Swiss voters have narrowly approved a proposal to ban face coverings in public spaces. The measure comes just over a decade after citizens voted to ban the construction of minarets, the tower-like structures on mosques that are often used to call Muslims to prayer.
The referenda reflect the determination of a majority of Swiss voters to preserve Swiss traditions and values in the face of runaway multiculturalism and the encroachment of political Islam.
Switzerland now joins Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden, all of which currently have full or partial bans on religious and non-religious face coverings.
More than 55 Democratic state legislators called Thursday for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign — and the Assembly speaker said he would hold a meeting later in the day “on potential paths forward.”
The statement from Cuomo’s fellow Democrats cited both the spiraling sexual harassment allegations against him and the cover-up of the total nursing home death toll and said that “he has lost the confidence of the public and the state legislature, rendering him ineffective in this time of most urgent need.”
Cuomo accuser says he ‘reached under her blouse & groped her’ in most damning sexual harassment claim yet
In what appears to be the most far-reaching and detailed accusation of sexual harassment facing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, an aide said he groped her at the governor’s mansion.
Denmark, Norway and Iceland have said they are temporarily suspending inoculations with the AstraZeneca vaccine as a precautionary measure, after blood clots formed in several people who had received the jab.
Italy’s national medicines authority also said it was banning the use of one batch of the AstraZeneca shot after being notified of “some serious adverse effects”, but stressed the move was precautionary and no link had yet been established with the vaccine.
This is the same crap Ontario is rolling out via pharmacies. I qualify in the age group targeted but have a lot of doubt about the Astra Zeneca jab. Something does not seem right.
Significant number of Ontario PSWs refuse their COVID vaccine
It looks like Premier Doug Ford let the cat out of the bag when it comes to some health-care workers refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine offered to them.
Earlier this week, the Ontario Ministry of Health responded to a question from this newspaper by saying that they don’t track health-care workers who take, or don’t take, the COVID vaccine they are offered.
Turns out that’s not true and the government does have some detailed numbers.
Conservative commentator Candace Owens tore into “narcissist” Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, following reports that she had made a formal complaint to ITV after comments Piers Morgan made about her mental health.
During a Wednesday appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Owens claimed Morgan “was all of us when he was dressing down Meghan Markle and calling her out on the blatant lies that she’s told.”
Prince William defends royal family against Meghan Markle’s racism claims
Prince William broke his silence Thursday about brother Harry’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview — insisting the royals are “very much not a racist family.”
A government computer specialist fired after an alleged $11 million COVID-19 fraud is suing the province for wrongful dismissal and seeking more than $5 million in damages, the Star has learned.
Shalini Madan was sacked Nov. 23 from her $132,513-a-year management job after her husband, Sanjay Madan, who also worked at Queen’s Park, was terminated in the wake of the alleged embezzlement of pandemic relief payments.
Ontario is reporting 1,092 cases of #COVID19 and over 60,600 tests completed. Locally, there are 293 new cases in Toronto, 199 in Peel and 79 in York Region.
As of 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 1,019,407 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
Canada to mark national day of observance to commemorate those who died of COVID-19
OTTAWA – Canada will mark the one-year anniversary today of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Earlier this week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is to deliver a statement in the House of Commons this morning, designated March 11 a national day of observance to commemorate those who have died.
The government has asked Canadians to think about those whose lives were claimed by the novel coronavirus, as well as the health-care and other essential workers who have been on the front lines.
Ontario is reporting 1,316 cases of #COVID19 and over 54,100 tests completed. Locally, there are 428 new cases in Toronto, 244 in Peel and 149 in York Region.
As of 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 978,797 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
Coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 between 30 to 100 per cent more deadly than previous strains: major UK study
LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) — A highly infectious variant of COVID-19 that has spread around the world since it was first discovered in Britain late last year is between 30% and 100% more deadly than previous strains, researchers said on Wednesday.
In a study that compared death rates among people in Britain infected with the new SARS-CoV-2 variant, known as B.1.1.7, against those infected with other strains, scientists said the new variant had “significantly higher” mortality.
This is the strain that took Mom. I wonder if the hospitals rather than just long term care homes are being sued on behalf of patients who contracted the disease under their care?
Ontario is reporting 1,631 cases of #COVID19 and nearly 38,100 tests completed. Locally, there are 568 new cases in Toronto, 322 in Peel and 119 in York Region.
As of 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 912,486 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) March 8, 2021
Hajdu talks vaccine certificates as Tam looks to ‘optimism’ of inoculation rollout
As the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, Canada’s health minister says requiring a vaccine passport to travel internationally is a “very live” issue as more Canadians receive shots and countries consider loosening border restrictions.
“It’s being discussed around the world. I’m a member of the G7 health ministers, we meet every couple weeks. This has been on our agenda,” Patty Hajdu said Sunday
Mom was born on Calumet Island in the county of Pontiac in Quebec. A direct descendant of her Irish forebears who fled the Potato Famine.
A child of the Depression she married my Dad shortly after WW II. In 1964 we moved to Toronto, I was just turned 5.
She was a great fierce old school Mom who loved and stood behind her family through thick and thin all her life.
My niece is donating this urn for Mom. It is fitting that it is handmade locally in the Pontiac. But now I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands.
Mom has a spot with dad reserved for her. She left no specific instruction in her will but I did find a handwritten note on an old receipt for Dad’s burial expenses asking that her ashes be sprinkled off a bridge into a pond near to where Dad is buried. Mom just found it a peaceful spot and I know she did speak of this arrangement in life. But there may be a problem. It’s on a cemetery’s property and I do not believe sprinkling ashes is allowed anywhere except for a specifically designated area.
Knowing Mom she’d simply tell us to wait till no one is looking and fulfill her wishes. We may do that, so I won’t name the cemetery but I will see what the rest of the family says first. Mom was always ready to break the rules if she thought she was in the right.
Kathy’s arrangements were largely looked after in advance, thanks to her mother’s foresight and Kath’s own sense of duty and order and thankfully Mom’s are straightforward enough as well.
When Kathy passed away many of her friends and admirers wrote wonderful tributes and comments honouring her and true to form Kathy knocked it out of the park with her own obit. Mark Steyn has collected all of Kathy’s movie reviews and created a lovely archive.
It saved me a duty I simply wasn’t able to handle at the time, maybe not ever.
Two months have passed since she left us on the 9th of January. It’s still too soon. I owe her so much and my small skill is no match for what she deserves and frankly I am still overcome at times by her loss.
Covid restrictions have halted one of the sadder duties. Clothing donations. I sometimes think I will become a sort of Mr. Havisham. I have picked out a charity for Kathy’s belongings, one we often drove by. A haven for misguided women. It’s my call and I’m pretty sure Kath approves, our sense of humour meshed wonderfully. But they are not accepting anything until the plague restrictions end. On the bright side it does give me time to be sure of what to keep in her honour. An old pair of Converse high-tops will occupy a special place by our front door.
I am still occupied with settling other aspects of her estate. Our government is there to help which means exactly the opposite it seems. There is a perverse amount of paper work and even more perverse instruction. Why do they require up to 3 “final” tax returns?
Word to the wise, if possible make your arrangements early but even that won’t spare your loved ones the aftermath of government dealings.
I have many phone calls to make starting Monday as I deal with Mom’s passing so I will not be too active on the blog. Many thanks to my co-bloggers for keeping things going.
And many thanks to all of you for your understanding as I vent my grief.
I texted the pic above to my relatives yesterday. A simple cup of tea made for Mom, and the TV clicker resting on the arm of her Lazy-Boy, fave blankets at the ready, sofa table repurposed and stocked with her ointments and creams and her phone.
It ignited a slew of memorial tea making among the family as sons, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren joined in and brewed up a cup for Mom.
That was Mom’s command central these past years. When not napping or watching TV she kept in contact with her family and friends.
Mom was known for her bleach strength tea, her sweet tooth and her lack of filters. And look who forgot to set out the cookies. I added some later.
Mom passed away at Toronto Western after contracting the UK covid variant at Runnymede. She would not have been in either institution were it not for the malevolence and incompetence of St. Joe’s. Do not send your elderly there, it seems geriatric treatment means charnel house conditions throughout our healthcare system. No vaccine was ever offered her at any of the hospitals she was in despite her advanced age of 96 and underlying vulnerabilities and to be blunt not all healthcare staff are “heroes” unless ill-treatment of the elderly has been elevated as a qualifier for “Hero Status.”
I spent just under four hours at Mom’s bedside in the early AM before she passed away. I have been advised by her doctor to isolate for 2 weeks and to expect a call from public health to check up on my compliance. The Doc was genuine in her concern at my having spent so long (read too long by protocol) with Mom. I was pushy enough or staff were understanding enough when I explained Mom’s sad journey through our health care system that I was granted access and sorta maybe allowed to exceed the rules a bit. Mom would understand where I get that stubbornness from. Kathy would understand too. I will isolate but I don’t care if I “catch it.”
Yes a tough year, so what’s a little Covid gonna do?
Since Mom was a Covid death the funeral homes “charge” a little bit more. There will be no visitation or viewing of Mom’s body prior to cremation. I at least was afforded time alone with Kath. We will have family and friends services once the plague is over.
I know that my grief is no worse and no better than all those who have suffered the loss of loved ones at any time but especially during this wretched era when even our grieving is so brutally truncated.
Kathy’s loss is the worst of heartbreaks as is Mom’s passing, but looking out for Mom had the benefit of keeping me busy and out of trouble after Kath was taken from us. Now with Mom gone it will be just me and Buddy and of course the never ending paperwork demanded by our bureaucracy. So it is likely a good thing Buddy is so demanding of my time.
I was blessed to have Kath and Mom in my life and for that will never be anything but a fortunate man.
I take comfort in their memory and knowing they watch over me.
Join us in a cup of tea in honour of all our loved ones.
She contracted it at a hospital. One she should never have been in to begin with.
I found out only today she had the UK virus, apparently it is stalking our hospitals now.
I spent a few of her remaining hours by her bedside early this morning.
She passed not long after I left as it appeared her condition had stabilized and I needed rest. Loved ones passing on when their family isn’t there happens with some frequency according to the doctor, almost as if the timing were deliberate.
Mom is loved by her family, she raised 6 boys and 1 daughter, and will be greatly missed by all of us.
I was called into the hospital at 3 AM this morning as Mom’s O2 level had dropped into the 70’s.
After an in person chat with the attending physician it was again decided that repositioning and suction would be used as Mom is not a good ventilator candidate.
I sat at Mom’s bedside till nearly 8 am. She is under a med induced sleep but I spoke to her throughout the night and watched as her O2 level climbed from 80 to 90 where it remained stable.
Unfortunately I am garbed up when I visit, gloved, masked, vizor’d and gowned so no congratulatory kiss for Mom.
I am home now hoping to get some rest and will head back to the hospital this afternoon barring an early call from the hospital.
I wish I could say Mom was kicking Covid butt but right now it’s stalemated.
Update: Just before 3 AM the hospital called. Mom’s Oxygen levels are sinking again. I was advised to head to the hospital.
Things are not looking good.
The Doctors advised me this afternoon that Mom likely has only a couple of days left.
Miracles happen and there is always hope.
They are treating her with steroids for the covid and anti-psychotics for the delirium she has experienced.
Steroids raise blood sugar so she is also receiving insulin.
This is on top of her heart medications, Mom suffers CHF.
Mom was resting comfortably this afternoon when I visited though she was unresponsive due to the meds. She’s currently on 15 litres of oxygen.
She was holding steady when I left this afternoon.
Then I received a call from the hospital shortly before midnight.
Mom’s oxygen levels had dropped to the mid to low 80’s. At this level over a relatively short period of time organ failure and brain damage occurs I was told.
I was given a choice – allow non-invasive procedures, primarily re-positioning & suctioning, or intubation i.e. a ventilator, an invasive procedure.
Mom’s lungs are overrun with covid. While intubation is the best means of delivering oxygen there is no guarantee that enough will be supplied given the state of the inflammation in her lungs to raise her levels to an acceptable degree.
Further mom’s heart may not be able to take the strain of intubation. There exists a real possibility based on the doctor’s experience of heart attack or stroke given mom’s condition and age.
It’s not the type of phone call anyone wants to receive. I leaned initially to intubation as the surest way to deliver oxygen but when advised the risk of weaning someone from the apparatus is as great as the intubation insertion itself I backed off and went for repositioning.
The Doctor reminded me to think of what Mum would want given she has a DNR. The risk of being left in a vegetative state is the reason why she elected to have a DNR in place.
Repositioning is just that, move her around and see if the lungs work better and the oxygen intake improves.
I was then advised to make my way to the hospital.
15 minutes later the doctor called. Their repositioning effort worked, Mom’s oxygen level has risen to the mid 90’s, not perfect but acceptable.
I still won’t sleep much tonight and will visit tomorrow.
Thank you all for caring.
Note – post is a sticky new posts will appear below.
Mom enjoying cake I brought in for her 96th Birthday this year in the rehab hospital.
I have been granted a visit with Mom today.
She remains in guarded condition suffering from Covid that she contracted in hospital.
A minor miracle is needed for her to recover.
I can only hope this is not the last visit, it will be my first in a month as she has been isolated.
Last Saturday I spoke with her on the phone and was elated that she sounded so energetic and so clear.
Sunday morning I got the call that they needed to transfer her from the rehab to a hospital better able to manage her suddenly deteriorating condition.
This last year has been a hard one for our family.
My niece lost her husband to cancer shortly before Christmas last year.
Her sister’s husband suffered two massive heart attacks in the last six months of 2020. Thankfully he is on the mend.
My brother is in palliative care at home dying from a bad ticker, he never smoked and rarely drank, such are the wages of abstinence.
Kathy’s loss weighs heaviest of all and the prospect of Mom’s passing is numbing.
All you can do is try to keep yourself busy and the heartache at bay.
I hope that Mom can see through the fog and know I am there.
A government computer specialist fired after an alleged $11 million COVID-19 fraud is suing the province for wrongful dismissal and seeking more than $5 million in damages, the Star has learned.
