number.The supporters of Jussie Smollett said he is being mistreated by a racist system after he was sentenced to jail time for staging a hate crime against himself. They held a rally outside the Cook County Jail in Chicago."Hi, this is n***** lives matter.

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia couple is reunited after the wife escaped war torn Ukraine where she was trapped while caring for her sick mother when Russia's army invaded over three weeks ago. Sean Moir and Valentyna Levytsky traveled to Ukraine in January, 6 months after the couple was married at a summer ceremony in Kyiv. Valentyna stayed behind to take care of her mother, Nadiah, who was ill with late-stage Parkinson's disease. Nadiah's condition got progressively worse just as Russia started its long-threatened invasion of Ukraine, Moir explained.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government has provided more than $2 billion to help cover funeral costs for more than 300,000 families of people who died from COVID-19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday as it launches a new campaign to raise awareness about the aid to eligible families. More than 965,000 people have died in the U.S.

BELLMAWR, N.J. - The cost of filling up a gas tank is painful, but now there is something that may sting even more - gas thieves on the rise.  They’re damaging cars and stirring up all kinds of emotions."It’s just unbelievable," says Cynthia Ross of West Philadelphia. "People go to any length to take from you, to harm you. They don’t care about your car, the money you have to put out to get it fixed and everybody is having a hard time, as it is."It’s a brazen crime that’s happening locally, as well as all across the country.Police in Allentown, Pa.

Today we are announcing eight people who died with COVID-19 yesterday and an additional 16 people who died in the past three weeks.  Among the 24 deaths reported today are eight people whom we know died at aged residential care facilities.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government has published an extraordinary gazette revising the prices of 60 medicinal drugs with effect from Tuesday (15).

NEW YORK, (Reuters); Oil prices tumbled more than 6% on Tuesday (15) to their lowest in almost three weeks, as Russia suggested it would allow a revival of the Iran nuclear deal to go forward and as traders worried growing pandemic lockdowns in China could dent demand.Both Brent and U.S. crude futures benchmark settled below $100 per barrel for the first time since late February.

Covid vaccination for all in the age group of 12-14 years is available from today onward at all Government COVID Vaccination Centers free of cost. The vaccination for the 12-14 years cohort will begin from 9 am today. The vaccine to be administered for this age group would be Biological E-led Corbevax.

Three men were injured in a triple shooting Tuesday night in Olney, police said. PHILADELPHIA - Three people were driven to the hospital by police after they were injured in a street shooting Tuesday night in Philadelphia's Olney neighborhood, according to police.Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 4800 block of Lawrence Street just before 8:30 p.m.

Police say two people are in custody following a large drug bust during a traffic stop in Phoenix. PHOENIX - Police say two people are in custody following a large drug bust during a traffic stop in north Phoenix."It is another example of great police work.

More people in Saskatchewan died waiting for surgery during COVID-19 than before: data “It’s bigger than my birthday… everyone actually shows up for that (celebration),” she said.“It’s my dial-a-versary.”Jessica Bailey’s diagnosis is simpler but it’s also worse. She’s 36 and has been receiving dialysis for three years.Her doctors told her five months ago that she is palliative, meaning she likely has less than a year to live.They were on the waiting list for a transplant last year, but in September the Saskatchewan Health Authority postponed all transplant operations so staff could be reassigned to help with the fourth COVID-19 wave.Janzen’s and Bailey’s health declined since then and they’ve both no longer on the list.“The longer we wait, the worse my health gets,” Bailey said.“And the worse my health gets, the less likely (I am) to be on the list.”You need to be healthy enough to receive a transplant to be on the list.Bailey needed months to recover from complications from a day surgery.Janzen now needs her parathyroid removed before she can get a new kidney.

After 3-years of labour peace, the stage is being set for potential confrontation between more than 300,000 unionized workers and the provincial government. Legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey has more details.

Today we are announcing eight people who died with COVID-19 yesterday and an additional 16 people who died in the past three weeks.  Among the 24 deaths reported today are eight people whom we know died at aged residential care facilities.

Police in Frankford investigate a shooting that left a 30-year-old man dead. FRANKFORD - Philadelphia Police are investigating a shooting that killed a 30-year-old man in Frankford.According to officials, police were called to the intersection of Hawthorne and Harrison Streets for reported gunshots.Upon arrival, the officers found the 30-year-old victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds all over his body.Shell casings mark how many times a man was shot at Harrison and Hawthorne Streets, while he was holding a baby in a car seat, The man was rushed by police to Temple University Hospital, where he died from his injuries.Witnesses tell police the man was holding a car seat with a baby inside while he was being shot.

HOUSTON - Houston police are looking for thieves responsible for stealing more than 1,000 gallons of fuel from a local gas station.For three straight days, investigators believe burglars stole roughly 350 gallons of diesel from the Fuqua Express in Southeast Houston. In total, roughly 1,100 gallons of fuel were taken.RELATED: Fuel thieves targeting gas stations, stealing dozens of gallons"People are trying to make a buck," said Jerry Thayil, manager of Fuqua Express. "This is not the way to make a buck."Police believe the burglars are using an elaborate method to take the fuel. On surveillance video, a lookout car can be seen at nearby gas pump. Then, a van parks over the station’s gas caps designed to store fuel underground. Using a trap door, some sort of suction device, and a storage unit, investigators believe the thieves were able to quietly pump hundreds of gallons of diesel into their vehicle.MORE CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETYAll three incidents took place in broad daylight. Thayil’s says paying customers nearby didn’t notice. The person responsible, or people, never get out of the van."You wouldn’t see anything," said Thayil. "There’s only an 8-inch clearance from the van, to the [ground]. They have a trap door inside their van. They pull up the trap door, break the lock of our tank cap, and insert a tube there and start the pump. It took them about 15 minutes to get roughly [350 gallons] of diesel."The gas station is locally owned and operated by Thayil’s father. He estimates the stolen diesel to be worth more than $5,000.On a fourth straight day last week, Thayil says the same group comes back to try another fuel burglary. However, Thayil had been watching surveillance video."Don’t try that over here again," said

FRANKFORD - Philadelphia Police are investigating a shooting that killed a 30-year-old man in Frankford.According to officials, police were called to the 1800 block of Foulkrod Street Tuesday evening, around 7 p.m.Upon arrival, the officers found the 30-year-old victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds all over his body.The man was rushed by police to Temple University Hospital, where he died from his injuries.Authorities say an investigation into the shooting is underway. No weapon has been recovered and no arrest has been made.___Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847).

PORTLAND, Ore. - A former prison nurse has been indicted for sexually assaulting a dozen female inmates at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon’s only women’s prison.The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment Monday charging 37-year-old Tony Daniel Klein with the crimes.

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!!

vaccines, sources familiar with the deal said on Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA - The Save Our Streets discussion turned to a shortage of officers and police personnel and how that shortage is directly impacting law enforcement.Attorney General Josh Shapiro met with several southeast Pennsylvania police chiefs Tuesday to discuss efforts to fill police vacancies and improve recruitment efforts, as well as public safety resources.Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, and others, admitted that the current officer shortage is a serious problem.MORE HEADLINES:"Here it is in plain numbers," Commissioner Outlaw stated. "In Philadelphia, in 2015, the PPD had approximately 6,600 sworn officers and, around, 800 civilian personnel.

TOPSHAM, Maine - Some students are being praised as heroes for steering a school bus to safety after the driver suffered a heart attack and later died.The Topsham Police Department in Maine said around 7:30 a.m. Monday the school bus operator was "believed to have experienced a medical event that left him incapacitated." The incident happened as the bus traveled east on Route 201 towards the Cathance River Bridge.Authorities said 14 middle and high school students were on board.RELATED: Cecil County crossing guard hit by car, saves studentPolice said at least two students grabbed the wheel and applied the brakes, bringing the bus to a stop on the side of the road.

Holly Willoughby has been forced to miss hosting duties on This Morning and Dancing on Ice after testing positive for coronavirus.Appearing on the This Morning sofa for the second day alongside Holly's temporary replacement Josie Gibson, co-host Phillip Schofield revealed he had reached out the 41-year-old star as she quarantines at home.Holly tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend, just hours before she was gearing up to go on air to host Dancing on Ice.Phillip, 59, offered a health update to concerned ITV viewers during Tuesday's episode, revealing that Holly was doing "fine", but admitted she was "annoyed" over the situation.Phillip explained: "Holly obviously has still got rona, so sending her massive love and texting her throughout the day, checking she is okay."She's fine, just annoyed, so lots of love and get well soon."Phil addressed her absence from the show on Monday morning, telling fans: "Well we were absolutely convinced,, Holly and I, that having worked all the way through everything, that we might be immune. "And then it got me a few weeks ago, and over the weekend it's got Holly."So she's tested positive and she’s at home watching, and it's the weirdest thing in the world when you can't do it and you're watching it from homeFormer Big Brother winner Josie has previously stepped in for Willoughby at the last minute, back in November last year, when Willoughby came down with a stomach bug.Phillip said to Josie as they opened the show: "'This is a bit of a first! About an hour ago you were on your way to do our live competitions in Surrey.Gibson confessed: "I couldn't believe it...

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday said New Zealand will reopen its borders much earlier than expected, with Australians allowed to travel there from 12 April.

Windsor, Ont., is calling for residents to treat one another as human beings after police charged a woman for allegedly threatening to bomb his home over COVID-19 mandates.Windsor police said they arrested the 31-year-old woman Thursday for a social media post on a thread about COVID-19 and pandemic mandates. They allege she made the comments Monday, a day after a protest was cleared at the Ambassador Bridge.“Regardless of your opinion on vaccinations or Justin Trudeau or myself or Doug Ford, we all just have to step back and take a breath and realize that we’re dealing with human beings and that we all have more in common than differences,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said in a phone interview.

Ford government to provide more details after the leak of donations made to the so-called “Freedom Convoy” GiveSendGo campaign cost a senior staff member her job.The solicitor-general’s now-former director of communications, Marion Isabeau-Ringuette, reportedly donated $100 to the online fundraising platform on Feb. 5.First reported by QP Briefing, the alleged donation came a day after GoFundMe suspended another fundraising campaign over concerns the protest in Ottawa had become an occupation, and just ahead of blockades at the Ambassador Bridge.Ontario’s attorney general eventually stepped in to seek an injunction, freezing the funds for the GiveSendGo campaign several days later.

COVID-19-related deaths on Wednesday, lifting the death toll in the area to 387.“Today we are reporting two deaths in our community related to COVID-19. One individual was a male in his 60s.

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.

COVID-19 PCR test requirements for fully vaccinated travellers at the end of the month, officials say.“Today I’m announcing we are easing our border measures,” federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Tuesday in Ottawa. “It is time to adjust our approach.”As of Feb.

Speaking to reporters in Hamilton, Ont. on Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked about the dilemma faced by business owners once the vaccine mandate becomes optional, potentially alienating some customers regardless of which option they choose.

Guelph General Hospital is reporting Tuesday that it is treating 13 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, while 22 staff members are off work due to the virus.The number of patients has decreased by one from what was reported the previous day, while the number of staff off work remained the same. ‘Everyone’s done with this,’ Doug Ford says as he defends lifting proof of vax requirement Across Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, public health reports 20 people are in the hospital with COVID-19, including four in an intensive care unit.Guelph’s coronavirus death toll remains at 52 during the pandemic with the latest fatal case being reported on Feb.

COVID-19 vaccine passport system, the province’s health minister announced Tuesday.“We are withdrawing it gradually we learn to live with the virus,” Christian Dubé told reporters in Quebec City.The passport will no longer be used for big-box stores as well as the government-run liquor and cannabis stores starting Wednesday. Proof of vaccination will not be required to access places of worship as of Feb.

Doug Ford defended his government’s plan to remove the province’s proof of vaccination requirement in two weeks, saying it’s time to “get on with our lives.”Ford made the remarks in response to a reporter’s question at an unrelated announcement in Hamilton on Tuesday morning.The premier was asked about concerns whether businesses that choose to continue requiring proof of vaccination beyond March 1 could face harassment, and whether those that go along with plans to lift it could lose business because people may feel unsafe. Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place “I think the market’s going to dictate. You know, you can go to Costco, you can go to Walmart, you can go shopping — you don’t know if the person has a shot beside you or not,” Ford said in response.“We also know that it doesn’t matter if you have one shot or 10 shots, you can catch COVID.

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.

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.

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.

COVID-19 vaccine passport system starting on March 1. However, the mask mandate will remain in place.“Ontario will also lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination,” the government said.A firm date for lifting the use of masks or face coverings was not set.“Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date,” the government said.Capacity limits in all indoor public settings will also be eliminated.Ford made the announcement on Monday morning alongside health minister Christine Elliott and Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr.

trucker convoy protesters who break the law will be “increasingly severe” as an occupation in Ottawa extends past two weeks and blockades spring up across the country.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a meeting Saturday with ministers and senior officials to see how protests, occupations and blockades can be brought “under control.”“I convened the Incident Response Group again today – we went over the efforts underway to address the illegal blockades and occupations,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

Ontario hospital on Saturday with COVID-19, as the province continues to battle the pandemic.New data released by the province on Feb. 12 suggests a drop in the number of people in hospital from the previous day.

Premier Doug Ford denounced the protests both in the nation’s capital and on the border in Windsor Friday. While putting measures in place in a bid to move them along, the premier also attracted unwanted attention after a snowmobile trip and a secret recording.

Doug Ford says the province is on track to “very soon” lift “almost all” COVID-related restrictions on businesses.The premier made the remarks during a press conference Friday morning, where he declared a state of emergency in the province due to ongoing protests and blockades, sparked by opposition to COVID-19 measures.Ford said he understands many people are frustrated, but urged the “illegal occupation” in Ottawa and at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor to end.“There’s no doubt these were the right decisions,” Ford said of his government’s move to impose measures in a bid to combat COVID-19. Timeline to lift all COVID-19 measures in Ontario coming soon, top doctor says “There’s no doubt they protected our hospitals from collapse and saved lives.

TORONTO - Canadian authorities Friday turned up the legal and public pressure on protesters to lift their blockades in Ottawa and at the U.S. border, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warning: "This unlawful activity has to end and it will end."Federal, provincial and local officials moved simultaneously on different fronts to break the standoff, which began with truckers and others angry over the country's COVID-19 restrictions and has morphed into a broader attack from the right on Trudeau and his Liberal government, cheered on by conservatives in the U.S."We heard you.

Premier Doug Ford says he is declaring a state of emergency in Ontario and will enact emergency orders to end the protests that have crippled Ottawa for the last two weeks and have recently blocked the land border crossing in Windsor.

Premier Doug Ford says he is declaring a state of emergency in Ontario and will enact emergency orders to end the protests that have crippled Ottawa for the last two weeks and have recently blocked the land border crossing in Windsor.

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.

The Ontario government says it has successfully petitioned a court to freeze access to millions of dollars donated through online fundraising platform GiveSendGo to the convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa and at several border crossings.

COVID-19,” but it doesn’t mean immediately returning to life as it was in 2019 and authorities should be refining their message, experts say.Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, is now using the phrase, as are Toronto’s top doctor, Ontario’s health minister and Premier Doug Ford.Shifting from the predominant message of “stay home” to “learn to live with it” is going to be difficult for a lot of people, said Dr.