Yet another airline has announced that it sees so called ‘COVID passports’, proof that travellers have been vaccinated and/or tested negative for coronavirus, as “essential” for them to be able to travel.
“China eats weird animals disease”
Trudeau government won’t say who got billions of dollars in aid
While the government has made available high-level aggregate spending statistics, or estimates of the net fiscal impact, for the more than 100 programs it has launched since the pandemic began, only a few departments have released details about which individuals, groups or companies have received government money.
FUREY: A Christmas in lockdown
A few weeks ago, Anthony Furey predicted the lockdowns would be over by Christmas. Unfortunately, he was wrong.
Despite Canadians pushing back against the lockdowns and new data and evidence which suggests lockdowns simply don’t work – the government has doubled down.
From tents to converted 4-star hotel, pandemic prompts changes for Montreal homeless
While tent cities like this are new to Montreal, shelter workers and experts say it’s not necessarily a sign that significantly more people in Montreal are homeless.
U.S. schools confront ‘off the rails’ numbers of failing grades
The first report cards of the school year are arriving with many more Fs than usual in a dismal sign of the struggles students are experiencing with distance learning.
School districts from coast to coast have reported the number of students failing classes has risen by as many as two or three times — with English language learners and disabled and disadvantaged students suffering the most.
Many Epidemiologists Want Social Distancing and Masks Forever—Even After the Vaccine
The New York Times asked 700 epidemiologists to describe their COVID-19 habits, how their thinking has changed since the pandemic began, and when they think it will be safe for normal life to resume. Dismayingly, several answered that last question with a resounding never.
China Peddles Falsehoods to Obscure Origin of Covid Pandemic
To push the idea that the virus didn’t come from China, the government has misrepresented experts’ remarks and given dubious theories the veneer of science.
The mild-mannered German scientist never anticipated becoming a Chinese propaganda star.
But Alexander Kekulé, the director of the Institute for Biosecurity Research in Halle, Germany, has been all over the state-run media in China in recent days. News outlets have taken Dr. Kekulé’s research out of context to suggest that Italy, not China, is where the coronavirus pandemic began. Photos of him have appeared on Chinese news sites under headlines reading, “China is innocent!”
Dr. Kekulé, who has repeatedly said that he believes the virus first emerged in China, was startled. “This is pure propaganda,” he said in an interview.
Amazing Scoop by the NYTIMES!
For The First Time, A US State Will Require Disclosure Of PCR ‘Cycle Threshold’ Data In COVID Tests
…As a reminder, “cycle thresholds” (Ct) are the level at which widely used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can detect a sample of the COVID-19 virus. The higher the number of cycles, the lower the amount of viral load in the sample; the lower the cycles, the more prevalent the virus was in the original sample.
Ontario uses this testing method.
Staten Island ‘Autonomous Zone’ bar owner jailed; drove car into Sheriff’s deputy: sources
The co-owner of a Staten Island bar that has kept serving customers in violation of COVID-19 restrictions was arrested again late Saturday — this time for allegedly ramming his car into a Sheriff’s deputy, according to law enforcement sources.
Danny Presti, co-owner of Mac’s Public House in Grant City, was being held early Sunday at the borough’s 122nd Precinct, police said.
Ontario reports record 1,924 new Covid cases
For the second consecutive day, Ontario has set a new record for the number of new COVID-19 infections reported over a 24-hour period.
Provincial health officials are reporting 1,924 new COVID-19 cases today, topping the record high 1,859 new cases confirmed one day earlier.
More than 100 residents, 50 staff members at Etobicoke long-term care home test positive for COVID-19 after outbreak
An outbreak of COVID-19 at an Etobicoke long-term care home last month has resulted in more than 100 residents and 50 staff members testing positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Revera, the operator of Westside Long Term Care Home, which is located on Albion Road in Rexdale, said an outbreak was confirmed at the facility on Nov. 12 and since that time, a total of 117 infections have been confirmed among residents and 57 cases have been reported among staff.
FUREY: I used to be a COVID alarmist — then the facts changed my mind
Back in February, I wrote a column with the now-quaint headline: “Expect the coronavirus to bring ‘social distancing’ to Canada.” It’s hard to believe now, but that was one of the first times the phrase had appeared in Canadian news. And I was laughed at by some for suggesting back then that we may see the government shut down segments of society and restrict our movements.
‘Massive undertaking’: Roadmap of Canada’s coronavirus vaccine roll-out
According to deals signed so far, Canada could have access to up to 414 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from seven different manufacturers.
The shipment and distribution of the vaccine — once approved — will, however, be a Herculean effort involving a lot of manpower, a web of logistical challenges and scientific constraints.