By Ken Moritsugu
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEIJING (AP) – Residents of the Chinese city of Xi’an are enduring a strict coronavirus lockdown, with business owners suffering yet more closures and some people complaining of difficulties finding food, despite assurances from authorities that they are able to provide necessities for the 13 million people largely confined to […]

By David Mchugh
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – OPEC and allied oil-producing countries decided Tuesday to pump more oil to the world economy amid hope that travel and demand for fuel will hold up despite the rapid spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. The 23-member OPEC+ alliance led by oil cartel member Saudi […]

By John Pye
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) – Novak Djokovic will get a chance to defend his Australian Open title after receiving a medical exemption to travel to Melbourne, ending months of uncertainty about his participation because of the strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements in place for the tournament. The top-ranked Djokovic wrote on Instagram […]

THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators have placed defenceman Thomas Chabot, forwards Zach Sanford and Chris Tierney and assistant coach Bob Jones in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Ottawa now has nine players in the protocol. Chabot, Tierney and Sanford join goaltender Anton Forsberg, forwards Josh Norris, Tyler Ennis and Nick Paul […]

By Merna Emara
Staff Writer
memara@fortfrances.com

Community spread seen throughout region Due to high COVID-19 case numbers, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is asking all  residents in the region to avoid large gatherings and traveling outside of the region. The current gathering restrictions are 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. Dr. Kit Young Hoon, medical officer […]

Press release

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has received confirmation that two positive cases in the region were infected with the omicron variant. These are the first known omicron cases in the NWHU area. One case was detected in Kenora, the other in Dryden. Both cases were travel related. Due to the sequencing […]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Christmas concerts and other events have been canceled in Greece under new restrictions announced Thursday that include a general mask mandate for outdoors and all public areas. Incoming travelers will also be required to have follow-up tests for COVID-19 on the second and fourth days after […]