By Melissa Couto Zuber
THE CANADIAN PRESS

A new poll suggests almost 30 per cent of Canadians believe it’s time to lift pandemic restrictions and “learn to live” with the COVID-19 virus, while more than 40 per cent want measures to ease carefully. Forty-three per cent of Canadians surveyed by Leger identified their feelings about the current […]

By Holly McKenzie-Sutter
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ontario has no immediate plans to end its mask mandate and COVID-19 vaccine certificate system, the province’s health minister said Wednesday as she announced details of a plan to distribute free rapid tests at grocery stores and pharmacies. Christine Elliott said Ontario won’t be following the lead of other provinces […]

By Merna Emara
Staff Writer
memara@fortfrances.com

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is reporting a COVID-19 positivity rate of 28.8 per cent. Ontario’s percent positivity rate for the past seven days was 13.2 per cent. Dr. Kit Young Hoon, medical officer of health at the NWHU, said they are not seeing a decreasing positivity rate like many […]

THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINDSOR, Ont. – The Ambassador Bridge border crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit has reopened to U.S.-bound traffic after an anti-vaccine mandate demonstration blocked traffic in both directions on Monday evening. Windsor police say U.S.-bound traffic is moving across the bridge, and vehicles can use the Wyandotte St. West entrance. […]

By Allison Jones
THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – Ontarians have recently started hearing their top health and government officials speak of “learning to live with COVID-19,” but it doesn’t mean immediately returning to life as it was in 2019 and authorities should be refining their message, experts say. Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of […]

By Holly McKenzie-Sutter
THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – Ontario long-term care residents can start taking social trips and see more caregivers as of next week following more than a month of strict rules aimed at controlling the spread of the Omicron variant. The province will begin easing visitor restrictions in the homes on Monday – a […]

THE CANADIAN PRESS

A new survey suggests more people in Ontario are accessing mental health support than at any other time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Mental Health Association poll indicates 24 per cent of respondents have sought help for mental health challenges, compared to 17 per cent last winter and nine […]

By Jordan Press
THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – The mayor of Canada’s national capital declared a state of emergency in his city on Sunday in the face of ongoing protests that have overwhelmed local resources shortly before police moved to choke the convoy’s supply chain. In a late-afternoon release, the City of Ottawa said Mayor Jim […]

By Allison Jones
THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – Ontario’s official COVID-19 testing volumes have plummeted since PCR access was sharply restricted in the face of an Omicron surge, but rather than widely re-expanding eligibility in the future, the province appears to be forging a new pandemic testing path. Demand for tests at the end of last […]

By Tom Hays
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK (AP) – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is due back Thursday in a New York City courtroom more than a week after the start of a trial in her libel lawsuit against The New York Times was postponed because she tested positive for COVID-19. The trial is to […]