“Those interested in participating in the consultations are invited to fill out an online questionnaire by April 30, 2022. In the weeks ahead, the Government of Canada will also hold a series of roundtables, which will bring together members of various communities with lived experiences, academics, and activists.” Press Release From: Canadian Heritage (March 29, 2022) In Canada,…
Category: Community News
Close to home: The Canadian far right, COVID-19 and social media
Weeks after the so-called “freedom convoy” protests ended, a familiar quietness has returned to the streets of downtown Ottawa. No more sounds of blaring horns and people partying into the wee hours. The only remaining visible traces are abandoned trucks in impound yards and barriers on streets. But these too will be cleared, just like the 40 trucks…
Tired of waiting for a COVID vaccine for their toddlers, these parents brought them to a clinical trial in Etobicoke
Moderna is testing efficacy for age 6 months to 6 years, hoping to seek approval from Health Canada. Some parents have been eager to sign their kids up. Lauren Socha knows there is a chance her toddler got the placebo instead of the COVID vaccine, but that day in January still felt like a “little…
U of T and Ryerson University plan to end masking, vaccination mandates May 1
Move coincides with start of spring semester, but subject to change if necessary The University of Toronto and Ryerson University plan to end their mask and vaccination mandates on May 1. The announcement comes about a week after Ontario lifted its mask mandate in most public indoor spaces. Masking remains mandatory on public transit, in health-care facilities, long-term and…
Do you need a 4th dose of a COVID-19 vaccine? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer
Age, risk level, future variants are all factors in whether future boosters may be needed, experts say In clinical trials, multiple leading COVID-19 vaccines were tested as a two-shot regimen. In the real world, three doses have proven to offer strong protection against serious illness. And now, in multiple countries, fourth doses are being explored…
Ontario to give out rapid tests until July as science table head says 6th COVID-19 wave underway
Ontario reports 778 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 13 more deaths Wednesday The Ford government will continue to provide free rapid antigen tests until at least the end of July as the head of the Ontario Science Advisory Table says the province is in the midst of a sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement Wednesday afternoon,…
The Case for Masking
How continuing the practice could keep us healthier, protect the vulnerable and cushion our health-care systems. Public health measures, such as masking and physical distancing, that have been a high-profile part of the COVID-19 response for the past two years are now beginning to lift. However, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the remarkable effects of…
2 years into the pandemic, Canada’s mental-health system is at a crisis point
‘Even if you realize you need help — it’s very difficult to find it’: psychologist The mental health of Canadians has deteriorated in the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, putting massive pressure on a mental health-care system that was already close to a breaking point. In a new survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute in partnership…
Depression, suicidal thoughts prevalent in high school students during pandemic, U.S. study shows
(Reuters) More than a third of high school students surveyed in the United States experienced stress, anxiety or depression, and nearly a fifth said they seriously considered suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday. The first nationwide survey of its kind found that 44 per cent of students reported feeling sad or hopeless…
Team Toronto launches Vax And Ride to bring 75 vaccine clinics to TTC stations
News Release On March 28, 2022, Mayor John Tory announced the launch of the new Vax And Ride campaign to bring 75 COVID-19 vaccine clinics to 10 TTC stations starting today. Vax And Ride is part of Team Toronto’s continued equity-focused, hyper-local mobile strategy to make COVID-19 vaccines as accessible and convenient as possible and…