The new variant is believed to spread more easily and faster than the original version of the virus, based on modelling and some epidemiological data, but it is not believed to be more deadly.
Canada
‘Confusion’: Airlines slam new coronavirus test rules for travellers returning to Canada
Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced Thursday that air travellers overseas will have to present proof of a negative molecular test — known as a PCR test, conducted with a nasal swab — that was taken within 72 hours of departure, unless the testing is unavailable in that country.
NDP call for immediate return of Ontario legislature to address deadly outbreaks at long-term care homes
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath made the request formally in a news release sent on Monday, asking members of provincial parliament to return to Queen’s Park despite the two-month winter break that started in early December.
COVID-19: Quebec police forces handed out more than 200 tickets over holiday season
Quebec City police were the busiest when it came to the enforcement of health regulations during the holidays. On New Year’s Eve alone the force handed 52 tickets — 46 of them during protests staged around the National Assembly. Between Dec. 21 and Dec. 27, the force handed out 41 tickets, most of them for illegal gatherings.
Up to $340M could be diverted from Toronto police with civilian services to handle calls instead: report
The new report, from Black Lives Matter Toronto, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, YWCA, Family Services Toronto, Neighbourhood Legal Services and 17 other groups says taking an approach where separate services for drug use, mental health crises and homelessness are set up to replace the role of police could lead to better outcomes.
Alberta restaurant shut down for serving laid-off staff
Alberta announced a mandatory closure of all dine-in service at restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes on Dec. 13. Restaurants can only provide take-away and delivery service.
One third of Ontario’s long-term care homes experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks
According to provincial data, 207 of the 626 long-term care homes in Ontario are currently experiencing outbreaks of the virus, including 19 new ones reported Sunday.
The CEO of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, which represents nearly 70 per cent of homes in the province, says the rising number of outbreaks is pushing the system to its limits.
Aloha, Allard: Angry constituents hang sign greeting Alberta minister from Hawaii
A minister who vacationed in Hawaii against the advice of her own government to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 is returning to a number of voters upset over the hypocrisy.
A sign hung over the weekend in front of Tracy Allard’s constituency office reads, “Welcome Home. #AlohaAllard.”
Ford and Kenney shed their populist skins to reveal their inner elitist
Federally, the Conservatives regularly rail against Justin Trudeau’s entitlement, slamming the perception that he believes the rules apply to everyone else, but not to him.
And yet, we are watching and seeing that Conservative politicians are turning out to be a bunch of entitled hypocrites, who demonstrate the same behaviour they attack in others.
‘Double whammy’: Experts say infections will continue to rise due to Christmas, New Year’s celebrations
Infectious disease expert Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti explained to CTV News Channel on Friday that current cases numbers measure those that would have become infected prior to the holiday season. Given the novel coronavirus’ one-to-14-day incubation period, he says, Canadians will start to see the impact of gathering over Christmas this week.
Shippers race to move cancer treatments as COVID-19 grounds flights
Half of air cargo normally travels in the belly of passenger jets rather than dedicated freighters. But flight cancellations as traffic plummeted during the pandemic have left some companies scrambling to ship treatments that decay over time, pushing up overall transportation costs.
GOLDSTEIN: Trudeau’s carbon tax to hit Ontario families hardest
Ever since Justin Trudeau introduced his carbon tax in 2019, the Prime Minister and his environment ministers have been dining out on their claim 80% of families will be better off financially because of carbon tax rebates.
But in Ontario, that’s simply not true.