Schools told normal routines can resume from Monday

Jesse Espersen fills his SUV with 16.536 gallons of Super+ gas at 7.559 per gallon for a total of 125 dollars at a Mobil station in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The national average cost for a gallon of gasoline is likely to continue to fall in the coming weeks, though prices in California will remain elevated due to supply issues, according to an industry expert.As of Thursday, the national average is $4.289 a gallon, down from Wednesday's average of $4.305, according to AAA data.  Gas prices in Westchester are above six dollars as prices at the pump continue to raise across the Southland on Sunday, March 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA.

COVID-19 data as she has done throughout the pandemic.“With key indicators continuing to improve or remain stable and the majority of public health measures now lifted, today will be the last day I tweet the daily COVID-19 numbers,” Christine Elliott said Friday.She noted that updated data will still be available on the province’s website. Ontario COVID numbers: 615 people in hospital, 193 in intensive care Throughout the pandemic, Elliott would tweet the latest COVID-19 figures daily, providing an update on the epidemiological situation in the province.The province has shifted towards “living with and managing COVID-19,” a plan which includes lifting all public health measures by the end of April.On Monday, the mask mandate will lift for most public settings in the province.With key indicators continuing to improve or remain stable & the majority of public health measures now lifted, today will be the last day I tweet the daily #COVID19 numbers.There are no changes to available data.

Jean Charest says when it comes to lifting federal COVID-19 mandates, leaders should listen to health experts and not replace that advice with their own judgment.Federal Conservatives and their supporters have long been calling for the removal of vaccine mandates for domestic air travellers, public servants and those working in federally regulated industries.Tory MPs say rapid testing should be allowed for those who choose to be unvaccinated. They have dismissed the mandates, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before last summer’s federal election, as driving division in the country and threatening people’s livelihoods.Recently, Conservatives have pointed to provinces’ choices to drop their vaccine passport rules along with remaining health restrictions, following the Omicron-driven wave of the pandemic when infections soared.

FILE-A Dairy Queen employee displays an ice cream cone at a DQ restaurant in New York. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - With spring days away, Dairy Queen is giving customers a special treat with the return of their popular Free Cone Day giveaway.On Monday, March 21, customers can get a free, small vanilla ice cream cone at Dairy Queen locations nationwide — except locations inside malls. The free cones are limited to one per person while supplies last and may not be valid for delivery or mobile orders. RELATED: Dairy Queen giving away free ice cream on March 20Dairy Queen was among several companies in 2021 that changed or canceled their giveaway events based on the pandemic.

REDLANDS, Calif. - A Redlands youth soccer coach is behind bars after police found him with a 14-year-old girl in the back of his vehicle, officials said.Redlands police officers made contact with Jonathan Jeremy Ledesma during a vehicle check near Fairway Drive and Country Club Drive a little after 4 a.m. Thursday where he claimed that the victim was his girlfriend.While searching Ledesma's car and phone, officers located sexual text messages in between and "evidence of sex acts inside of the vehicle," according to a Redlands PD news release."Detectives interviewed the victim who disclosed that since she turned 14, she has had sex with Ledesma multiple times," the release says.Are you or someone you know a recent survivor of sexual assault? Help is available. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides a 24/7 national sexual assault hotline, which can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.The San Bernardino County judge has authorized a search warrant on the suspect’s vehicle, suspect’s phone, victim’s phone, suspect’s person and the victim’s person.

COVID-19 state of emergency on Monday, the rest of the municipalities in Waterloo Region intend to follow suit next week, although the region itself will not be lifting it.“The removal of the emergency declaration is a key milestone for the township, our residents and businesses as we continue forward in our journey to recovery from the pandemic,” North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton said.

COVID-19. Ontario lifts mask mandate in most settings March 21, all directives to drop by April 27 “As we continue on this path, we are able to take a more balanced and longer-term approach to the province’s pandemic response, including in Ontario schools, by removing many of the measures that have been put in place over the past two years.,” the letter reads.“This does not mean COVID-19 has disappeared.”The MOH says students and staff should continue to self-screen while it also has plans to update the screening tool.It also says it will continue to provide masks for both students and teachers should they wish to continue wearing them while those who are more at risk should be made aware of new anti-viral options.The letter also notes that good hygiene should be promoted and that there are increased cleaning measures in place.The letter from the province describes its prevention and response measures as being “robust”.“There remain circumstances where masking is recommended or required, and it will be important to foster an environment that is kind considerate and inclusive for those who choose to continue to wear a mask,” the letter reads.

small asteroid struck the Earth’s atmosphere above Iceland last Friday, just two hours after it was spotted by an astronomer.On March 11, Hungarian astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky, from the Piszkéstető Observatory near Budapest, spotted a small asteroid headed toward our planet.Closer and closer, faster and faster. The impacted asteroid 2022 EB5 on 1 sec images taken at Piszkéstető Observatory with the 0.60m Schmidt telescope on Mar 11, 20:44, 20:50, 20:55, 21:05 and 21:11 UT (T-38, 32, 27, 17 and 11 min).

A 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is on display at a Volkswagen event in Los Angeles, California. (Erik Voake/Getty Images for Volkswagen) DETROIT - Volkswagen is recalling more than 246,000 SUVs in the U.S.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Florida bridge tender has been arrested for manslaughter, one month after a 79-year-old woman fell to her death from a drawbridge that began rising while she was still walking on it.West Palm Beach Police said they arrested 43-year-old Artissua Lafay Paulk at her home Thursday afternoon with the assistance of US Marshals, after obtaining an arrest warrant two days earlier, which said surveillance video and deleted text messages between Paulk and her supervisor showed she lied in her statement to police.Paulk's arrest stems from the Feb. 6 incident, where 79-year-old grandmother Carol Wright fell to her death from the Royal Park Bridge.Wright was not identified by authorities due to Marsy's Law, but her identity was released by Attorney Lance Ivey, who represents Wright's family, WPTV reports.RELATED: Florida drawbridge death: 79-year-old victim's family attorney says bridge tender was 'negligent'According to Ivey, Wright had taken her bicycle for a ride to a book shop in Palm Beach and was returning home when she began crossing the bridge."She legally and lawfully gets on the bridge.

NEW DELHI :

COVID-19 as hospital numbers continued to fall Friday.There was a total of 1,021 pandemic-related hospitalizations, a decrease of 13. This comes after 76 patients were admitted in the past day, while 89 were discharged.There were 45 intensive care unit cases, a drop of five.The province added 1,170 new novel coronavirus cases, though health authorities say the daily tally doesn’t represent the current situation since access to government-run screening sites remains limited.

Scientists have sounded the alarm on Long Covid's impact on concentration and memory.

COVID on Friday, with 193 in intensive care units, as figures continue to trend downward.This is down by 29 for hospitalizations and a decrease of six in ICUs since the previous day. Last Friday, there were 717 hospitalizations with 238 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 615 people in hospital with COVID-19, 44.5 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 55.5 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.Of the 193 people in ICUs with the virus, 79 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while 21 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

Photo shows the condition of the coral on the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland. - The Great Barrier Reef has been hit with "widespread" bleaching.

GENEVA :

COVID-19 health restrictions lifting, many Canadians are finally able to envision a return to normal life. But, as they face burnout, staff shortages and daunting procedural backlogs, some health workers say it isn’t so easy to move on.

After nearly a month of decline, COVID-19 infections around the world have started to creep up again. New cases have shot up by eight per cent globally compared to the previous week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, experts are not sure Canada will see another wave even with loosened public health measures.

Coronavirus infections have continued to increase in England, Wales and Scotland, though the trend is “uncertain” in Northern Ireland, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In England, around one in 20 people in private households are estimated to have had the virus in the week to March 12, or 2.7 million people – up from one in 25, or 2.1 million people, in the week to March 5.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping are set to speak on Friday as the White House warns Beijing that providing military or economic assistance for Russia's invasion of Ukraine will trigger severe consequences from Washington and beyond.Planning for the call has been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November, but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin's prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine are expected to be at the center of the call.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijing's "rhetorical support" of Putin and an "absence of denunciation" of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine."This is an opportunity to assess where President Xi stands," Psaki said.China on Friday again sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine."China has called for every effort to avoid civilian casualties all the time," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing.

COLOMBO (News 1st); No conditions have been underlined for the USD 1 billion loan given by India, however, the amount will have to be paid back in installments after three years, said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.The President is acting on a very prudent and a long-term plan, says Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on repaying the country’s loans after his entourage returned from India this afternoon. The Finance Minister returned to the country after signing agreements for a US $ 1 billion financial assistance from India. In addition to this $ 1 billion, India has already provided a $ 400 million loan, a $ 500 million loan to purchase petroleum and another $ 500 million via the Asian Clearing Union.Accordingly, the value of loans and relief facilities provided by India to overcome the current economic crisis is about US $ 2.4 billion in total. The Minister of Finance, speaking to media stated that Sri Lanka’s neighbor India has proven that it stands by Sri Lanka with this action, especially with Prime Minister Modi mentioning that all the support that Sri Lanka needs is being provided directly, both economically and socially.The Finance Minister said that Prime Minister Modi has learned of the organic farming and the interest shown by the President with regard to it, and although a shortage of nano fertilizer exists in India, they agreed to provide Sri Lanka with the required quantity.Rajapaksa also stated that India gave Sri Lanka a loan of US $ 1 billion to purchase food and other necessities for the people, especially for the upcoming Sinhala Tanil New Year, and the relevant loan has been in operation since yesterday (17).I urge all business communities to make it very transparent, giving priority to things which

Tom Parker beamed with joy after his bandmates shared some positive news with fans on the final night of their Greatest Hits tour.It comes as the five-piece group celebrated their chart-topping career on a nationwide tour, despite Tom's devastating inoperable brain tumour diagnosis in October 2020.The group consisting of Max George, 33, Tom, 33, Nathan Sykes, 28, Siva Kaneswaren, 33, and Jay McGuiness, 31, took to the stage performing hits including All Time Low and Walks Like Rihanna, much to the delight of fans.Despite his ongoing health struggles, Tom made the decision to join his pals for their closing numbers, Glad You Came and Gold Forever.A source told us: "Max told fans that this wouldn't be the last we would see of The Wanted, the group were really positive about their future and seemed optimistic about it."They performed as a four-piece until the final two songs when Tom appeared, sitting on a throne wearing sunglasses, a wardrobe change that his bandmates also joined in with."They added: "Despite his condition, he was in such high spirits and seemed overjoyed to be on stage but became rather emotional which is totally understandable."When Max was telling fans this isn't the last, Siva piped up adding that the heart vacancy girls might be the last of the tour but there'll be many more to come."This was echoed by Jay who told fans they need to "keep their eyes peeled" for future news, who later confirmed this on social media. Performing to a packed crowd at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena, the group went one step further and brought out EastEnders actress, Maisie Smith, as Max's heart vacancy girl.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Russian forces struck Ukrainian cities from a distance again on Friday, hitting sites in the capital Kyiv and the country’s west as their ground offensive inched forward under fierce Ukrainian resistance.The war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin ground into its fourth week as his troops have failed to take Kyiv — a major objective in their hopes of forcing a settlement or dictating the country’s future political alignments.Missiles and shelling struck the edges of Kyiv as well as Lviv, close to Ukraine’s western border with NATO countries such as Poland.LVIV, UKRAINE - MARCH 18: Smoke is seen above buildings close to the airport on March 18, 2022, in Lviv, Ukraine. (Photo by Getty Images) Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nighttime video address to the nation that he is thankful to U.S.

Joshua Macias PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia prosecutors are again asking a judge to jail a Virginia man arrested in November 2020 on weapons charges after he traveled to the Pennsylvania Convention Center where votes were being counted.The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on Wednesday filed a motion asking a judge to revoke the $850,000 bail of Joshua Macias, saying he violated the conditions of his bail by attending political events and posting on social media.A hearing is scheduled for next week on the motion. It centers on complaints that Macias allegedly can be heard narrating a live video from behind the camera during a recent "trucker protest" in Washington and that he attended at least one political rally for a Virginia candidate who has called for the execution of everyone involved in President Joe Biden’s election.William J.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Final Term Examinations of schools in the Western Province are to be delayed, announced the Director of Education for the Western Province.This is due to a shortage in sourcing paper and other material to prepare the examination papers.Due to the shortage of paper and other material, the final term examination timetable for Grades 6, 7, and 8 will be amended, and the final term examinations for Grades 4, 9, 10, and 11 will be moved to a date after the April 2022 holidays.

FILE IMAGES - (L) Pete Davidson attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on Sept. 13, 2021, in New York City.

UN News, “So, the idea that ‘we are through with it’ in the northern hemisphere and now we have to wait until next winter, I think (for example) when we look at increasing rates in the UK, we need to be very vigilant and cautious with this."

FILE IMAGE - American Airlines planes parked at their gates in the Miami International Airport on Dec. 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A massive Republican primary field for governor in Pennsylvania is spurring growing discomfort among party leaders that a widely splintered primary vote could produce a winner who cannot beat Democrat Josh Shapiro in November's general election.Ten Republicans filed paperwork Tuesday to get on the May 17 primary ballot. That is more than party leaders expected or have ever seen in a such a high-profile primary contest.It prompted grumbling over the state party's decision not to endorse in a gubernatorial primary — to try to winnow the field — for the first time since 1978.It has also propelled party leaders to begin working on a strategy to persuade some candidates who are perceived as weaker to drop out.

TV presenter Zoe Ball has revealed she’s been forced to pull out of tonight’s Comic Relief after testing positive for Covid-19.The 51 year old radio DJ took to Instagram to announce the sad news, as she shared that Alesha Dixon would be standing in for her on the big night. Alongside a snap of a positive test, former Strictly It Takes Two host Zoe wrote: “pook ! fell at last hurdle and have had positive lat flows this am- noooooooo.” She continued to her 600,000 followers: “Gorgeous @aleshaofficial is going to work the double shift tonight on @ComicRelief, i owe you lady love.” Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter The mum of two then gave a special shout out to the rest of the Comic Relief team who will be entertaining viewers.

All travel rules have been axed in Scotland and across the UK in a major moment for the travel industry.

Families who lost loved ones in Dealgan House nursing home in Dundalk, Co Louth say they are still looking for answers, almost two years on from a devastating Covid-19 outbreak.

LANGHORNE, Pa. - A man is facing charges after authorities said he choked a paramedic when he was asked to wear a mask at a Bucks County hospital. Officers from the Fall Township Police Department on Monday responded to Jefferson Bucks Hospital for reports of a man who assaulted a paramedic. According to police, the paramedic told police 42-year-old Jeffrey Choi grabbed his neck when he was told to put on a mask. Another paramedic and hospital staff restrained Choi until officers arrived, police said. Choi has been charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.

Police are urging Scots to be vigilant following a Covid-19 text scam that is currently doing the rounds.

Covid cases, the Jharkhand government today lifted most of the restrictions on markets, schools, parks, and restaurants. Banna Gupta, Jharkhand Health Minister in Ranchi, said that the government has decided to remove restrictions on offline classes in schools of 7 districts. 

The latest as of 12:20 a.m. ET Friday:

Ontario’s mask mandate will likely be lifted in schools when it is removed for most public spaces, the province’s top doctor says.Dr. Kieran Moore made the comment during his weekly COVID-19 update Thursday, but noted that masking requirements will remain in place “for the time being.”“Making does remain an important tool in our tool box and even when it’s no longer required in public settings, it will continue to be an effective tool for reducing transmission and protecting those recovering from illness, their close contacts, and those who may be more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection,” Moore said.“Some in our communities may also choose to continue wearing them regularly and we need to be respectful of individual choices once masking is no longer required.” Ontario mask mandate will likely be reviewed in March, top doctor says Moore was asked by a reporter whether all masking requirements would be removed at the same time, or if it would be phased and if so, where schools stood on that list.“The consultations have started and we will be working with school boards, with parents, with the ministries and make a decision together,” he said.

PONTIAC, Mich. - New details about the mental state of Ethan Crumbley, the alleged Oxford High School shooter, were revealed in troubling text messages read during the ongoing preliminary hearing for his parents, who are also facing involuntary manslaughter charges.His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter days after their son was arrested in the Nov. 30 shooting — which left four students dead and seven others seriously hurt.The second day of a preliminary exam on Thursday kicked off with testimony about the thousands of text messages sent between Ethan Crumbley, now 15, and a friend prior to the mass shooting.In an exchange on April 5, 2021, prosecutors described "quite a bit" of discussion about his mental state in which Ethan Crumbley told his friend he was "f----- up," experiencing hallucinations, and had asked his parents for help."Now my mom thinks I take drugs," one text read, according to the prosecutor.

Alberta Teachers’ Association says he is cautiously optimistic after seeing COVID-19 cases go down in classrooms a little over a week after the province lifted a mask mandate in schools.But Jason Schilling says a major lesson he learned about the pandemic is that some waves have worsened after a brief downward trend so the association will continue paying close attention to case numbers. Reality check on Alberta politicians’ statements on schools, COVID-19 transmission and vaccines Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said on Twitter that none of the more than 2,500 schools in Alberta are currently shifted to temporary at-home learning to address operational challenges brought on by the virus.I am pleased to confirm what the Chief Officer of Health reported yesterday.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said Wednesday that the province should look at easing masking requirements in schools. Brown highlighted a recent decision by Quebec officials to lift masking requirements in that province’s classrooms starting on March 7.

Ontario should “strongly” look at easing masking requirements in schools, Brampton’s mayor said Wednesday.During his weekly COVID-19 update, Patrick Brown highlighted Quebec’s recent announcement that masking requirements in that province’s classrooms would be lifted starting on March 7.Quebec students will still be required to wear masks in common areas and on school buses. Quebec to lift classroom mask requirements for COVID-19 after March break “I’m very encouraged that the Quebec public health is going (in) this direction,” Brown said.“I think it’s appropriate to get children back to normal where they can learn in an environment that is easier and more comfortable….

PHILADELPHIA - As more states continue to drop mask mandates amid a steady decline in COVID-19 cases, schools are also deciding if students and teachers can ditch the mask to bring normalcy back to the classroom. Garnett Valley School District became the latest local district to make masks optional for students and faculty members effective immediately. Radnor Township School District is also expected to make masks optional after officials heard over 3 hours of public comment on Tuesday mostly in favor of dropping the requirement."I’m ready to take it off because I’m ready to see people's faces again and I think they’ll make personal connections more meaningful again," said Jordan Paszamant, a 12th grader at Friends Central. According to Johns Hopkins University data over the weekend, total confirmed cases of COVID-19 barley exceeded 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 five weeks ago on Jan. 16.COVID-19 hospitalizations are down from a national seven-day average of 146,534 on Jan.

COVID on Tuesday, with 319 in intensive care units.  On Family Day Monday, there were 1,064 people reported to be in hospital with COVID, with 320 in ICUs.Due to the holiday weekend, figures were not released on Family Day and two sets of data were released on Tuesday for both days.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.Although the data wasn’t updated on Tuesday, last week showed for hospitalizations roughly 50 per cent were admitted because of the virus, while 50 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19. For ICUs, 80 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while 20 per cent were admitted for other reasons.Meanwhile, Ontario also reported 1,282 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and 1,335 on Monday, though these are an underestimate of the true widespread transmission of the virus due to recent testing restrictions.

Ontario says it is providing more stand-alone HEPA filter units for schools and child-care centres to offer more children greater protection against COVID-19.A Monday statement says up to 40,000 more air purifiers will be made available to school boards and up to 9,000 will go to child-care settings.Education Minister Stephen Lecce says ventilation improvements are a critical priority, after the government previously announced that it would provide 73,000 of the filters and other ventilation devices.