THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ontario will allow pharmacists to prescribe an antiviral drug used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19.  The government says starting Dec. 12 pharmacists will be able to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible people at no cost both in person and virtually.  Health Minister Sylvia Jones made the announcement this morning at […]

By Maria Cheng
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The coronavirus pandemic interrupted efforts to control malaria, resulting in 63,000 additional deaths and 13 million more infections globally over two years, according to a report from the World Health Organization published Thursday. Cases of the parasitic disease went up in 2020 and continued to climb in 2021, though at […]

By Nojoud Al Mallees
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s auditor general says COVID-19 benefits were delivered quickly and helped mitigate economic suffering, however, the federal government hasn’t done enough to recover overpayments.   In a new report looking into the federal government’s delivery of pandemic benefits, Karen Hogan said the programs provided relief to workers and employers affected […]

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ontario’s auditor general is set to release her annual report Wednesday, including audits on COVID-19-related contracts and procurement, as well as the province’s vaccination program. Bonnie Lysyk’s annual report is a large one, with 15 different audits, from highway planning and management to financial management in universities to the Ontario […]

Press release

Riverside Health Care in conjunction with the Northwestern Public Health Unit has declared a COVID-19 Outbreak at Rainy River Long Term Care Home. Visitor restrictions have been added to permit ONLY 1 Visitor/caregiver per patient at a time. To further enhance our team’s ongoing efforts additional precautions are being taken […]

Elisa Nguyen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
enguyen@fortfrances.com

In a media conference on Monday, health care leaders said they anticipate a potentially difficult winter season due to an increase in percent positivity for COVID-19 and institutional outbreaks, in addition to a rapid increase in hospitalizations and emergency department visits for respiratory illness. Emergency room department visits related to […]

By Liam Casey and Allison Jones
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health strongly recommended Monday that residents wear masks in indoor public settings to protect children from a “triple threat” of respiratory viruses, while Alberta’s premier said she will not impose a mask mandate and urged people not to panic. Dr. Kieran Moore said a mask […]

By Mari Yamaguchi
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO (AP) – Japan will lift a more than 2 1/2-year ban on international cruise ships that was imposed following a deadly coronavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Diamond Princess at the beginning of the pandemic, transport officials said Tuesday. The Transport Ministry said cruise ship operators and port authorities’ […]

By Dylan Robertson
THE CANADIAN PRESS

BADUNG, Indonesia – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is announcing funding for developing countries to improve their infrastructure and make COVID-19 vaccines, at a G20 summit where geopolitics looms over work to shore up global economic systems. At the G20 summit in Indonesia, Trudeau pledged Monday $750 million for a Crown […]

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health is “strongly recommending” residents mask in all indoor public settings in order to protect children from a triple threat of respiratory viruses, but he’s stopping short of mandating it. Dr. Kieran Moore made the recommendation Monday as part of an update on the pediatric […]