COVID-19 is not the first health crisis to affect Canada. Previous emergencies, like the Lac-Mégantic train tragedy in 2013, showed the importance of including the affected communities to promote better adherence to preventive measures and build resilient communities. Our research shows this is largely missing for COVID-19, with high costs on society as a whole. Resilience is…
Category: Community News
Doctors and tourism industry calling on Ottawa to end COVID-19 testing requirements
MISSISSAUGA, ONT. — The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable is joining a group of doctors to demand the federal government end all COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers. In a statement Thursday, the organization says current travel rules are “obsolete” and out of step with other countries that have removed mandatory testing measures, including the United Kingdom,…
Do vaccine mandates violate Canadians’ charter rights?
Various vaccine mandates have been in place across Canada for months, requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access non-essential businesses, attend certain events or board planes and trains, for example. The mandates have faced opposition from Canadians who say they are concerned their rights and freedoms are being infringed upon. One of the most commonly…
Their children’s lives have gone interrupted for years. Parents are fighting for a return to normalcy
Hapless political leaders are experiencing the Old Testament wrath of moms and dads. Here’s why fed-up parents are on the Maclean’s Power List this year. In his stumbles during the spring of 2021, Ontario Premier Doug Ford walked headlong into an under-appreciated and self-renewing natural resource: parental rage. As hospitals exploded with the Delta variant,…
Ontario reconsiders timelines for loosening COVID-19 restrictions
Ontario is looking to move up timelines for reopening and discussions are under way about changes to masking rules and vaccination passports. Ontario is looking to move up timelines for reopening and discussions are under way about changes to masking rules and vaccination passports given the “remarkable improvement” in the COVID-19 situation, says the chief…
Lifting COVID-19 restrictions could cause anxiety for many as unknowns persist, experts say
As provinces begin lifting COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, psychology experts expect stress and anxiety to run high among those who remain wary of letting their guards down. It will take time for many to adjust, they say, but the quick approach some provinces are taking could make the transition more jarring. Alberta ended its vaccine certificate system on…
Where can you get COVID-19 rapid tests in Ontario? What to know from Health Minister’s announcement
Millions of free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests will be distributed to Ontario residents over the next two months. Health Minister Christine Elliott announced the rollout of the at-home tests during a news conference at a Walmart pharmacy in Kitchener Feb. 9. “These tests will provide another layer of protection to support the province’s efforts to…
Her mom died of COVID after attending anti-vaccine rallies. Now this Toronto woman wants to warn others
Her homemade sign at a recent protest carried a simple message: “Get vaccinated you idiots.” Ute Lehrer carried a warning for those gathered at Queen’s Park for Saturday’s Toronto trucker protest The message, written in black marker on a simple cardboard sign, caught attention online after a photo of Lehrer in the crowd was posted on…
AS COVID PERSISTS, HEALTHCARE WORKER MENTAL HEALTH MUST BE PRIORITIZED
American Association of Nurse Practitioners president offers actionable suggestions. KEY TAKEAWAYS Nurse practitioners and other healthcare workers have been under tremendous stress attempting to treat patients throughout the pandemic. April Kapu, president of AANP, stresses making mental health resources accessible for healthcare workers, and she urges workers to proactively seek help. As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its…
Number of people in Ontario needing mental health support increasing, survey finds
More people in Ontario are accessing mental health support than at any other time during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey suggests. The Canadian Mental Health Association poll indicated 24 per cent of respondents have sought help for mental health challenges, compared to 17 per cent last winter and nine per cent almost two years…