Health
Fauci says working under Biden administration ‘liberating’
When fielding questions on the Biden administration’s plan to tackle the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s top infectious expert said he feels free to "let the science speak" under the new administration — which he described as a "liberating feeling."
California woman says coronavirius infected entire family, killed her father: ‘This was a shock to all of us’
A California woman is pleading with others to remain diligent in protecting themselves and loved ones against the novel coronavirus after she and eight other members of her family contracted the disease, including her father, who was killed by it.
Coronavirus variants pose reinfection risk, scientists say
Those who recover from coronavirus infection have immunity for at least five to six months, per several early studies, and while re-infections to prior strains were rare, new mutated strains pose a risk of contracting the novel virus again, scientists say.
Biden plan to reopen schools subject to potential changes in coronavirus pandemic, official says
One of President Biden’s goals of his first 100 days in office is to see to it that most schools are reopened for in-person learning, but after previewing one of the 10 pandemic-related executive orders, the administration’s testing czar conceded the timeline may be adjusted as needed.
Hamilton doctors call on province to pay nurses self-isolating after negative COVID tests
News/Canada/Hamilton: Nurses who are exposed to COVID-19 and test negative still have to self-isolate for up to two weeks, and most of them aren't paid during that time. These physicians who work with them say that should change.
Alabama to remove COVID-19 vaccine from providers who don’t administer jab in ‘timely way’: officials
Health officials in Alabama announced a new policy in an effort to speed the rollout: if providers don’t use the doses made available to them as quickly as possible, the already-limited doses will be removed and sent elsewhere in the state where they can be administered “in a timely way.”
Canada won't receive any Pfizer shots next week — here's what you need to know about the vaccination campaign
News/Politics: Canada's vaccination campaign is off to a slow start — and news this week that deliveries of the Pfizer product will be dramatically reduced over the next month has further complicated the national rollout.
Moderna vaccine batch that caused 10 allergic reactions cleared for use
A batch of 330,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that caused allergic reactions in at least 10 people has been cleared for continued use after health officials say they found "no scientific basis to continue the pause."
South African coronavirus variant may lower vaccine efficacy, 'escapes' plasma therapy: scientists
Concerning preliminary findings published Wednesday add to growing evidence that a coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa escapes the neutralization power by antibodies in convalescent plasma.
COVID-19 vaccines won't be 'in every pharmacy' by late Feb., CDC director predicts
The Biden administration is aiming to vaccinate 100 million people in 100 days, but the new director of the CDC warned that it won’t necessarily mean calling up the local pharmacy to schedule your COVID-19 shot in the coming weeks.
5 killed in blaze at Indian producer of COVID-19 vaccine
News/World: At least five people were killed in a fire that broke out Thursday at a building under construction at Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, officials said. The company said the blaze would not affect production of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Thursday
News/World: President Joe Biden's top medical adviser on COVID-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says the United States will cease reducing U.S. staff counts at the World Health Organization and pay its financial obligations to it as it vows to stay fully engaged with the UN health agency to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Fort Good Hope mother urges people to follow COVID-19 measures as son fights for his life
News/Canada/North: A woman from Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., is urging people to take COVID-19 — and the health measures in place — seriously, as her son Myrine Kakfwi fights for his life in ICU in Edmonton.
Life after curfew for Montreal's homeless means lineups, fear of fines and few empty beds
News/Canada/Montreal: After 8 p.m., when most of the city shuts down due to Quebec's COVID-19 curfew, many homeless people are still trying to find a place to stay. Here is a look at one night outside the city's overwhelmed shelters.
COVID-19 is hitting First Nations in Western Canada especially hard
News/Politics: While Ontario and Quebec are the epicentres of COVID-19 outbreaks in Canada, people in First Nations are being hit the hardest in Western Canada, where they make up half the number of hospitalizations in some provinces.