Ontario tightens long-term care visitor rules as coronavirus cases increase

COLOMBO (News 1st); Thousands of Sri Lankan health workers continued their strike action for the fifth consecutive day on Friday (11), despite a court issuing an order against a nurses trade union that is also taking part in the strike.Health workers in Sri Lanka have been staging demonstrations and strikes since November 2021 to draw attention to the issue of salary anomalies.Their major demands include the rectification of salary anomalies, higher allowances, and an increase in overtime rates.Supplementary and paramedical services, nursing services, and professionals from 16 health services including medical laboratory technologists, pharmacists, radiologists, public health inspectors, and family health officers are participating in the indefinite strike.Thousands of poor patients who visited government hospitals were turned away, as a result.A Sri Lankan court on Thursday (10) issued two enjoining orders preventing the strike action by the Government Nursing Officer’s Association from continuing.The Attorney General filed an action against the Government Nursing Officer’s Association and its president Saman Rathnapriya, seeking an enjoining order from the court to immediately suspend the trade union action of the said union.The Attorney General appraised the court of the present deplorable conditions in hospitals due to patient care being severely affected.District Court Judge of Colombo Aruna Aluthge issued two enjoining orders preventing the union from continuing the said trade union strike endangering the lives of the patients.As a result of the strike, over this week the activities at the Colombo General Hospital, Kandy General Hospital, 24 Teaching Hospitals, 26 General Hospitals, 46 Base Hospitals, 410 District

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.

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Charli XCX has said that the criticism she’s received on social media lately has taken a toll on her mental health.The singer-songwriter, who releases her fifth album ‘Crash’ on March 18, issued a statement on Twitter yesterday (February 10) to explain that she’s temporarily stepping back from the platform due to the “negativity” surrounding her current campaign.“I’ve always had a pretty open dialogue with you guys and so I just wanna mention a few things that have been on my mind recently,” Charli began.“I have been feeling like I can’t do anything right at the moment.

coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Saturday:New public health rules that Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday are now in place in Toronto and Peel Region.Bars, restaurants and nightclubs are now limited to a capacity of 100 people under provincial regulations and no more than six people will be allowed at each table.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced new restrictions for the Ottawa, Toronto and Peel region, after the province saw a record-high daily spike in new COVID-19 cases.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Friday that all COVID-19 assessment centres in the province will operate by appointment only as of Oct. 6, adding that walk-ins will no longer accepted beginning Oct. 4.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered well wishes to U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump after their positive COVID-19 diagnoses, saying that despite their “political differences” he “wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

coronavirus cases in the province, sources tell Global News.Sources said the restrictions will be regional. Ontario reports new record of 732 coronavirus cases, adds 76 more deaths due to data cleanup The announcement is expected to include the rollout of a colour-coded system for hotspots experiencing spikes in coronavirus cases, similar to what has been implemented in Quebec.[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]Ontario reported 732 new coronavirus cases on Friday marking the largest single-day increase on record, with most cases in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel Region.Premier Doug Ford is expected to speak at 1 p.m.

government’s back-to-school plan launched by the province’s four major teachers’ unions.The unions alleged that Premier Doug Ford’s plan does not follow the province’s own workplace safety laws and asked the board to intervene.In a joint statement, the unions say today they are deeply concerned with the ruling, which they say was made on jurisdictional grounds without having heard their evidence.

COVID-19 restrictions.On Saturday, Ontario Provincial Police closed the Ontario beach town to non-residents as hundreds gathered in the community.

When asked why the raise for personal support workers (PSW) in Ontario amid the COVID-19 pandemic is not permanent, Premier Doug Ford said on Thursday that when March 2021 arrives “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure this is full time,” adding that PSWs “deserve it.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Thursday that the province is investing $461 million to help stabilize the personal support worker (PSW) workforce amid the COVID-19 pandemic, by giving over 147,000 PSWs “a much deserved pay raise.” Ford said the funding would provide the pay raise until March 2021.

When asked about a wedding in Oshawa, Ont., which was linked to eight COVID-19 cases, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Thursday that it is the responsibility of the venue and the individuals getting married to provide the guest list for contact tracing.

COVID-19 pandemic.Premier Doug Ford says about 147,000 workers in long-term care, hospitals, and community care are eligible for the increase.Personal support workers in long-term care and community care will be eligible for a $3 an hour pay increase, while hospital PSWs will see a $2 an hour pay hike.The temporary increase will cost the government $461 million, begins today and will expire in March 2021.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing pressure from health officials to tighten restrictions as a second COVID-19 wave hits the province. Eric Sorensen looks at how economic fears are stacking up against fears the health-care system could be overwhelmed.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday said he was being “polite” with the term “yahoos” when asked about groups such as “Hugs over Masks” that discourage people not to follow public health measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “deeply concerned” by COVID-19 modelling projections released Wednesday that show new cases in the province doubling every 10-12 days, with 1,000 new cases per day projected by mid-October.

COVID-19 pandemic might unfold.The province has announced plans to hold a briefing later this morning on its latest coronavirus modelling.It has been months since the government released updated predictions on how the disease will spread, but daily case counts have been rising steadily and Premier Doug Ford has acknowledged Ontario is in a “second wave.” ‘Ontario is now in the 2nd wave of COVID-19’: Premier Doug Ford says The Public Health Agency of Canada released its own latest modelling last week, predicting up to 9,300 deaths across the country by early October if the current trajectory of the epidemic continues.[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]Ontario reported 554 new cases of COVID-19 on

Ontario’s long-term care homes have been hit hard by the pandemic. Premier Doug Ford announced the province is investing more than half a billion dollars to support the most vulnerable population plus it’s tightening restrictions on who can visit.

coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the local total number of cases to 884, including 38 deaths.Five of the new cases are in Barrie, Ont., while three are in Bradford, two are in Innisfil and the rest are in Severn, Gravenhurst and Essa. ‘Ontario is now in the 2nd wave of COVID-19’: Premier Doug Ford says Four of the cases are a result of close contact with another positive COVID-19 case, while one is travel-related and the rest are under investigation.[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]Six of the cases involve people ranging in age between 18 and 34, while four involve people ranging in age between 45 and 64.

coronavirus.Loblaw Public Relations said the pharmacies will offer COVID-19 testing for high priority people who do not have any symptoms or reason to believe they may have COVID-19.Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Friday that testing would begin in a number of Ontario cities, including Brantford, Brights Grove, Cambridge, Chatham, Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara Falls, Sarnia, St. Catharines, Stratford, St.

reporting 554 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 51,085.Tuesday’s case count is a decrease from Monday which saw 700 cases and marked a new record for daily infections.According to Tuesday’s provincial report, 251 new cases were recorded in Toronto, 106 in Ottawa, 79 in Peel Region, and 43 in York Region.All other public health units in Ontario reported 15 or fewer cases. ‘Ontario is now in the 2nd wave of COVID-19’: Premier Doug Ford says Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said nearly 38,400 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.

coronavirus pandemic, she says she was devastated by the news.Feldman has worked as a bartender for 22 years. Most of that time has been spent at The Airport Strip Club in Mississauga.“We were just starting to get back on track and now it feels like we are being discriminated against,” she said.

The owner of The Airport Strip Club in Mississauga says he feels like his business is being unfairly targeted by the province. On Friday, Premier Doug Ford announced all strip clubs were to close.

coronavirus cases on Monday, but its local health unit says some cases have not been assigned to a municipality.Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health reported 16 new cases in its jurisdiction and while it listed Guelph as having none, it listed only six cases between the two counties. ‘Ontario is now in the 2nd wave of COVID-19,' Premier Doug Ford says A spokesperson for public health said there are 10 new cases that they do not have a location for yet.

COVID-19 Monday, bringing the region’s active cases up to 15.The public health unit’s COVID-19 dashboard is recording 132 total cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 117 resolved cases.KFL&A Public Health said all new cases are females under 20 years old. Two are close contacts of a positive case while the third case is still under investigation, according to public health.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacted on Monday to news that large crowds had gathered in the town of Wasaga Beach over the weekend for a car rally despite coronavirus restrictions, calling it “reckless behavior.” “I hope every one of them gets a $10,000 fine,” the premier said, adding “I wish I could get a hold of their grandparents, or their parents.”

coronavirus pandemic.“We know that this wave will be more complicated, more complex. It will be worse than the first wave we faced earlier this year,” Ford said at his daily press briefing on Monday.“But what we don’t know yet, is how bad the second wave will be.”On Monday, the province recorded 700 new cases of COVID-19 after processing 41,111 tests.

As Ontario recorded a spike in new COVID-19 cases across the province, with 700 daily infections reported, Premier Doug Ford announced that the province has entered a second wave of the virus, which he said would be “more complicated, more complex” and worse than the first wave earlier in the year.

Coronavirus testing will be offered at select pharmacies in London, Ont., as of early next week, Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday.It’s not clear yet which pharmacies in the city will begin offering the testing, which is expected to start as early as Tuesday. In a statement, London Mayor Ed Holder said the city would share that information as soon as it was revealed, and that more locations would “soon be added throughout the city.”Ford also announced that testing was set to begin at pharmacies in Brantford, Brights Grove, Cambridge, Chatham, Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara Falls, Sarnia, St.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to questions on Friday regarding the province’s announcement that bars, restaurants and food and drink businesses are prohibited from selling alcohol after 11 p.m.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday the province would be investing over $741 million as part of its fall preparedness plan to accelerate efforts to reduce surgery backlogs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ford said the funds will help support more priority surgeries for patients, extend hours for MRI and diagnostic services and add over 1,400 beds in care spaces for surgeries.

During Friday’s coronavirus update, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam commented on the development of rapid testing strategies to detect COVID-19, amid long wait-times for testing and calls from premiers, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, to implement such methods of testing.

COVID-19 tests today as the province tries to ease the burden on busy assessment centres.Up to 60 pharmacies are offering the appointment-only tests to certain asymptomatic individuals, such as those with loved ones in long-term care homes, close contacts of a case or high-risk workers. Ontario announces COVID-19 testing to be expanded to pharmacies Meanwhile, the government announced yesterday that the province’s assessment centres will now focus on testing those with symptoms, exposure to a case and people involved in outbreak investigations.Premier Doug Ford had previously said anyone who wanted a test could get one at an assessment centre but changed that message yesterday.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is promising to invest $1 billion on COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, as cases spike. As Eric Sorensen explains, the new rules on who can be tested are causing confusion.

Premier Doug Ford is urging those who are asymptomatic and not at significant risk of infection to refrain from getting tested at local assessment centres to allow more room for those in urgent need of testing. Mark Carcasole reports.

Mayor Ed Holder appeals to province over dire need for expanded COVID-19 testing Residents have also complained of week-long waits to book an appointment at one of the testing centres.3yo w stuffy nose. Day 2 sent away for test.

coronavirus cases in the province.In a statement issued by the Ontario Hospital Association Thursday on behalf of 38 health-care professionals, the doctors say they want the government to restrict “non-essential businesses and activities that facilitate social gatherings and increase opportunities for exposure.”They’re calling for new measures to be implemented for indoor dining at restaurants and bars, as well as operations at nightclubs, theatres, gyms, and places of worship.The statement didn’t elaborate on what restrictions the doctors specifically want to see implemented but Dr. Larissa Matukas with Unity Health Toronto, who signed onto the letter, said they want to see them temporarily closed.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Thursday that the province would be investing over $1 billion to expand COVID-19 testing and contact tracing amid the pandemic.

COVID-19 testing to pharmacies” in the region.On Wednesday, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott and Premier Doug Ford unveiled details of a plan to have pharmacies offer testing as part of the province’s fall preparedness plan.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a junior member of his tour team has tested positive for coronavirus.Ford posted the news on his Twitter account Thursday morning.“I had no close contact or prolonged exposure to them and will therefore closely monitor my symptoms and take appropriate action as needed,” Ford said in his tweet. Part 3 of Ontario’s fall COVID-19 pandemic preparedness plan to be released “I wish this member of my team a speedy and safe recovery.”Ford is scheduled to have a press conference at 12 p.m.

The issue of long wait times for coronavirus tests was raised with Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday. As Caryn Lieberman reports, one woman’s seven-hour wait is what prompted it.

During a briefing in Hunstville, Ont., Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Wednesday expanded saliva testing for COVID-19 at three hospitals in the province. This method of testing is less invasive, and is easier for children than the traditional nasal swab.