Ontario schools reopen with plans to distribute rapid COVID tests, ramp up vaccine clinics

World Health Organization said on Saturday he had discussed with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang the need for stronger collaboration on the origins of Covid-19, a subject of controversy that has strained Beijing's relations with the West.

Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he had tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Canada’s Isabelle Weidemann won the bronze medal in the women’s 3,000-metre speedskating race at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Saturday.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police says that bodied of one more person who went swimming at the Ellewala waterfall in Wellawaya, was found.One person out of four is reported missing and a search operation is underway.Meanwhile, Police say that drowning incidents are more frequently reported during the weekends, adding that people who travel to various locations on trips should be careful when swimming in water sources and engaging in leisure activities.Police noted that most drownings incidents are due to the lack of awareness of the water currents and negligence.According to statistics, the rate drowning for Sri Lanka averaged over three years from 2016-2018 was 3.5 deaths per 100,000 people.

Phillip Schofield, 59, has revealed he’s tried everything to be able to make it to host Dancing on Ice alongside co-star Holly Willoughby, 40, in an emotional Instagram post this morning. The presenter was struck down with Covid earlier this week, meaning he had to pull out of fronting This Morning at the last minute.Phillip was hoping he’d be given the all clear just in time to host Sunday's edition of Dancing on Ice.However, the star has taken to social media to inform his three million followers that despite doing two lateral flow tests “to be absolutely sure”, the results on both have sadly come back positive.Taking a picture of the tests resting on a granite worktop, Phillip wrote today: “Did two tests to be absolutely sure (crying face emoji).”The ITV favourite then took the opportunity to wish his colleague Stephen Mulhern good luck as he steps in to replace him.“Sorry @dancingonice Have an amazing show @stephenmulhern it’s SO much fun x @hollywilloughby.”A spokesperson for Dancing on Ice commented on the news shortly after Phillip’s tearful post.They said: “Sunday's episode of Dancing on Ice will be hosted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern while Phillip Schofield continues to self-isolate."A source also told The Mirror of Phillip’s replacement: "Phil is off recovering, Stephen was delighted to be asked to step in to fill his shoes and present alongside Holly."He gets on with everyone so bosses are more than happy for him to step up. “Everyone's wishing Phil a quick recovery and hoping to see him back in his rightful place later this month.”Phillip confirmed he had tested positive for Covid after a busy time last weekend.He had been out and about attending the theatre alongside his estranged wife Stephanie

ANI. Dr Pratit Samdani also said that "she is tolerating the procedures well at this moment".

Police are investigating a shooting that killed a man in North Philadelphia. NORTH PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police are investigating a shooting that resulted in the death of an unidentified man.Officials said the shooting occurred early Saturday, on the 1400 block of West Toronto Street, in North Philadelphia, around 3:45.An unidentified man was found suffering from three gunshot wounds when officers arrived.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

booster or precautionary vaccine dose. 

https://t.co/5SPNhskPKe pic.twitter.com/dIK3Psm6qX

Ashley Wadsworth’s friends and family were happily following along with the pictures and updates she sent back home from her U.K. adventure.

ANI.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

BBC period drama.She made her debut all the way back in 2012, and as of 2022 still stars in the programme, with her character Trixie best known as a glam nurse keen on gossiping.Speaking about her character, Helen said she is “the fun loving, party going midwife who’s always up for a drink and a fag and to go out with the boys and have a good dance. She relishes trying to set up her fellow midwives with other guys and push them into relationships and get them married off but with a twinkle in her eye.“Fundamentally though she’s a midwife and that’s what she’s there to do.”But what about Helen’s life away from the cameras?As so much of Helen’s life has been dedicated to her tenure on Call the Midwife, it’s hardly surprising that she would eventually find romance on that very set.Though she was previously married to Oliver Boot from 2011 until 2015, the pair went on to divorce.And it was during the 2016 Christmas special of the programme that Helen met her soulmate Jack Ashton, best know for playing Reverend Tom Hereward in the period drama.The pair regularly share updates on their romance, with Helen admitting during an interview on This Morning that Jack was “furious” with her for not getting enough bed rest during her pregnancy.Speaking on the show, she explained that she doesn’t get much time to relax, telling the hosts: “Not really.

Thousands of demonstrators are expected to pile into the Canadian capital of Ottawa later as a week-long occupation of the city by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates is to ramp up, with other cities also braced for protests.

Compulsory vaccination against Covid-19 for all those aged over the age of 18 comes into force in Austria today, an unprecedented measure in the European Union.

In a lengthy comment posted to his Instagram page, the popular podcaster and former stand up comic and UFC colour commentator addressed the recent spate of artists pulling their music from Spotify over concerns regarding his podcast spreading misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Rogan proposed that “controversial” episodes of his podcast would now feature a warning before each episode, and he promised to be more “balanced” in whom he pursued as far as guests, allowing those from the mainstream medical community to more immediately address other guests who propagate non-mainstream views.

More than 50 years after Vancouver’s legendary Black neighbourhood, Hogan’s Alley, was bulldozed to make way for viaducts, a UBC student hopes to re-establish a sense of neighbourhood by starting a Black library. Paul Johnson reports.

Mayor Kennedy Stewart took aim at people planning a protest against ongoing COVID-19 containment measures Saturday. “Vancouver doesn’t want you here,” he said in a statement late Friday afternoon.

Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said on Friday that police will be utilizing heavy barricades to create no-access roadways throughout the downtown core and further isolate the protest in front of Parliament Hill.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

The ongoing Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy has taken yet another turn — this time in the form of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson siding with the podcast host.

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday directly rebutted Donald Trump‘s false claims that he somehow could have overturned the results of the 2020 election, saying that the former president was simply “wrong.”

An Ottawa citizen has filed a lawsuit claiming up to $10 million in damages against the organizers of the trucker convoy that has parked itself in the city for over a week.

The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing are officially underway after athletes marched through the Bird’s Nest stadium as part of the opening ceremony on Friday.

CHESTER, Pa. - A local college student narrowly escaped tragedy when a stray bullet tore through a window while he was doing homework and missed his head by inches. Matthew Kennedy, a Sophomore student at Widener University in Chester County, said he was sitting at his desk solving physics equations when he heard a pop and smelled smoke.Kennedy, 20, said he threw himself on the ground and immediately called his uncle who lives nearby. Police responded to Kennedy's off-campus residence and found a bullet in his roommate's bedroom wall. The Chester Police Department said they responded to a report of shots fired In the neighborhood roughly an hour before the stray bullet tore through Kennedy’s home. They’re not sure if the two incidents are related and still do not know where the bullet originated. "I’m just happy to be alive," Kennedy said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Minister has issued an Extraordinary Gazette preventing unvaccinated people from entering or being in public places.People must have proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to enter public places starting 30 April.The gazette noted that “A person shall not enter any public place without having the proof of being fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID – 19) unless exempted by the Proper Authority in respect of the whole of Sri Lanka.”“For the purposes of this regulation “fully vaccinated ” means that the relevant person has obtained the required doses of the relevant vaccination as specified by the Director – General of Health Services”, it added. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); The SLNS ‘Gajabhahu’ ship joined the traditional Gun Salute to the nation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy at 12.00 noon in the seas off Galle Face on Friday (4).Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika De Silva told reporters that SLNS Gajabhahu is the largest vessel with the Sri Lanka Navy and for the gun-salute was accorded using the 47 MM Saluting Gun (4 nos).On the sidelines of the 74th National Independence Day celebrations held under the theme “An affluent tomorrow and prosperous motherland with challenges overcome” Sri Lanka Navy honoured the nation by according a 25-Gun Salute onboard Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Gajabahu by 12.00 noon today (04th February 2022). The ceremonial tradition was executed under the guidance of the Commanding Officer of the ship, Captain Malan Perera.According of a Gun Salute could be held on National Independence Day or a particular day designated by the government as a mark of respect to the nation and the highest honour of 25-gun salute is only accorded to the nation.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Kalutara Crimes Division has arrested the ambulance driver who was the target of a gunman in Panadura recently.Sri Lanka Police said the ambulance driver was transferring an expectant mother to the Panadura Hospital, when several people chased after him on four motorcycles and opened fire at him.However, the weapon used by the gunman had jammed.Police said the ambulance driver was arrested after it was revealed that he was transporting Heroin at the time of the incident.According to Police, the person who was driving the motorcycle and the person who assisted in the shooting were also arrested.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Irvin Saunders, 68, was arrested Friday on a number of horrific charges including rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual assault. CHESTER, Pa. - A Delaware County man is facing child rape charges after prosecutors say he abused two young girls several times over the course of two years. Irvin Saunders, 68, was arrested Friday on a number of horrific charges including rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual assault.Saunders is alleged to have sexually abused an 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl over a two year period. Prosecutors did not say when the abuse allegedly started, and they did not provide a relationship between Saunders and the victims.Saunders was taken to Delaware County Prison on $500,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb.

COVID-19 mandates.In a memo emailed to all Vancouver acute and medical staff, Vancouver Coastal Health said the route for Saturday’s protest was expected to take it past Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital.Staff were urged to stay indoors during the convoy, not to engage with any protesters they encounter and to “refrain from wearing scrubs and/or your ID badge outside of the hospital during the demonstration.” Victoria police deploy security cameras ahead of weekend ‘convoy’ protest “We acknowledge the right to peacefully and legally protest,” the memo states, before noting legislation passed in November making it illegal to intimidate people or impede access to a health-care facility within a 20-metre bubble zone.“In order to ensure safe access for staff, patients, clients and visitors, Integrated Protection Services (IPS) and local law enforcement will be closely monitoring the situation,” the memo adds.Staff who feel threatened are being asked to contact site security.

The Canadian economy lost 200,000 jobs in January amid stricter public health rules put in place to slow the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. Absence due to illness also rose to a record high, with one in 10 employees off sick.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Secret Service agents arrested a Tempe Home Depot employee for passing nearly $400,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, the federal law enforcement agency said Friday.The suspect, identified as Adrian Jean Pineda, was once a vault associate at the store near I-10 and Baseline.

PHILADELPHIA - Following a day of soaking rain showers across the Delaware Valley, temperatures will plunge overnight Friday and freeze surfaces to create a slippery start to the weekend. Forecasters expect temperatures in Philadelphia and its suburbs to bottom out in the 20s on Friday night. Areas north and west of the city will skew even colder, dipping down into the upper teens. Most regions should prepare for the possibility of a thin glaze of ice on untreated roads and sidewalks, but regions north and west of Philadelphia where temperatures will be the coldest should prepare for the threat of slippery surfaces. The remnants of a major winter storm that stretched from Texas to New England and funneled days of rain into our area will dissipate overnight Friday. Weekend temperatures will remain frigid with back-to-back days in the 30s.

Global’s Keith Baldrey looks back at B.C.’s COVID-19 numbers for the week, including hospitalizations, deaths, intensive care admissions and the positivity rate.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has made a significant shift over the past few days – going from saying COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted in late March, to much sooner.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Dioceses of Allentown suspended its longstanding rule that barred male athletes from wrestling their female counterparts after a team lost a district championship by forfeiting a dozen points.A spokesperson for the Diocese of Allentown claimed that opposing teams are taking advantage of the school's rule, accusing some of using it as a "coaching tactic.""Some coaches have unscrupulously used it knowing that there wouldn’t be a bout, there would be a forfeit," Paul Wirth said. "In some cases, girls who weren’t on the team roster to the mat, know the boy would be forced to forfeit."Luke Jordan, a freshman at Berks Catholic, has had at least 5 of his matches forfeited due to this rule.

BRAZIL - 2021/10/06: In this photo illustration the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) logo seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Finally, since "Grand Theft Auto 5" was first released in 2013, Rockstar Games’ developers have finally confirmed that they are working on the next edition of the iconic video game. The company made an announcement on Friday that fans can finally hold their breath for "GTA6.""With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we've previously delivered.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The rate of COVID-19 infections in Sri Lanka has risen by 30 percent compared to the previous week, amidst the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, the Ministry of Health said.“Given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, there is a considerable increase in the rate of COVID-19 patients and hospitalisations,” Dr. Anwar Hamdani, the Director of Medical Technology Services and Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 at the Ministry of Health told News 1st on Saturday (Feb.

The continued increase in cases today is a reminder that, as expected, the Omicron variant is spreading in our communities as we have seen in other countries.

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!!

Kenney commits to lifting COVID-19 restrictions as Alberta highway protests continue The comments contradict what the premier has said about the issue in the past.“We’ve said we’ll respect the decision of municipalities in that regard. We think these decisions are better taken locally,” Kenney said at a news conference on July 22, 2020.“Municipalities representing about 90 per cent of the population have already brought in various mask mandates based on their own various conditions.

Premier Jason Kenney has changed his opinion on whether Alberta municipalities could create their own health policies — leaving some elected officials asking for more data. Breanna Karstens-Smith reports.

WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee (RNC) took a rare step on Friday to censure two GOP lawmakers in the House of Representatives for their participation in a Democratic dominated House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.In an overwhelming voice vote by committee members gathered for the general session of their winter meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, the RNC rebuked Reps.

wastewater surveillance from municipalities a little more as a potential alternative to track viral activity.Last March, the Ford government invested in just over a dozen research and academic institutions to create a surveillance network to test wastewater samples taken from communities across Ontario.“Together with clinical and public health data, wastewater monitoring can help local public health units identify potential COVID-19 outbreaks and enable more timely decisions about how and where to mobilize resources in response,” environment minister Jeff Yurek said after handing over $12 million in wastewater collecting initiatives. Toronto launches pilot project to collect COVID-19 data from wastewater Two years into the program, an estimated 75 per cent of Ontario’s population is now within the Ministry of the Environment’s (MOE) coverage area for the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative (WSI).In recent weeks, the director of the Ontario Science Advisory Table Dr.