Author: Scott

Joe Biden is calling it a great day for America. The US president says the Centers for Disease Control’s move to clear fully vaccinated Americans from having to wear a mask outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings is a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life. States can still implement their own rules based on the new CDC … Read more

Premier Doug Ford says the stay-at-home order imposed in early April is being extended until June 2nd in an effort to, in his words, “save the summer“. Ford says it’s necessary to keep thousands of businesses and public schools closed to bring down COVID-19 cases while the province ramps up vaccinations. He says the ban on outdoor recreational … Read more

Preliminary results of an ongoing study in the United Kingdom suggest alternating the COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech causes mild to moderate symptoms to happen more often. They haven’t yet determined how a combination of shots would affect the immune system’s response compared with using the same vaccine for both the prime and booster shots. Chief investigator Matthew Snape… Read more

A quarter-million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are expected in Ontario next week. The province says they will be used to provide second shots to those who’ve already had one, although the timing of that is to be determined. Ontario has decided against giving more AstraZeneca first doses due to a small risk of a rare blood-clotting syndrome. The … Read more

Ontario will stop giving out first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine due to concerns over blood clots. The province’s chief medical health officer says the decision was made out of an abundance of caution. Dr. David Williams says AstraZeneca recipients made the right decision to get the vaccine, based on the advice available at the time. Three women have died … Read more

Canada has hit a major milestone on the road to COVID-19 herd immunity, with 40 per cent of Canadians — 15.2 million people — now vaccinated with at least their first dose. With millions of Pfizer and Moderna shots coming in the weeks ahead, Canada should be able to get to 50 per cent by the Victoria Day weekend and … Read more

Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table says outdoor activities such as golf, tennis and beach volleyball could safely resume even if the province extends a stay-at-home order set to expire on May 20th. Scientific director Dr. Peter Juni says those activities are low risk. But Juni says public health officials must address activities linked with the sports that pose a greater … Read more

Starting today, everyone who is 12 years of age or older can pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Waterloo Region. Pre-registration is expanding locally as the Province announces a stable and reliable vaccine supply in Ontario.

Health Canada recently approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 12-15 years of age. Individuals who are 12-17 years old will receive the Pfizer … Read more

Ontario residents who got a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will likely receive a different shot for their second dose. Health Minister Christine Elliott says the province will likely mix and match COVID-19 vaccine doses in light of uncertain future supply of all vaccines approved for use in Canada. It’s unclear when more Oxford-AstraZeneca shots will arrive but Ontario … Read more

Toronto’s board of health is calling on the province to reopen outdoor recreational amenities that were shut when the current stay-at-home order went into effect. Board Chairman Joe Cressy says people need ways to get outside and enjoy the outdoors safely. The province shut outdoor recreational facilities — except playgrounds — last month, saying the measure is meant to discourage … Read more

Ontario’s top doctor says he would like the province to get well below 1,000 daily cases of COVID-19 before current restrictions lift. Dr. David Williams says the province is bending the COVID-19 pandemic curve, but the numbers are not low enough to lift the current stay-at-home order. Ontario has been under a stay-at-home under since early April, when the government … Read more

New projections suggest it will take Ontario roughly three and a half years to clear the surgical backlog caused by COVID-19. That estimate comes from the Financial Accountability Office, one of the province’s fiscal watchdogs. It says the backlog of cancelled surgeries will reach 419,200 procedures by the end of September. The watchdog says its projections on clearing the backlog … Read more

Ontario’s vaccine eligibility is set to expand yet again this week. The province is due to lower the minimum age for vaccine eligibility to 40 in the coming days. It’s also opening up appointments for people with at-risk health conditions, such as heart disease and dementia. It’s not yet clear which day the changes will come into effect.

Vaccine Eligibility … Read more

Groups representing thousands of health-care workers say their members need to be prioritized for full immunization from COVID-19 as they work with patients hospitalized with the virus. The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and Service Employees International Union say they have asked the province to accelerate second doses for the workers. Health-care workers were amongst … Read more

Teachers’ unions, parents and advocacy groups say they fear the Ontario government is considering a move to a permanent online learning stream. The groups raised the alarm after Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced on Tuesday that students would be offered an option to learn online in the next school year. He also said the province has committed to consulting on … Read more

Health Canada’s chief medical adviser says a trial in the US shows the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is both safe and effective for kids 12 and older. Dr. Supriya Sharma says Health Canada’s approval of the shot for children in that age group will support a return to a more normal life for young people who have suffered during the pandemic. Alberta … Read more

On the same day Alberta tightened restrictions to try to stem its record-setting COVID-19 infection rate, the province is reporting its first death related to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, confirmed an Alberta woman in her 50s died from a rare vaccine-induced, blood-clotting disorder after receiving the AZ shot. Hinshaw says it is … Read more

Outdoor activities like golf and tennis will remain banned in Ontario until COVID-19 case numbers go down. Ontario’s Minister of Health and its Minister of Sport both addressed the issue yesterday, with each saying … Read more

Ontario is loosening some pandemic rules in long-term care homes now that almost all residents are fully vaccinated. The changes mean homes and resume communal dining, indoor events and gathering. Residents and caregivers who are fully immunized are also allowed to have physical contact like hugging. The province says direction on social outings for residents will come once the current … Read more

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says the Johnson and Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. But it says it should be limited to people over the age of 30 who don’t want to wait for Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. NACI vice-chair Dr. Shelley Deeks says like AstraZeneca, the J&J vaccine has the potential risk of causing a rare … Read more