Omicron BA.2 more than 50% COVID variant in US: CDC

COVID-19. There are 173 people in intensive care with or due to the virus.That marks an increase of 234 hospitalizations and five people in intensive care since Monday’s report.However, not all hospitals report updated figures on weekends, meaning the reported numbers on Monday were likely an undercount.Tuesday’s report marks the highest number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in Ontario since February, though the number of people in ICUs at that time with the virus was much higher.

COVID-19 vaccination Clinic at the White Oaks Mall on Thursday.This will mark the south London, Ont., mall’s second time hosting a clinic after a similar initiative was held in September and October of 2021, which doled out more than 5,700 doses during its run.“The success of our mall-based clinics has shown that providing the COVID-19 vaccine in a convenient and accessible retail setting is an effective way to reach people who may not have been able to attend one of our mass vaccination clinics,” said medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers.

Thousands of businesses across Greater Manchester can claim business rate relief from the council, but the deadline is fast approaching. The funding, offering financial help with business rates for companies across Greater Manchester is part of the £1.5 billion government package to support businesses affected by Covid.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed a 'serious' symptom of coronavirus that hasn't been added the NHS's newly updated list of Covid symptoms. There have been regular overhauls of official symptom lists since the virus broke out - especially more recently as it has mutated and variants have spread.

The continuing mayhem at Manchester Airport is an example of the damage the re-emergence of Covid is doing to our working age population, Wigan’s director of public health has said.

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London, Ont., and Middlesex County have confirmed the region is now under a sixth wave of COVID-19.During a media briefing hosted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit on Monday, medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers said this is another wave driven by the Omicron variant.“It’s just finding its way to anybody who was not protected the first go-around from either previous infection or a booster dose,” Summers said.“The wave will not spike as high as the previous Omicron wave, so it’s not going to go as high, but it’s still likely going to look higher than most of the previous waves.” Testing positive weeks after a COVID-19 diagnosis: What it means for travel Summers said it’s unclear at this time how long the wave will last.He expects to see escalating infections through April before declining through May and onwards thanks to spring weather and broad community immunity from previous infections and booster dose coverage.“Again, there’s a bit of a crystal ball in all of that, but regardless we are not yet at the peak of the wave by any means.”There are a number of data points that the MLHU will be keeping an eye on as the wave washes over the region, including what impact it’s having on hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions.

Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) members, released Tuesday, shows more than 80 per cent said they didn’t have enough nurses in their workplaces — more than double the number in 2021.It also shows most have experienced anxiety and feelings of helplessness and that most believe Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe and health minister Paul Merriman have not handled the COVID-19 pandemic well. Rural Saskatchewan long-term care worker describes strain, burnout The findings come after months of high profile departures and after other reports showed health-care workers have left the field.SUN president Tracy Zambory said the results represent a “canary in a coal mine” that show nurses are scared, very overwhelmed and burned out.“Patients are being put at risk because there isn’t enough health care providers to be able to give safe patient care,” she said, telling Global News Moe and Merriman have abandoned healthcare workers.“Everytime a registered nurse shows up and sees their unit, agency or facility so incredibly short staffed… it reminds them that the premier and the minister of health ignored their pleas for help, ignored their calls to say, ‘We have a health-care system that is in crisis’.”The 57.4 per cent of respondents who said they had considered leaving the profession in the past 12 months represents the highest percentage in the past eight years of that count and shows nearly a 12-per cent increase over 2021.Those who said there are temporary or permanent vacancies represented 82.8 per cent, up from 39.7 per cent in 2021.

Reports suggested that the new subtype has been detected in east China's Suzhou, which borders Shanghai. A patient in the region has been infected with a mutation VOC/Omicron variant BA.1.1, unidentified in previously found strains, posing new threats. 

Spain and Italy have both confirmed they will extend Covid travel restrictions for at least another month.

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China sends over 10,000 health workers to aid city

School pupils and students across Scotland have now entered into their Easter holidays this week.

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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he expects to be updated in a few weeks by the Chief Medical Officer on Covid-19 isolation periods.

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia health officials are recommending that people wear masks in public indoor spaces to help thwart a growing number of COVID-19 infections in the city. Philadelphia Department of Health said in a Monday press release that coronavirus case in Philadelphia have increased by more than 50% in the last ten days. This jump comes as COVID-19 infections in Philadelphia have been slowly rising over the last several weeks, according to officials."As we see more cases of COVID-19 in the city, everyone’s risk goes up," Health Commissioner Dr.

Chinese authorities have extended the lockdown of Shanghai to cover all of the financial centre's 26 million people, after city-wide testing saw new Covid-19 cases surge to more than 13,000 amid growing public anger over quarantine rules.

Frustration is growing in China’s largest city of Shanghai, where residents are living under a sweeping COVID-19 lockdown. Cases are rising here in Canada as well, but as Heather Yourex-West shows us, the sixth wave here isn’t likely to see broad public health restrictions re-imposed.

Climbing COVID numbers are impacting our health system in BC. Health officials have been warning that confirmed cases would climb once health restrictions were relaxed.

The federal government will consider whether to include booster shots in the next version of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its workers, the Treasury Board said as it reviews the rules.

As Canada heads towards a sixth wave of COVID-19 with rising cases and hospitalizations across the country, health experts are stressing the need to continue masking and boosting the population.

Premier John Horgan announced in a tweet Monday morning that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating and working from home until his symptoms resolve. Reporter Richard Zussman has more.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare recipients are eligible to receive up to eight free tests per calendar month from participating pharmacies and healthcare providers, a list of which can be found here. "Since we took office, we have more than tripled the number of sites where people can get COVID-19 tests for free, and we’re also delivering close to 250 million at-home, rapid tests to send for free to Americans who need them. Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership, we required state Medicaid programs, insurers and group health plans to make tests free for millions of Americans," said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Monday. With today’s step, we are further expanding health insurance coverage of free over-the-counter tests to Medicare beneficiaries, including our nation’s elderly and people with disabilities," Becerra added. This will be the first time Medicare covers over-the-counter and self-administered tests to beneficiaries and the policy will apply to tests approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a news release about the announcement. A pharmacist hands a woman a free COVID-19 home test that is covered by Medicare at a CVS in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Global’s Keith Baldrey has more on Premier John Horgan announcing he’s tested positive for COVID-19, and a preview of what the province is expected to announce about COVID restrictions on Tuesday.

long-term care facility who recently worked 10 12-hour shifts in 13 days.That span only involves picking a few additional shifts, but it weighs on her after working through the pandemic for so long, especially in a rural area.“Quite often we were so short that we didn’t have a second nurse, so I had no (licensed practical nurse),” she said,“So I was the only (nurse) for 30 people.”She said the lack of staffing is especially bad because she works in a rural area — Cut Knife, Sask., a town of about 600 people roughly 50 km east of North Battleford.The entire medical staff at the facility consists of about seven people.That means one or two people from that team needing to isolate with COVID-19 puts everyone back in the overtime situation.Speaking to Global News a few days after the stretch of shifts, Sawatzky said she is feeling better.But she said she noticed an effect it had on her. COVID-19: 1,196 new cases in Saskatchewan, 20 deaths “I do know that my stamina and my energy levels are not much up to par.

Concerns are rising among some health workers, as Canada reports another uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Texas troopers and Border Patrol agents rescued a woman who had been smuggled across the border, and was trapped in a duffel bag, from a burning car.Agents had started the pursuit of a human smuggler on March 24 near Laredo, Texas. The pursuit was soon joined by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).The smuggler crashed the car, which immediately caught on fire, and bailed out of the car.RELATED: COVID-19 asylum limits at US-Mexico border to end May 23He was then immediately apprehended by troopers, and told them that there was a woman who had been smuggled in the back of the car.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia health officials are recommending that people wear masks in public indoor spaces to help thwart a growing number of COVID-19 infections in the city. Philadelphia Department of Health said in a Monday press release that coronavirus case in Philadelphia have increased by more than 50% in the last ten days. This jump comes as COVID-19 infections in Philadelphia have been slowly rising over the last several weeks, according to officials."As we see more cases of COVID-19 in the city, everyone’s risk goes up," Health Commissioner Dr.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw maintains public health restrictions were necessary to protect the health-care system during the COVID-19 pandemic.She took the stand at a civil trial on Monday.Several churches and individuals in Alberta filed a constitutional challenge against the province in December 2020, accusing the government of violating Albertans’ rights by imposing public health orders and restrictions at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Montreal-based study estimates Quebec saw up to 32,000 new daily COVID-19 cases last week Other provinces have resisted calls to prolong or reimpose public health restrictions, even as cases have risen in some parts of the country.Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that his province, which has seen a one-week, 30 per cent rise in hospitalizations, can manage what he described as a “little spike” in COVID-19. Ford said a combination of increased hospital capacity and the advent of antiviral drugs have left the province better prepared.“We expected a little spike,” Ford said.

NHS have shared an updated list of symptoms as headaches and diarrhoea are identified as Covid calling cards.Many symptoms are similar to those that you may experience with the flu or a cold, including a high temperature and chills, a continuous cough and a sore throat.The news comes as it was announced that a record 4.9 million people have the virus in the UK, and that figure could rise further over the coming weeks.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) officials say that is the highest number seen since its survey began at the end of April 2020, and that the surge in infections is being driven partly by the contagious Omicron BA.2 sub-variant and the fact that restrictions have been essentially eradicated.The main symptoms of Covid are still the same: a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.However as new strains emerge and the virus develops, other symptoms have also been reported to be linked with the sickness.According to the NHS the signs of COVID-19 that people should look out for also include:A note on the NHS website adds: "The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu."The NHS list had just three symptoms for almost two years, this is despite the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US having had longer symptom lists for some time."Why now make that change when it's been stuck on just the three for so long?" Kate Garraway asked Dr Hilary on GMB today (Monday, April 4). To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here .

Miley Cyrus is back in Los Angeles, currently recovering from COVID-19 after testing positive for the virus, following her recent tour in South America and facing a number of difficult situations, including an emergency landing and health issues.The 29-year-old rock star explained that she loved every second of her tour, which was also her first in seven years, performing in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Colombia.“Traveling around the world, playin for 100,000 people a night & meeting hundreds of fans a day the chances of getting Covid are pretty high,” Miley admitted, adding that she has “Covid now but it was definitely worth it.”Miley was forced to cancel her performance at Janie’s Fund on Sunday, hosted by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. “Unfortunately because of this I’m missing out on Janie’s Fund which sucks because it’s a charity that’s super important to me & my friend Steven Tyler.

States in New England are reporting a steep increase in daily COVID-19 cases as the Omicron subvariant, BA.2, takes dominance. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey have seen COVID-19 cases jump more than 40% over the latest 14-day period, the New York Times reports.

A new study in JAMA Pediatrics shows the Omicron variant has caused six to eight times the rate of Omicron infections in US preschoolers as the Delta variant, but cases were less severe with Omicron.The study looked at outcomes in US children ages 4 and younger

COVID-19 cases spreading at their schools after a change in protocol, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) says.In a tweet Monday, the board said notification letters will now be shared with the entire school community and “include all impacted classes in the school.”The TDSB said the move would provide a “more comprehensive picture” of the pandemic in schools and will continue until the end of this school year.Moving forward, COVID-19 notification letters will now be shared with the entire school community and include all impacted classes in the school. This updated process will provide a more comprehensive picture and continue until the end of this school year.— Toronto District School Board (@tdsb) April 4, 2022Students at TDSB schools have faced a turbulent few pandemic months.In March, a request from the board to delay the end of mask mandates in classrooms was rejected by Queen’s Park.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations through the spring of 2022 due to increased transmission of BA.2 variant and relaxed public health measures.During a board of health meeting on Monday, the latest Scarsin forecasting is suggesting COVID-19 will continue to circulate in the city well into June and that residents will be more susceptible to infection with immunity waning.Current epidemiological data suggests the city is now on course with a so-called “resurgence scenario” — the worst of two forecasts presented to city councillors in March — that could produce 400 new COVID hospitalizations between now and the end of June. Ontario COVID update: 857 people in hospital, 168 in intensive care “New hospital admissions are likely to continue into the summer and may reach almost six per day,” Hamilton public heath epidemiologist Ruth Sanderson told councillors.The updated numbers suggest the impact of Omicron subvariant BA.2 represents around 45 per cent of all cases now sprouting up in Hamilton as of the end of March.It’s expected that overall COVID case numbers in the next few months will be half of the peak seen during the Omicron wave in mid-January with the latest wave expected to hit a high in early May of about 650 cases per week.Peak hospitalizations are also expected to be half of the 14 admitted per week in mid-January.Those aged between 60 and 79 are the demographic most likely to be impacted by potential hospitalization during the next wave.It’s estimated 16 COVID-related deaths are possible between now and the end of June.Hamilton’s medical officer of health Dr.

Ontario works to deal with sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Dr. Eileen de Villa made the comments during an announcement in Toronto on Monday, regarding third doses of COVID-19 vaccines.The province-wide mask mandate was lifted earlier this month in most public spaces except in “high-risk” areas including medical facilities, long-term care homes and other congregate living situations and on public transit.The mandate for the remaining public spaces is set to be lifted later this month.

Waterloo Region District School Board says they have now opened high school gymnasiums to the public for rental as part of their plan to safely reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic.The board says it is taking a phased approach and although the gymnasiums at the schools opened over weekends, they will not allow for spectators. Waterloo schools will again open when weather forces bus cancellations Gyms in elementary schools will open on weekends as Phase 2 of the board’s four-phased approach, but again, the stands will remain empty.Phase 3 of the plan will see gyms at all schools be available for community use on weekdays beginning on May 2.

Free Covid testing for most people in the UK ended this month as part of the government's plans to live with the virus. In England, lateral flow tests (LFTs) are no longer available for free, unless you are a patient in hospital, at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus and eligible for Covid-19 treatments, or you work in an NHS or social care setting.

The Department of Health has been notified of 6,518 new cases of Covid-19, including 3,164 PCR-confirmed cases of the virus and 3,354 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal.

Doug Ford says the province is in the midst of “a little spike” of COVID-19 but that it is manageable.The COVID-19 hospitalizations reported today in Ontario are up roughly 30 per cent compared to a week ago.The province is reporting 857 people in hospital with the virus today, compared with 655 last Monday. Ontario COVID update: 857 people in hospital, 168 in intensive care There is also a small increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care — to 168 from 158 a week ago.When asked about the situation today at an unrelated announcement, Ford said the “little spike” was expected and that he will continue to follow the advice of the chief medical officer of health.He says the province has added more acute care beds and now has antiviral pills available, so it is well prepared.“We’ve also built up hospital capacity — 3,100 acute care beds, we’re better prepared,” he said.

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COVID-19 on Monday. There are 168 people in intensive care with or due to the virus.That marks an increase of 94 hospitalizations and two people in intensive care since Sunday’s report.However, not all hospitals report updated figures on weekends, meaning the reported numbers may be an underestimation.Last Monday, there were 655 people reported to be in hospital with COVID-19, with 158 in intensive care.

RSV.For most children and young people, these illnesses will not be serious, and they will soon recover following rest and plenty of fluids.Very few children and young people with respiratory infections become seriously unwell. This is also true for children and young people with long-term conditions.

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This Easter is the first school holiday since all coronavirus travel restrictions were lifted in the UK. Airlines have seen a boost in bookings for Easter getaways, with TUI revealing that Spain and Greece are among its most popular destinations.

Free Coronavirus testing in England has now been scrapped, as the government continues to push forward with its 'Living with Covid' plans. From 1 April, only a small minority of the general public are eligible for free tests, while everyone else will now have to pay should they wish to be tested.

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