Toronto, Peel Region enter lockdown phase of Ontario’s COVID-19 pandemic plan

Super Bowl this weekend. The DHS said in a bulletin sent to local and state law enforcement agencies that it has received reports that truckers are planning to "potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities" in a protest against vaccine mandates and other issues. DHS said the convoy could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend, possibly disrupting traffic around the Super Bowl, and reach Washington in March in time for the State of the Union, according to a copy of Tuesday’s bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. It said that the protest could be disruptive and tie up traffic but that there have been no calls for violence. Meanwhile, the truck blockade by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is tightening the screws on the auto industry, forcing Ford, General Motors and other car companies to shut down plants or otherwise reduce production on both sides of the U.S.

Middlesex-London Health Unit said Thursday that anyone who visits any of its vaccine clinics will be able to choose between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.However, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada for children aged five to 11 years old. COVID-19 vaccine and booster tracker: How many Canadians are vaccinated? The MLHU’s decision impacts all of the health unit’s mass vaccination clinics, as well as the pop-up vaccination clinics hosted by the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service and the Community Hub COVID-19 vaccination clinics in schools.Since late December, the MLHU had been prioritizing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people age 29 and under and providing the Moderna vaccine to clients 30 and over, citing limited supply of the Pfizer vaccine.The health unit is hoping the ability to choose will help increase vaccine availability and uptake, noting that only 51.9 per cent of eligible residents aged 18 and older had received a third dose as of Jan.

PHILADELPHIA - Investigators with the Philadelphia Police Department are offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in a homicide from January. According to police, the department is working to identify the people responsible for the death of an 18-year-old woman on Jan. 13, 2022.

CULPEPER, Va. - President Joe Biden on Thursday touted how his "Build Back Better" policies would limit the cost of prescription drugs and make life more affordable for U.S. families during an appearance in Virginia.Biden’s visit to the town of Culpeper, Virginia, came on the heels of the release of the U.S.

Boris Johnson ending Covid isolation rules is a "distraction" from the PM's lockdown party scandal, said Professor Devi Sridhar who is a member of the Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group.

2022 Academy Awards are just over a month away and while the night is sure to be unforgettable with surprises and snubs, one thing will not be in the cards: covid-19 vaccinations.Hollywood’s biggest night won’t require COVID-19 vaccinations proof for anyone attending the event.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is only asking for attendees to show a negative PCR test or a negative rapid antigen test on the day of the ceremony. Nominees, presenters and stars will gather on March 27 at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater to celebrate the best and brightest in film.This year’s SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards, on the other hand, will both require vaccinations.A rep for the SAG Awards (to be held on Feb.

The Queen is being monitored despite not showing any COVID-19 symptoms after her son Prince Charles contracted the virus for a second time Thursday.

Middlesex-London Health Unit reported seven deaths and 115 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, compared with three deaths and 189 cases last Thursday.The deaths involved three men and four women ranging in age from their 60s to 90s. Three were associated with long-term care.LHSC, meanwhile, is caring for 91 inpatients with COVID-19, 22 of whom are in adult critical care.As noted, LHSC is caring for 91 COVID-19 inpatients, with 22 inpatients in adult critical care.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - Delaware State Police is investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that took place on Wednesday evening. According to police, the incident happened near Frenchtown Road in the area of Quigley Boulevard around 5:58 p.m. A 21-year-old woman, who has not yet been identified, was walking on the right shoulder of eastbound Rt. 273.

DARBY TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Briarcliffe Fire Company has been shut down for at least the next 30 days as Delaware County officials investigate the alleged use of racial slurs on a recent virtual meeting. The fire company, located in Darby Township will not be receiving fire calls during the suspension. The suspension comes after a Jan. 27 virtual meeting between township fire companies and commissioners about a potential consolidation. According to a letter from the Goodwill Fire Company obtained by FOX 29, following the end of the meeting, a group of people remained on the call. The letter says there was then a group of people that could be heard discussing the meeting using foul language, and identifies those involved in the conversation as members of the Briarcliffe Fire Company. The conversation, which lasted an hour and 45 minutes, allegedly included racial slurs when discussing members of other fire companies and township residents.One of the Briarcliffe Fire Company members was also accused of making a joke about, Fanta Bility, a young girl who was killed in a shooting in Sharon Hill last fall.Derogatory and otherwise offensive comments were also allegedly made about other township officials.Township officials say the incident is under investigation, and that a criminal referral is expected to be made to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. MORE HEADLINES:In their letter, the Goodwill Fire Company Board of directors expressed their concern for the fire companies and safety of the community. "This is not appropriate and does not belong in the township," the letter read. Darby Township officials are scheduled to speak on the issue at 2 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly agreed to a trade that would send Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for James Harden. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that backup center Andre Drummond will also be heading to Brooklyn as part of the deal, and the 76ers will receive Paul Millsap as part of the deal. Wojnarowski reports that the picks Philadelphia is sending to Brooklyn include an unprotected 2022 first-round pick and a protected 2027 first-round pick.Harden and Simmons have dominated trade deadline headlines in recent weeks as the disgruntled Simmons had yet to suit up for the 76ers this season. Meanwhile the Nets were caught up in the rumor mill as they faced a risk of potentially losing Harden to free agency after the season and losing him for nothing. With Thursday's trade, the Sixers pick up a former league MVP in Harden to pair with MVP candidate Joel Embiid.

Stormont's Minister for Health has said he needs to talk to other ministers before decisions can be taken about further relaxation of Northern Ireland's Covid-19 restrictions.

trucker convoy in Ottawa are spilling over onto new fronts Thursday, with police reporting “a concerted effort to flood” 911 lines, protesters mobilizing at the local airport and hackers taking aim at city council.Earlier in the day, city officials had warned of traffic disruptions at the city’s international airport as the trucker convoy encamped across the city enters its 14th day, and some members appeared to be encircling the airport.That now appears to have ended, but it remains unclear whether the group will move to a different site or return to the airport.Ottawa police had told Global News they are “aware” of the convoy’s presence at the airport and shortly after, issued a tweet warning of attempts to target emergency lines.“We are aware of a concerted effort to flood our 911 and non-emergency policing reporting line. This endangers lives and is completely unacceptable,” the police service said.“It is a crime to unnecessarily call 911 or our non-emergency number (613-236-1222).

Beth Potter, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Dr. Dominik Mertz, division director of infectious diseases at McMaster University, and Dr.

New rules on international travel in Scotland will come into effect from tomorrow as the country continues to emerge from the worst of the Omicron Covid wave.

Queen Elizabeth II met with Prince Charles before he tested positive for COVID-19 and is now being closely monitored, a royal source tells ET. On Thursday, Clarence House announced that Charles — who is vaccinated and boosted — tested positive for COVID-19 that morning and is now self-isolating. Our source tells ET that 95-year-old Elizabeth and 73-year-old Charles met on Tuesday after she returned from Sandringham.

An extraordinary report from the province’s auditor general on the Ontario government’s COVID-19 response led to an extraordinary news conference with Premier Doug Ford taking aim at Bonnie Lysyk’s work. Travis Dhanraj reports.

Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk has released a scathing report into the province’s pandemic response. Mike Drolet explains Lysyk’s findings, and how Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott are pushing back.

COVID-19 rapid tests, with the new tools already being used in some hospitals and long-term care homes.Premier Doug Ford says rapid tests, which can produce results in minutes rather than days, have been sent to 36 long-term care homes and 27 retirement homes, as well as some hospitals.He says the province will continue to deploy the 98,000 ID Now tests and 1.2 million Panbio tests it has received from the federal government in the coming weeks.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he wishes Adamson BBQ in Etobicoke, Ont. to follow public health rules after bylaw officers didn’t ticket people dining in the restaurant in Peel region which is under lockdown.

Doug Ford‘s assurance that when the COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed, life will get back to normal is, in fact, not the least bit reassuring to those of us who are dealing with the virus and the collateral damage that the virus is causing in our communities.Conventional wisdom suggests that, even with the latest good news about vaccine development, it will still be sometime next summer before any vaccine will be available to most of us.The premier can hire whomever he wants to oversee the distribution of vaccines, but that distribution will be totally dependent on how many doses are available and when they’ll be available and the province will have little control over that.

coronavirus pandemic around eight months ago, more than 2,200 long-term care residents in Ontario have died from COVID-19.Long-term care deaths account for nearly two-thirds of all COVID-19-related deaths in the province.Out of the province’s 626 long-term care facilities, the virus crept into over half of them, causing outbreaks in more than 400.It’s clear that the homes have been among the hardest-hit areas in Ontario during the pandemic, both in the first and second waves.

Premier Doug Ford has enlisted the help of a retired Canadian military general to help his government plan the logistics involved in distributing millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021, he has appointed Canada’s former Canadian Forces chief of defence staff to lead the province’s vaccination effort.“When those doses are ready, we have to be ready as well,” Ford said.“The easy part of this is to cut a cheque and order the vaccines … the toughest thing for all provinces is logistics and distribution.”In Ford’s daily update on Monday, he announced the task force will advise the province’s development and implementation of an immunization program, including the “ethical, timely and effective distribution” of the COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that Gen.

COVID-19 hot spots rushed out into a snowstorm to tackle Christmas shopping, stock up on supplies or squeeze in last-minute haircuts on Sunday as they prepared to hunker down for a lockdown meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.Their last-minute preparations came a day before Toronto and Peel Region were set to move into the grey classification of the province’s pandemic response framework, a move announced by Premier Doug Ford on Friday.The shift to “lockdown” means all but essential retailers will be forced to limit their services or close their doors entirely due to case numbers that have stayed well over 1,000 a day for several weeks.But those numbers didn’t scare off shoppers at Toronto’s Eaton Centre.

coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Sunday:Sunday marks the last day before Toronto and Peel Region enter lockdown.Premier Doug Ford has urged people not to panic buy, but even Saturday, there were lineups outside stores.Some malls have extended their hours this weekend to try to reduce the number of people inside during peak times.Starting Monday non-essential retailers in Toronto and Peel will be limited to curbside pickup, while indoor dining will be banned, and salons and gyms will shutter.

COVID-19 cases continue to surge.Retailer Indigo Books & Music Inc.

COVID-19 lockdown seems to have permanently affected how and whether any of the small businesses on Main and Queen streets do business. The scene was no different Friday afternoon before an announcement by Premier Doug Ford confirming Brampton small business owners’ worst fears: a 28-day, COVID-19-related lockdown.For Rob Rutledge, owner of the long-running Al’s Barbershop, it’s hard news to swallow.

Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa on Friday voiced her concern for the city’s rising number of COVID-19 cases following Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement that the city, along with Peel Region, would enter a lockdown starting next Monday.

Following Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement of Toronto and Peel Region entering a lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases on Friday, Toronto Mayor John Tory said without restrictions like these, the coronavirus could “spread like wildfire.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday that Toronto and Peel Region would move into lockdown amid the second wave of COVID-19, beginning Monday Nov. 23.

lockdown measures in the second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic will deal an especially hard blow to small and independent retailers, experts warn.On Friday, the government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced sweeping new restrictions to combat the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Toronto and Peel Region, including a temporary ban on in-store shopping for non-essential retailers. The closures will take effect on Monday, ahead of the Black Friday holiday shopping weekend.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti shares insight on the new restrictions for COVID-19 hotspots to be announced by Premier Doug Ford on November 20.

non-disclosure agreements that prohibit them from commenting on the recommendations or opinions they offer the government.That begs some obvious questions: why the secrecy, premier? Why are we, the people who are living this pandemic nightmare, not privy to the expert advice of these health care experts?Instead, that advice is presented to us through a political filter. Yet this shouldn’t be a political or partisan issue.

COVID-19 in hot spot regions.Premier Doug Ford said earlier this week that the restrictions will affect Toronto, Peel, and York Region where virus cases have been increasing in recent weeks.Ford says the province must make the move to protect hospital capacity and residents of long-term care homes.Ontario’s chief medical officer of health has made recommendations to Ford’s cabinet which is expected to make a decision this morning ahead of the afternoon announcement. Coronavirus: Ontario to discuss new restrictions for Toronto, Peel and York The province’s associate medical officer of health said Thursday that 80 per cent of the new cases in Ontario are from the hot spot regions which are currently in the red restriction zone.Dr.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Thursday that the province is launching another series of workplace health, safety, education and enforcement campaigns, and will be deploying 200 provincial offence officers from across several ministries to visit businesses in COVID-19 hotspots.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Thursday that the additional COVID-19 public health restrictions being released Friday “will have to be tough in the hardest hit areas,” adding the province is seeing “concerning trends” amid the pandemic.

COVID-19 patients in its intensive care units.Earlier this month, medical experts advising the government noted that the figure would mark a point where Ontario hospitals have to begin cancelling surgeries. Ontario reports 1,210 new coronavirus cases, 28 more deaths The CEO of the hospital association says all regions are reporting increased admissions.[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]Premier Doug Ford said yesterday that further restrictions are coming in virus hot spots because hospitals are reaching capacity.

In response to Premier Doug Ford’s talk of another potential lockdown in Toronto, Mayor John Tory says he believes the province is best suited to implement any new restrictions so that the public doesn’t get confused by multiple messages by the different levels of government.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to questions Wednesday about Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s statement that winter break for students will not be extended amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the safest place for students is within the schools.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Wednesday the province would deliver rapid COVID-19 tests to “areas with greatest need” including virus “hotspots” and long-term care homes, as well as sending them to northern and remote areas “where testing turnaround times are a challenge.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Wednesday that the province would be investing to support 13 additional Ontario Health Teams across the province, bringing the total to 42.

covidiots” who refuse to believe the pandemic exists.We’re in a medical crisis. We don’t need feel-good, positive messaging, we need the truth.Bill Kelly is the host of the Bill Kelly Show on Global News Radio 900 CHML.​