Health
US halts plasma study to treat mild COVID-19 citing 'unlikely benefit'
The National Institutes of Health announced Tuesday it stopped a clinical trial testing convalescent plasma in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients after an independent board found no difference in hospitalizations, deaths or in preventing progression to severe illness.
Doctors urge caution as Regina COVID-19 cases outpace other major Canadian cities
News/Canada/Saskatchewan: Regina's COVID-19 case numbers are among the highest per capita for major Canadian cities. Premier Scott Moe hinted Tuesday at loosened restrictions, but two doctors say Saskatchewan is a long way from returning to normal.
Trans women of colour on how the pandemic has left an already marginalized community more vulnerable
News/Canada: The pandemic has cut many people off from the communities they rely on, but for transgender women of colour, the isolation and lack of support networks have made the past 11 months an especially dark and difficult time.
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and seniors: Where Canada and other countries stand
News/Canada: Canadians now have a third option to protect against COVID-19 after Health Canada approved the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine last week. But questions remain about whether it should be used in people aged 65 and older — an issue that is also playing out in other countries around the world.
Autism community steels itself with decision in van attack trial expected today
News/Canada/Toronto: Almost three years after 10 people were killed and many others were injured in one of the deadliest mass attacks in Toronto's history, a judge is set to render her decision Wednesday in the trial of Alek Minassian.
In face of deadly pandemic, Ontario long-term care homes continue breaking COVID-19 safety rules
News/Health: Ten months into the COVID-19 pandemic, inspectors were still catching Ontario long-term care homes violating crucial infection prevention and control measures. Many infractions occurred during or after outbreaks, a CBC News investigation found.
Woman in Japan dies of brain hemorrhage after receiving COVID-19 vaccine, no link determined
A 60-year-old woman in Japan—with no known underlying condition-- died days after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, but the country’s health ministry said Tuesday that there is no known link to the jab, according to a report.
B.C. defends delay of 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine
News/Canada/British Columbia: B.C.'s provincial health officer is fending off criticism of the province's decision to delay second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, telling the public she is "so confident" in plan she says is based on science and data.
AstraZeneca doses set to arrive tomorrow — but questions remain about who gets them first
News/Politics: The first batch of Canada's supply of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is set to arrive tomorrow — but public health officials still have some rollout issues to sort out before they can deliver those shots.
Scientists find 'HIV elite controllers' living in Congo, possibly paving way for vaccine, cure
Scientists have claimed to discover a rare group of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have tested positive for HIV antibodies but are living with low to non-detectable levels of viral load without the aid of antiretroviral medicines, potentially paving the way for vaccine development or possibly even a cure.
Ontario sees 966 new COVID-19 cases as questions over vaccine timing linger
News/Canada/Toronto: Ontario reported another 966 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, as debate continues around whether the province should expand the time between vaccine doses to speed up its immunization efforts.