Consumer confidence strengthens in February as covid-19 cases dip

The level of Covid-19 infections continues to fall across Greater Manchester neighbourhoods, with some areas seeing fewer than ten cases.

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Dancing on Ice contestant Brendan Cole will skate with male professional Brendyn Hatfield after his partner Vanessa Bauer tested positive for Covid-19. Announcing the news, hot favourite Brendan, 45, explained: "I am absolutely gutted that Vanessa is unable to skate this weekend.

ITV.The TV chef has spoken out in a new interview about many "blaming" Covid for their failures, as his businesses go from success to success.Gino has insisted for many to "stop blaming Covid for everything" as he looks to a bright future in his business ventures.Speaking to The Mirror at his restaurant in Newcastle, he said: "It's becoming such a lousy and annoying excuse to say because of Covid I couldn’t do my job properly, or because of Covid we couldn’t do this and couldn't do that."He sympathises, however, admitting that he knows the restaurant industry has had to go through many changes but he has remained positive and adapted to the situation.He continued: "Throughout the pandemic at some points we had the chance to have guests sitting outside and the councils around us were extremely generous to give us the space to put tables."And we then realised, 'Wow, we should have done this from day one'."So, [let's stay] positive and let’s keep smiling, keep positive."Gino, listening to what his Covid customers need, now has a new terrace overlooking the river Tyne at his Newcastle restaurant.As well as this, the TV chef plans to open more restaurants across the country this year.These include restaurants in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow.This comes after Gino had to speak out last month following reports his My Pasta Bar chain had gone into liquidation.Sharing a video from his kitchen at home, the Italian chef began: "When I got back I saw a lot of c**p about my restaurant."Apparently, my restaurant had gone into liquidation."Now, I don’t usually do stuff like this, but I thought, let me set the record straight here."About 10 years ago, I opened a business called Pasta Bar, which serves Italian food very fast

A controversial Scottish Government measure aimed at improving ventilation and cutting covid risk in schools will not go ahead in Renfrewshire.

Novak Djokovic has revealed he would rather miss out on tennis greatness than be forced to get the Covid vaccine against his will. The men's tennis No.1 was deported from Australia last month over his vaccination status in a row that made headlines around the world.

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COLOMBO (News 1st); 40,000 metric tons of fuel purchased by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from the Indian Oil Corporation reached the Colombo Port on Tuesday (15).The IOC had submitted a quotation for fuel supplies based on a request by the Energy Ministry while the IOC has also granted them a 60-day period to make the payment.The Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila, speaking at the event stated that while Sri Lanka is undergoing a large foreign exchange crisis, therefore has been experiencing difficulties in financing oil imports. However, the Minister added that Sri Lanka could not wait until the US$ 500Mn credit line is finalized, and the country was in need of fuel urgently due to the newly created demand which came from the power sector. Reiterating that friends in need are friends indeed, the Minister emphasized that India has proven itself a good friend of Sri Lanka, not by words, but by actions. The Indian High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Gopal Bagley also speaking at the event said that this as two countries have shared history and also underwent difficulties due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, India is committed to stand by Sri Lanka at this time of crisis.

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Tyrese Gibson said goodbye to his beloved mother Patricia on Monday, after she passed away following a week of being hospitalized from COVID-19 and pneumonia.The 43-year-old actor and musician posted a touching video on Monday of him holding his mother's hand in the hospital, along with a heartfelt message about her.His post prompted a slew of support and condolences from celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and Dwayne 'The Rock Johnson.' Passed away:Tyrese Gibson said goodbye to his beloved mother Patricia on Monday, after she passed away following a week of being hospitalized from COVID-19 and pneumonia Message:The 43-year-old actor and musician posted a touching video on Monday of him holding his mother's hand in the hospital, along with a heartfelt message about her'Rest in peace. You fought, mom, you fought. Oh my God I'm so sorry this happened mom.

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The current COVID-19 restrictions are set to expire this week and the province is expected to announce an easing of restrictions Tuesday. Many are wondering what our lives will look like over the next few weeks and months, especially those working in the affected industries.

Lockdowns were tough for most musicians – but for one Scot, they provided the opportunity of a lifetime.

PHILADELPHIA - As COVID-19 numbers continue to trend down in Philadelphia, city officials who have been hesitant to pull back restrictions may be ready to take a small step forward.Senior Director of Operations for Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association Ben Fileccia said he expects Philadelphia officials to make an announcement Wednesday about metrics they will use to determine appropriate mandates going forward. The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday night reported that the city could end its vaccine requirement to dine indoors as early as this week, and the indoor mask mandate may lift soon after.Several states across the country have announced an end to universal mask mandates over the last several weeks, including nearby Delaware. New Jersey Gov.

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Assam government had tightened Covid curbs to contain the transmission of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. The state prohibited the entry of non-vaccinated people to public places, except hospitals. It said that all people are required to carry proof of being fully vaccinated while visiting public places/spaces. The state had allowed classes 9-12 on alternate days and had suspended offline classes up to Class 8.

Omicron variant that triggered the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in late December and which has now ebbed in the metropolis, the city civic body said on Monday. 

The Ontario government has announced it will be fast tracking its reopening plans. Restaurant and gym owners react to the lifting capacity limits and vaccine mandates.

As hospitalizations linked to the Omicron variant decline, Ontario has unveiled its fast-tracked plans to remove pandemic restrictions on most businesses. Caryn Lieberman breaks down what rules are being lifted, which public spaces are affected, and the questions over what’s really motivating Premier Doug Ford.

Just one day before she was set to receive the prestigious Honorary Golden Bear Award from the Berlin International Film Festival, Isabelle Huppert announced she can't receive the award in person after testing positive for COVID-19.The 68-year-old French actress tested positive for COVID-19 in Paris on Monday, with Berlinale confirming she won't accept the award in person on Tuesday.'Unfortunately, today Isabelle Huppert has been tested positive for the coronavirus in Paris and therefore she will not be able to attend the Berlin International Film Festival,' read a statement from Berlinale. Prestigious:Just one day before she was set to receive the prestigious Honorary Golden Bear Award from the Berlin International Film Festival, Isabelle Huppert announced she can't receive the award in person after testing positive for COVID-19 Award:The 68-year-old French actress tested positive for COVID-19 in Paris on Monday, with Berlinale confirming she won't accept the award in person on TuesdayStill, Huppert said she, 'doesn't feel sick,' according to Berlinale artistic directorCarlo Chatrian and they plan on holding the ceremony on Tuesday.'While informing the festival, she emphasized that she feels very dedicated to the Berlinale and wants to participate in any possible way also to support her latest film À Propos de Joan,' the statement read.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the never-before-used Emergencies Act on Monday, amid ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions.

Saskatchewan government’s proof of vaccination health order, designed to stop the spread of COVID-19, is no longer in effect.That means Saskatchewan residents can attend events, go to restaurants and bar and work out with no limits.Business owners who spoke to Global News said they’re relieved — not because they think it’s the right or wrong thing to do, but because it’s one less thing they’re responsible for. Saskatchewan dropping proof of vaccination requirement  “We’ve been operating throughout the entire pandemic and we’ve gotten pretty used to pivoting our business and changing on the fly,” Cierra Sieban-Shuback said.“So for us, it’s honestly moreso ‘normal’ than anything else.”Sieban-Shuback owns Living Skies Cannabis in Saskatoon.

Corbevax will be the second vaccine after Covaxin which has received EUA for those below 18 years of age. The Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company will be submitting data soon for clinical trials done on children aged below 12 years, the news agency added.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that the province would drop the proof of vaccination requirement starting March 1, though masking would remain in place. Capacity limits will also be removed on restaurants, bars and other indoor venues on Feb.

Alberta students are no longer required to wear masks in school, and kids 12 and under don’t have to be masked in any setting.Carolyn Kury de Castillo reports on how students and parents reacted on Monday.

The Big Boost Week continues to see tens of thousands of people going out to get their booster dose each day. Yesterday, 47,573 booster doses were administered across the motu – that’s twice as many as Sunday – and brings the total so far to almost two million doses.

COVID-19 pandemic to be undone.Premier Doug Ford unveiled on Monday that Ontario would be fast-tracking previously announced steps to lift restrictions, including moving the next step of its reopening plan up to Thursday instead of next Monday.Social gathering limits will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors on Thursday, while capacity limits will be removed in places such as restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theatres. Capacity at businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and retail stores will be set at the number of people who can maintain a distance of two metres.Less than two weeks later, on March 1, capacity limits will be lifted in all remaining indoor public settings, and proof-of-vaccination requirements will end for all settings.

COVID-19 fatalities in Alberta since the pandemic began has risen by 35 deaths, the province announced Monday.Alberta Health’s website said 3,776 deaths have now been linked to the novel coronavirus since the pandemic began, up from 3,741 on Friday.However, the total number of hospital patients with COVID-19 in Alberta dropped to 1,528 on Monday, down from 1,566 on Friday. The number of patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units also decreased slightly to 124 on Monday, down from 127 on Friday.According to Alberta Health, the province had 20,865 lab-confirmed active cases of the disease on Monday afternoon, down from 24,154 on Friday.Over the weekend, 2,647 new COVID-19 cases (1,146 on Feb.

A look at where Manitoba’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU numbers stand to begin the week.

Ontario is ending its vaccine certificate system on March 1, when capacity limits in public settings and restrictions on social gathering sizes will fully lift as well, though masking requirements will remain for now.Premier Doug Ford insisted the steps are not a result of pressure from anti-vaccine mandate protesters.“Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor, but despite it,” he said Monday. Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place “The extraordinary measures that we introduced during this pandemic were always intended as a last resort.

Isabelle Huppert has tested positive for COVID-19.

Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Legault said he still needs approval from public health officials before loosening the requirement to show proof of vaccination.“We want to remove most of the measures, but we have to be careful because of the hospital situation,” he said.

COVID-19 measures and vaccination mandates have mostly been peaceful.“I think we don’t need it,” he said. “So far with the Sûreté du Québec, we were able to keep control.“I think at this moment it would not help the social climate.

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths will remain above pre-Omicron levels into March, despite the city passing the peak of the latest wave.New Scarsin forecasting, revealed during a board of health (BOH) meeting on Monday, projected a scenario where the city will have to deal with about 20,000 new COVID-19 cases and another 300 hospitalizations between Feb. 14 and Mar.

Daily COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, which is grappling with a quickly growing Omicron wave, topped 2,000 for the first time today as the public health system struggled to cope.

The COVID-19 surge caused by the Omicron variant continues to recede in the United States, with the nation reporting a 7-day average of 175,492 new daily cases, with 2,458 daily deaths, according to the Washington Post tracker.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to invoke emergency powers across all of Canada to quell the protests by demonstrators who have paralyzed Ottawa and blocked border crossings in anger over the country's COVID-19 restrictions, a senior government official said Monday.READ: Ambassador Bridge officially reopened after weekThe prime minister met virtually with the leaders of Canada's provinces and planned to address the nation late in the afternoon.In recent days, Trudeau rejected calls to use the military but otherwise said "all options are on the table" to end the protests, including invoking the Emergencies Act, which gives the government broad powers to restore order.The government official who confirmed Trudeau's plans gave no immediate details on precisely how Trudeau intends to use his emergency authority.

Two studies to be presented at upcoming professional society meetings suggest that some long COVID-19 symptoms may be related to the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the vagus nerve and that the use of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP)—which increases blood flow—can improve some of those symptoms, respectively.

People who received a different brand of COVID-19 vaccine booster than they did in the primary series had lower rates of infection than those who received the same brand, according to a study in Singapore published late last week in JAMA.The study also found that participants who received a booster of

COVID-19 mask mandate in classrooms.The Alberta Federation of Labour said in a news release that a request for an injunction to keep masks in place was filed Sunday on behalf of several parents who have children living with disabilities.Students in schools were no longer required to wear face coverings starting Monday following an announcement by Premier Jason Kenney last week that the province plans to lift all pandemic restrictions in the coming weeks if COVID-19 indicators remain stable or trend downward. Nor were children 12 and under having to wear masks in any setting.The union said it is also challenging Education Minister Adrianna LaGrange’s announcement that it’s now illegal for schools boards to bring in their own rules to override the province.

COVID-19 update, both new hospitalizations and intensive care unit cases had a decrease of roughly 10 per cent.

The Prime Minister's announcement that the legal rule to self-isolate could end this month has been branded as 'concerning' by Greater Manchester' public health leader.

Premier League players have been banned by FIFA after breaking Covid regulations last year.Giovani Lo Celso, Christian Romero, Emiliano Martinez, and Emiliano Buendia have all been punished for their roles in Brazil and Argentina's World Cup qualification clash.The group had all dodged Brazil's Covid rules, which stated all arrivals must spend 14 days in quarantine after entering the country.However, the Premier League players all travelled from the hotel to the stadium with their national teammates.The resulting situation caused chaotic scenes when health officials stormed the pitch after six minutes to haul the players off for breaking the rules.FIFA released a statement: "After a thorough investigation of the various factual elements and in light of the applicable regulations."The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that the match should be replayed on a date and at a location to be decided by FIFA."In addition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has concluded that the abandonment of the match stemmed from several deficiencies of the parties involved towards their respective responsibilities and/or obligations in connection with the former."As such, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has also decided to suspend the Argentinian players Emiliano Buendía, Emiliano Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero for two matches each for not complying with the FIFA Return to Football International Match Protocol." What do you think of the punishment? Let us know in the comments section Both countries FA's have also been fined due to their failure to maintain order and security.Argentina have been hit with a £160,000 fine, while Brazil were ordered to fork over £300,000.The two nations will also pay an additional £40,000 fine

Middlesex-London Health Unit reported a total of four deaths and 257 COVID-19 cases from Saturday to Monday.The deaths involved three individuals in their 80s and 90s and one in their 50s.LHSC, meanwhile, is caring for 89 inpatients with COVID-19, 17 of whom are in adult critical care.As noted, LHSC is caring for 89 COVID-19 inpatients, with 17 inpatients in adult critical care. Last Monday, LHSC was caring for 119 COVID-19 inpatients, with 25 in adult critical care.Of the 89, there were 10 in Children’s Hospital with five or fewer in pediatric critical care.

Why did USFDA postpone its decision?

When Muzaffer Kayasan first caught Covid-19, he thought he was destined to die, as he was already suffering from leukemia.

Guelph General Hospital is reporting Monday that it is treating 14 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, while 22 staff members are off work due to the virus.The number of patients has increased by three over the weekend from what was reported on Friday, while the number of staff off work has increased by five. Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Across Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, public health reports 25 people are in the hospital with COVID-19, including seven in an intensive care unit.Guelph’s coronavirus death toll remains at 52 during the pandemic with the latest fatal case being reported on Feb.

Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Monday he will invoke emergency powers to support provinces in ending the blockades and public disorder that have gripped Ottawa for 18 days, Global News has confirmed.One national security source and one source that participated in a Monday morning Liberal national caucus meeting said the government is poised to invoke the act and that senior officials are preparing for an imminent announcement.Multiple sources have also told Global News federal officials are weighing options for the military to help law enforcement with logistics. But there is no plan at this time, according to the sources, to have the military help police in dealing with civilians or deploying into the streets.What exactly are the powers coming into play? Let’s take a look.First, a quick history recap: the Emergencies Act is not the War Measures Act.The War Measures Act was the controversial piece of legislation that Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, used back in 1970 during the October Crisis, which saw a series of terrorist attacks by a Quebec separatist group.The law allowed the federal government to suspend civil liberties, and it was in response to questions over how far Trudeau senior would go in suspending these liberties that he offered the infamous phrase: “Just watch me.”That law, however, was repealed and replaced in 1988.