Before hosting a Hanukkah dinner at her home late last month, Elana felt obligated to text her guests that the man she’s dating would be joining – and that he’s unvaccinated. “I recognize that not everybody’s comfortable with it,” said Elana, a 46-year-old Vancouver business owner who is vaccinated. Elana met the man in August…
Category: Community News
Omicron is making the holidays complicated. 50 COVID experts weigh in with their advice
A dinner of chicken with stuffing, mixed in with some Indian food. A Secret Santa gift exchange. Everyone gathered around the TV to watch “Home Alone.” These are the simple holiday pleasures Dr. Nitin Mohan, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Western University, is looking forward to sharing with a couple of extended family…
Ontario needs ‘immediate circuit breaker’ to blunt spread of Omicron, modelling suggests
Ontario could see intensive care capacity reach unsustainable levels in January without an “immediate circuit breaker” to blunt the spread of Omicron, modelling suggests. Experts with Ontario’s Science Advisory Table released new data on Thursday to lay out the possible scenarios the province is facing. According to the modelling, the Omicron variant is set to…
Pop-up holiday schedule for rapid antigen tests
Find out when and where you can access free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests during the holiday season. If you are currently experiencing symptoms or have been recently exposed to a COVID-19 positive person, do not visit a rapid antigen screening pop-up site. Rapid antigen tests are used as an additional screening tool only for asymptomatic…
How do I get a COVID-19 booster shot in Ontario? What you need to know as boosters expand next week
Ontarians ages 18 and older can get their COVID-19 booster shots starting Monday, Dec. 20. Here’s what you need to know. Ontario premier Doug Ford announced the change in a Wednesday afternoon press conference in an effort to curb the growth of the rapidly expanding Omicron variant, he said. (Previously, boosters for those aged 18 to 49 weren’t to start until Jan….
Ontario reintroducing capacity limits for large indoor venues amid Omicron concerns
The Ontario government says it is reintroducing capacity limits for some indoor venues amid concerns around the Omicron variant. The government said Wednesday capacity limits of 50 per cent will be applied to indoor areas of venues with a normal capacity of 1,000 or more. The new rules will take effect on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. “This…
Ontario expands eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots, cuts capacity limits in some indoor spaces
Ontario is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to anyone 18 and older starting Monday and is limiting capacity in some indoor spaces as cases of the Omicron variant surge in the province. The government also announced Wednesday it’s shortening the required interval between a person’s second dose and booster shot from six months down…
With the Omicron variant on the rise, should you attend your work Christmas party?
Vaxx Populi: Even if you’re double-vaxxed and you take a rapid test before arriving, the odds may not be in your favour A problem inherent in exponential growth is that it’s often hard to grasp exactly how bad things can become in just a few weeks, or even a few days after relatively slow increases….
What’s the difference between a rapid COVID-19 test and a PCR test, and which one is best?
The question: I’ve been reading in the news about all the different tests for COVID-19. Some are done in labs, some are done in schools and some are done at home. Which one is best? The answer: The ideal medical test would be one that is easy to perform and provides highly accurate results very quickly. But unfortunately,…
Pfizer says final analysis of its COVID-19 pill shows near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations, deaths
Pfizer said the final analysis of its antiviral COVID-19 pill still showed near 90 per cent efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The U.S. drugmaker last month said the oral medicine was around…