Covid: 14,555 PCR-confirmed Covid cases, with 5,406 antigens registered

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Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative case tally to 63,23,378, said the state health department on Tuesday. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Talks between the Health Minister and the Health Trade Unions to solve a series of issues failed on Tuesday (8).Trade Union leaders have vowed to continue with their strike action.Earlier in the day, heavy traffic was reported along Deans Road in Colombo opposite the Health Ministry due to a protest by health workers.Hundreds of health workers marched from the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo to the Health Ministry against the government’s failure to remove salary anomalies and address their grievances, despite recent token strikes.The unions demand that the authorities eliminate existing salary disparities in the sector just as they eliminated the teacher and principal salary anomalies.Health workers across Sri Lanka including nurses, and Public Health Inspectors are on strike citing multiple demands.They resorted to the indefinite trade union action from Monday (7).As a result of the strike activities at the Colombo General Hospital, Kandy General Hospital, 24 Teaching Hispitals, 26 General Hospitals, 46 Base Hospitals, 410 District Hospitals and 293 MOH Officers came to a complete standstill. 

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Sri Lankan Government is preparing to include articles into the Surcharge Tax Bill, which will also include the Employees Provident Fund and the Retirement Gratuity.The relevant bill on the Surcharge Tax was published via gazette on Monday (7).Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday (8) requested the government to withdraw the Gazette Notification pertaining to including the Employees Provident Fund and the Retirement Gratuity Fund in the Surcharge Tax Bill.He claimed that by imposing a 25% surcharge the government is attempting to secure Rs.65 billion from the working class.According to the bill, the Surcharge Tax will be levied from any individual, partnership or company, whose taxable income calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, exceeds rupees two thousand million, for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 2020, at the rate of twenty-five percent.According to the definition of the Inland Revenue Act, a company is included in the definition of a provident fund, a pension fund, a pension gratuity fund, or a similar fund.The Opposition Leader requested Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa to state the EPF and the Retirement Gratuity Fund will not be included in the Surcharge Tax Bill.

FILE - John Foley, co-founder and chief executive officer of Peloton Interactive Inc., stands for a photograph during the company's initial public offering (IPO) in front of the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, U.S., on Sept. 26, 2019.

This week we highlight how contributions to WHO are providing health services and supplies to snow-blanketed refugee camps, and vaccines to flood zones threatened with cholera.

Canadian truckers were blocking the busiest crossing with the United States, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepared to face legislators later in the day to discuss the growing crisis.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov.

HAMMONTON, N.J. - Multiple people have been hurt after a New Jersey Transit bus veered off the Atlantic City Expressway and into the woods, stopping after it hit a tree. The incident happened shortly after 4 a.m.

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Day four of competition was full of ups and downs for Canada at the Beijing Winter Olympics, with another win in women’s hockey and close calls in multiple medal events.

Read on to understand the list of ‘mild’ to ‘worrying’ signs, and why people are experiencing varied symptoms.

A third of tourism businesses may have to close if problems they are experiencing with recruiting and retaining staff are not resolved, a new survey has found.

PHILADELPHIA - Police say a man has died after he was shot multiple times in Center City.This incident happened just before 12:30 a.m.

The government official who coordinates the B.C. legislature gift shop has testified at the fraud and breach of trust trial of former legislative clerk Craig James, telling the court the gift shop does not generally sell the type of items James bought, ostensibly for the shop, when he travelled abroad.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appears to be reconsidering some of his personal support for Joe Rogan after a video was shared showing the podcast host using racial slurs repeatedly during his broadcasts.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has planned to deport a total of 56 Indian fishermen who were arrested and remanded for illegally entering the Sea of Sri Lanka.The 56 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy while illegally fishing in the northern seas of Sri Lanka.They were first produced to the Kytes Magistrate’s Court on the 19th of December 2021 and were ordered to be remanded.On the 25th of January 2022, these 56 Indian fishermen were produced to the Kytes Magistrate’s Court against where it was ordered for them to be handed over to the Mirihana Immigration Detention Center, to be deported.These 56 Indian fishermen were moved to the Quarantine Centre in Iyakachchi, Jaffna to undergo quarantine and upon completion of the quarantine period, they were moved back to the Jaffna Prison.As per the court order, the Indian fishermen will be handed over to the Mirihana Immigration Detention Center, to be deported, on Wednesday (9).The decision to deport the Indian fishermen comes after Indian External Affairs Minister Dr.

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Covid-19, a private lab's chief has urged people to undergo an RT-PCR if they are symptomatic. 

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

had been diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer during a regular health check-up. While it did not specify when the diagnosis took place, it noted that the actress had undergone surgery to treat the condition under the recommendation of her doctor.“After her surgery, Park So-dam has been going to the hospital for regular treatments.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation warned that the CPC losses have increased after Lanka IOC increased fuel prices this week.CPC Chairman Attorney-at-Law Sumith Wijesinghe told reporters that if the prices for February continue uncharged for the entire month, the CPC will suffer a loss of Rs. 48.30/- per liter of Diesel, while Rs.

As facts are lost in the noise, disruptive protests against Canada’s COVID-19 mandates are also boiling new threats against journalists covering the demonstrations.

Hong Kong will limit public gatherings to two people and close sites such as churches and hair salons, leader Carrie Lam has said, as the financial hub battles a growing coronavirus outbreak that has caused record infections.

LOONA will not be performing at the group’s upcoming concert because of health reasons.Earlier today (February 8), Blockberry Creative announced that the vocalist will be absent from the girl group’s ‘LOOΠΔ Concert 2022 [LOOΠΔVERSE: FROM]’, which takes place on February 11 and 12. The agency wrote that the decision had been made due to “health reasons”, but did not specify Chuu’s condition.“We believe that the health of the artist is the top priority.

A convoy of trucks and campervans blocked streets near New Zealand's parliament in Wellington today to protest against Covid restrictions and vaccinations, inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada.

A Scots health board has been forced to apologise after administering out-of-date dozens of Covid jabs.

Nicola Sturgeon will make a covid statement at Holyrood today after it was claimed Scotland was now "through the worst of Omicron".

COLOMBO (News 1st); Approximately 1.17 million Sri Lankans over the age of 20 are yet to obtain the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, revealed the State Ministry of Home Affairs.N.H.M. Chithrananda, the Secretary to the State Ministry of Home Affairs told News 1st that this number of ascertained following a recent study in Sri Lanka.He said that 719,000 Sri Lankans between the ages of 20 – 29 have not obtained the vaccine.386,408 Sri Lankans between the ages of 30 – 60 are yet to obtain the first dose, he added while noting that 64,234 Senior Citizens (over 60) are yet to obtain the vaccine.N.H.M.

Every week, British Columbians make more than 20,000 telehealth visits. But a once such visit has left a Vancouver woman shaken after the doctor questioned what she was wearing. Kylie Stanton reports.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Heavy traffic was reported along Deans Road in Colombo opposite the Health Ministry on Tuesday (8) due to a protest by health workers.Hundreds of health workers marched from the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo to the Health Ministry against the government’s failure to remove salary anomalies and address their grievances, despite recent token strikes.The unions demand that the authorities eliminate existing salary disparities in the sector just as they eliminated the teacher and principal salary anomalies.Health workers across Sri Lanka including nurses, and Public Health Inspectors are on strike citing multiple demands.They resorted to the indefinite trade union action from Monday (7).As a result of the strike activities at the Colombo General Hospital, Kandy General Hospital, 24 Teaching Hospitals, 26 General Hospitals, 46 Base Hospitals, 410 District Hospitals, and 293 MOH Officers came to a complete standstill.

The sister of a woman who’s believed to have been one of the victims of Robert Pickton says it’s outrageous that the serial killer will be eligible to apply for parole in 2024. Sandra Gagnon speaking out one day after the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the police investigation into Pickton.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Navy detained 11 Indian fishermen and seized 3 Indian fishing boats for illegally entering the Sea of Sri Lanka on Monday (7) night.Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika De Silva told News 1st that the Indian poachers were detected in the Sea of Sri Lanka off Delft Island.The detained fishermen will be handed over to the Jaffna District Fisheries Office for processing.On Monday (7), 21 Indian fishermen who were previously detained were remanded to the 21st of February by the Point Pedro Magistrate’s Court.Court granted permission to record statements from the Indian fishermen and also ordered for the 100 kg catch detected from their boats to be sold and the return be produced to the court.21 Indian Fishermen Detained:In a special operation conducted by Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard, 02 Indian trawlers with 21 Indian fishermen were held for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters, off Kovilan and Point Pedro Lighthouse, Jaffna on the night of 31st January 2022.This special operation was mounted by deploying Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Northern Naval Command, another Fast Patrol Boat of Sri Lanka Coast Guard and with the assistance of the Navy’s Special Boat Squadron.The operation led to the apprehension of these 02 Indian trawlers with 21 Indian fishermen while poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters on the night of 31st January.As the Indian trawlers were attempting to evade naval units with their aggressive manoeuvres, they also caused damages to the SLN Fast Attack Craft.The Navy also held several bottom trawling equipment and fish caught by this illegal fishing method from the seized fishing trawlers.

A B.C. dad is speaking out about how he says his COVID-19 vaccination status has reduced his parenting time with his two children.

Ganga river near Bihar and Uttar Pradesh during the second wave of the pandemic.

Omicron is reduced for two reasons.

The silver lining of going through an acrimonious separation was the quality time James said he could still spend with his two children.

When COVID-19 first gripped the nation, people stepped out of their homes to clang pots and pans in a show of support for health-care workers. A pair of designer shoes were named after B.C.’s top doctor. Businesses and citizens sent free food to hospitals.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says the city’s police arson unit is investigating after “disturbing” reports of unidentified individuals attempting to start a fire in the lobby of a residential apartment located near the site of ongoing trucker convoy demonstration.

PERKIOMEN TWP., Pa. - On Monday the mask mandate debate went from a federal courtroom to a middle school auditorium, as a federal judge told the Perkiomen Valley School District to mask up a while longer.The judge sided with the plaintiffs, who argued ending the mandate would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act by putting immunocompromised students at risk.Monday night, a couple dozen parents came out to voice their opinions on both sides.MORE HEADLINES:The plaintiffs in this case were an anonymous group of parents and students. Attorney Carmen De Gisi represented the plaintiffs."They are relieved that they don’t have to make the choice between having their children home and attending school virtually or sending them to school and having them risk severe infection," De Gisi said.Many of the parents and students who spoke at the scheduled school board meeting, in Montgomery County, say masks hurt their children’s ability to learn."There’s children in pain," said Alicia Taylor.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Three people died and one person was hospitalized after an earth embankment collapsed in Madawala, Wattegama, on Monday (7), said Sri Lanka Police.Sri Lanka Police said that four people were involved in building a wall and during the construction process a mound of earth collapsed on top of them. 

Almost all public health restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland have been lifted today, following the latest advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team.

As new rules on close contacts and testing come into effect tonight, here are seven things we learned from the HSE's latest Covid-19 briefing.

The Department of Health has been notified of 6,329 additional PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, as well as 4,810 positive antigen tests logged.

It is notable that despite Ireland having among the highest incidence of Covid-19 in Europe, the Government has the confidence to ease close contact advice, on foot of advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

The Department of Health has confirmed 18,904 new cases of Covid-19.

The Department of Health has been notified of 20,909 new coronavirus cases and 83 Covid-related deaths in the past week.