Opposition leaders urge caution with Ontario mask mandate possibly easing within weeks

After presenter Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hairstyle during the Oscars on Sunday night, Smith stood up from his seat near the stage, strode up to Rock and slapped him during the live show.

Today we are reporting 17,148 community cases, 842 hospitalisations and 34 deaths.

PHOENIX - Police say an investigation is underway after the remains of a male infant were found at a restaurant in Phoenix on March 27, and surveillance video shows what may have led up to the tragic incident.The remains were found near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road in a fast-food restaurant around 2 p.m. Sunday, says Phoenix Police Sgt.

LOS ANGELES - Actor Will Smith has apologized to Chris Rock on Instagram for slapping him during the Oscars ceremony. "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris.

ORLANDO - The operations manual for Orlando FreeFall, the drop tower ride at ICON Park where a 14-year-old boy died last week after he seemingly fell out of the ride's restraints, indicates that the boy exceeded the ride's weight restrictions.The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the agency that inspects and oversees some attractions in Florida, released a handful of documents related to its initial investigation, including the operations manual and previous inspections.Pages 57 & 58 of the 176-page manual discuss rider limitations and restrictions. You can view the manual below."Be careful when seeing if large guests fit into the seats.

Ground personnel carry NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei after landing of the Soyuz MS-06 space capsule in a remote area outside the town of Dzhezkazgan (Zhezkazgan), Kazakhstan, on February 28, 2018.Two NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut returned t NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei is about to feel the weight of Earth's gravity for the first time in nearly a year when he lands in Kazakhstan on Wednesday along with two Russian cosmonauts.Since he arrived in space on April 9, 2021, the veteran NASA astronaut has missed a year of holidays, family gatherings and the second year of a global pandemic as Vande Hei has been working on the International Space Station about 200 miles above Earth.Vande Hei will hold the record for the longest American spaceflight at 355 days by the end of his mission. During his career, he has spent more than 520 days in space.In a recent interview from space, Vande Hei said he promised his wife, whom he has not seen in person since January, that this will be his last spaceflight.

Queen is still hopeful she will join her family in a poignant memorial for Prince Philip later today (Tuesday).But although the monarch is mentioned in the Order of Service, Buckingham Palace is expected to confirm as late as Tuesday morning whether or not she will be able attend the event – which is of special significance to her.The 95-year-old head of state pulled out of the Commonwealth Day service earlier this month due to comfort issues and has spoken about not being able to move.She recently recovered from Covid-19 and appeared on good form at Windsor last week.Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will definitely not be in attendance.Controversially, Prince Andrew Duke of York will be in attendance despite recently settling a sexual assault civil case in the US out of court.The Palace said the Queen has been actively involved in the plans for the service, with many elements reflecting her wishes.And in another emotional nod to her late husband, several of the details in the service were actually planned by the Duke of Edinburgh himself.Missing gestures from Philip's pre-pandemic arrangements will see young Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award holders and members of the youth UK Cadet Force associations line the steps of Westminster Abbey as guests arrive.The duke's express wishes for the congregation to join and sing the rousing hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, and for the clergy from Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral to play a special part will finally be granted on Tuesday.The duke had an active role in the day-to-day management of the estates for many years.He wanted the minister of Crathie Church near Balmoral, the rector of Sandringham and the chaplain to the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Great Park, to take

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's district attorney is calling for a multi-million dollar forensics lab after President Joe Biden offered billions to pay for state and local governments to hire more police.District Attorney Larry Krasner made his pitch for a beefed up forensics lab Monday while reporting the details of a 26-year-old convicted of a gun-felony despite a key piece of forensics equipment being broken. Krasner said Bashir Moore was arrested on New Year’s Eve in 2019 for firing his weapon into the air. Police never found Moore’s gun, but convicted him by using gun residue even when a key piece of equipment needed in the investigation was broken at the time.Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the city needs a new multi-million dollar forensics crime lab to help thwart gun crimes in Philadelphia.

FILE-This aerial view shows the Controlled Thermal Resources (CRT) drilling rig in Calipatria, California, Today it is desolate but huge reserves of lithium are inside. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) NEWRY, Maine - The race is on to produce more lithium in the United States.The U.S.

The Mexican presidential jet, a Boeing Co. 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, sits in a hangar in Mexico City, Mexico, Dec.

Center for Space Science analyzed space and ground-based data from the past 25 years in order to reach their findings, according to a news release based on the study which was published in the journal Nature on March 24. The mysterious high-frequency retrograde (HFR) waves move in the opposite direction of the Sun’s natural rotation and appear to be moving in a swirling motion, according to the news release. These waves are moving three times the speed established by current theory. Scientists aren’t sure if other well-known properties of the sun such as magnetism, gravity or convection, could explain why these new waves are moving more quickly. "If the HFR waves could be attributed to any of these three processes, then the finding would have answered some open questions we still have about the Sun," said Chris S. Hanson, the study’s lead author.

Ontario’s Dump Truck Association has been striking for a week, they’re asking for increased wages and better safety standards. Morganne Campbell has more in this report.

A family of five has died after a house fire in Brampton overnight. As Caryn Lieberman reports, the victim’s father says there were no smoke alarms in the home following a recent renovation.

The Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay and Ministry lead for Care in the Community Dr Joe Bourne will provide an update on the response to the Omicron outbreak.

With the March 31 deadline looming large, Ontario finally signed a deal with the federal government to achieve $10 per day childcare by 2025. Ontario is the last jurisdiction in Canada to get on board, experts and advocates say the real work in pulling off the plan must now take place.

LOS ANGELES - It looks like the Chris Rock and Will Smith feud may be over. That's according to Diddy, who says everything was worked out between the two after the shocking on-stage slap Smith handed Rock during Sunday night's Oscars ceremony.(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on March 27, 2022 shows US actor Will Smith (L), US actress Jada Pinkett Smith attend the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022 and US actor Chris Rock speaks onstage RELATED: Chris Rock declines to press charges against Will Smith for Oscars slap, LAPD saysDiddy told Page Six the two hashed it out at the Oscars After Party hosted by Vanity Fair. "That's not a problem. That's over. I can confirm that," Diddy told the publication.He didn't go into further details. "It's all love," he added.

It’s been two years since many of us swapped our work desks for a home office. But as we prepare for post-pandemic life, many people are feeling anxious about returning to work.

MPP Randy Hillier is facing several serious charges in connection to a weeks long protest in Ottawa. Shallima Maharaj reports.

13 August 2021, Brandenburg, Grünheide: Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, stands at a press event on the grounds of the Tesla Gigafactory. The first vehicles are to roll off the production line in Grünheide near Berlin from the end of 2021.

SPRING HILL, Fla. - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the "Parental Rights in Education Act" into law during a visit to Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill. The bill bars instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for young public-school students.It is one of the more hotly-contested pieces of legislation drafted this session in Tallahassee.

With cases in China at their highest level in 2 years due to the more transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant, officials in China's biggest city, Shanghai, yesterday announced a two-part lockdown to do mass testing.

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 19: Manager Joe Girardi #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies enjoys a pregame ceremony prior to the Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays game at BayCare Ballpark on March 19, 2022 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo b CLEARWATER, Fla. - Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi says he thinks pitching around the majors in April will be a battle of attrition following the shortened spring training.The Phillies open the regular season at home on April 8 against the Oakland Athletics, the first of 13 straight days of games."I think that’s a pretty good way of putting it, you know," Girardi said Monday before the Phillies played Baltimore in spring training.

Adult COVID-19 patients also infected with the flu are four times more likely to require mechanical ventilation and 2.4 times more likely to die than if they had COVID-19 alone, finds a UK study published late last week in The Lancet.

TOPSHOT - US actor Will Smith (R) slaps US actor Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES - The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences says it condemns the actions of Will Smith during Sunday night’s Oscars and it will launch a formal review of his slapping of presenter Chris Rock.In a statement Monday, the film academy said it will also "explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law."RELATED: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock after Jada Pinkett Smith joke, then wins best actor OscarSmith stunned the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home when he took the stage during Rock’s remarks after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife. Rock turned to Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife, and said, "Jada, I love you.

NEW YORK - A 73-year-old man was shoved to the ground from behind and kicked in a broad daylight robbery attempt in Midtown Manhattan.The NYPD says it happened Sunday just before 11 a.m. on 8th Ave.Police say the elderly man was inside a convenience store buying lottery tickets when an unidentified man walked up to him and tried to grab his wallet out of his hand.The victim resisted and kept his wallet and the other man left the store.Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app!  |  Sign up for FOX 5 email newslettersThe 73-year-old left the store and then began crossing the street when the man ran up behind him and shoved him to the ground.

COVID-19 pandemic driven by the BA.2 subvariant.While the province’s public health director has been reluctant to confirm a new wave, Dr.

Style expert Suzie Wall has a full breakdown of the top trends from the red carpet during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Guelph, Ont., police are seeing an increase in cryptocurrency investment scams and trying to warn the community about some of the ways people are losing money.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) modeling study used data from 59 US case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) programs to estimate that the programs prevented 1.11 to 1.36 million COVID-19 cases, and 27,000 to 34,000 hospitalizations over 60 days in winter 2020-21, well before the Delta and Omicron variant surges. The researchers collected data from Nov 25, 2020, to Jan 23, 2021, f

Wastewater samples of COVID-19 RNA show the more transmissible BA.2 subvariant of Omicron now comprises most of the detected virus in three cities.BA.2 accounts for 78.9 per cent of all detected virus samples in Saskatoon, up from 34.1 per cent in the previous reporting period.The subvariant comprises 81.1 per cent of the virus detected in Prince Albert, increasing from 17.9 per cent. And it makes up 68.6 per cent of the wastewater in North Battleford, increasing from 49.4 per cent.

US actor Will Smith (R) slaps US actor Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) NEW YORK - Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars provoked intense opinions online, especially from comedians who felt it was an assault on their art."Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a comedian," Kathy Griffin wrote on Twitter. "Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters."The violent exchange began when Rock took verbal aim at Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, saying, "Jada, I love you.

Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - On Sunday night, a man with a verified Twitter account with the same name as actor Will Smith wasn’t expecting the kind of 15 minutes of fame he experienced on social media. People upset with actor Will Smith after he slapped comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars for a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, started posting comments on what they assumed was the actor’s official Twitter page. But what they didn’t realize is the Smith they were coming after is a podcaster based in San Francisco, California. RELATED: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock after Jada Pinkett Smith joke, then wins best actor Oscar"Real talk, I’m not the person you’re upset/happy with.

CHEYNEY, Pa. - Cheyney University's women's basketball team made history in 1982 when it made it to the NCAA Division I championship game. Although the team lost to Louisiana Tech, they remain the only team from a historically Black college or university to play for an NCAA Division I basketball championship. Cheyney University celebrated the team over the weekend with an event to honor the 40th anniversary of the historic game. The significance of the 1982 game is not lost on the team's former players, especially when the team was ranked second in the nation and had a 23 game winning streak. "We realized we were the first HBCU to get there, you know," Valerie Walker told FOX 29. "It was very important for us to get there. We got there.

TRENTON, N.J. - Members of the Trenton community gathered Sunday afternoon to release balloons in remembrance of SeQuoya Bacon-Jones, the nine-year-old who was shot and killed at Kingsbury Square late Friday night.Police responded to reports of gunfire around 7:30 Friday evening after arguments and fights broke out in a large group. When police arrived on scene, a 9-year-old girl, later identified as Bacon-Jones, was found suffering from a gunshot wound.Bacon-Jones was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead around midnight.Shirelle Jones, Bacon-Jones’ aunt, says that this sort of gun violence has no place in this city and that it's "unbelievable" that kids are not safe to play outside."She was energetic when she came into a room.

Traffic cameras showed a line of stopped traffic near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, about 12:15 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2022.

PHILADELPHIA - Homicide detectives with the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating after a man was fatally shot in Kensington. Police say the incident happened on the 800 block of East Willard Street around 10:54 p.m.

all drugs.  "Parents should really be aware of what this language is - it's like a different language," explained Bill Bodner, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division. He said that teens can now buy drugs online or on social media, pay with apps like Zelle or Venmo, and have the drugs delivered without their parents’ knowledge.

A U.S. Marine Corps carry team carries the transfer case containing the remains of Marine Gunnery Sgt. James W.

LVIV, Ukraine - Ukraine is prepared to declare its neutrality and consider a compromise on contested areas in the country’s east, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ahead of another round of talks set for Tuesday on stopping the fighting. But he said only a face-to-face meeting with Russia's leader can end the war. While hinting at possible concessions, Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukraine's priority is ensuring its sovereignty and its "territorial integrity" — preventing Russia from carving up the country, something Ukraine and the West say could now be Moscow's goal.Russia has long demanded that Ukraine drop any hope of joining the Western NATO alliance, which Moscow sees as a threat.

Ontario hospital with COVID-19 on Sunday, as the province continues efforts to control the spread of the virus.The latest data released by the province on Sunday also said 247 people are currently receiving aid in an intensive care unit (ICU) with COVID-19. Ontario reports 795 in hospital with COVID-19, 253 in intensive care Both the number of people in hospital and those in ICU dropped on Sunday compared with numbers reported a day earlier.On Saturday, Ontario reported 795 people were in hospital, and 253 were in intensive care.However, in a tweet Sunday morning, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott noted that not all hospitals report data on weekends.684 people are hospitalized with #COVID19.

Ontario hospital with COVID-19 Saturday, as the province continues its effort to control the ongoing pandemic.The latest data released by the province said of those hospitalized, 253 people were receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU).In a tweet Saturday morning, Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliott, said of those in hospital, 44 per cent were admitted due to COVID-19, while 56 per cent were admitted for other reasons but also tested positive for the virus. Ontario COVID numbers: 821 people in hospital, 262 in intensive care Of those in an intensive care unit, 78 per cent were admitted due to COVID-19, while 22 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.Both the number of people in hospital and those in ICU dropped on Saturday compared to numbers reported a day earlier.On Friday, Ontario reported 821 people were in hospital, and 262 were in intensive care.253 people are in ICU with #COVID19.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health says mask mandates will be removed by the end of March as long as positive public health trends continue.Dr. Kieran Moore says the province can “only mandate masking for so long,” with the risk from COVID-19 decreasing.He says Ontario has a very high vaccination rate, hospitalizations have been declining, and he believes the worst is behind us.However, he says that due to limited access to PCR testing, the true number of daily new COVID-19 cases can be estimated by multiplying the number of positive tests by 10, meaning there could be more than 22,000 new cases today.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates for their staff even as they lift the proof-of-vaccination requirement at facilities such as community centres.The province’s vaccine certificate system covering restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas, event spaces ended Tuesday and several municipalities confirmed vaccination would no longer be required to enter their recreation facilities and arts centres.But many municipalities that enacted policies requiring employees to be double vaccinated or lose their jobs are keeping those mandates in place.In Toronto, the city said that despite the other public health measures lifting, its policy that employees need to be vaccinated isn’t being removed.

Thames Valley District School Board say COVID-19 vaccination mandates will be lifted on Thursday when it comes to the use of facilities during non-school hours by not-for-profit community groups.It comes as the province lifted proof-of-vaccination and capacity rules Tuesday, along with most other COVID-19 public health measures, save for mask mandates.The TVDSB says permit holders may choose to continue requiring proof of vaccination after Thursday.Face masks must also continue to be worn on school premises, with requirements followed dependent on the activity.“Additionally, up to two nonparticipants for each participant, such as spectators, will be allowed inside the school facility during the hours of rental,” the board said in a statement. London Ont., concert venues and restaurants hopeful COVID-19 restrictions will stay loosened As of Tuesday, mask mandates remain in place across Ontario, but businesses like gyms, cinemas and restaurants no longer need to check patrons’ vaccination status.Remaining capacity limits have also been lifted for venues such as nightclubs, sporting arenas and concert halls.

COVID-19 system has come to an end and capacity limits have been dropped as of Tuesday.The government said the two public health measures would be lifted as part of its reopening plan as the province inches closer to returning to life before the global pandemic began in March 2020.Businesses do have the option of keeping proof of vaccination in place if they choose to do so, the government said.Premier Doug Ford has also previously said the proof of vaccination requirement would be a temporary measure when it came into effect in September 2021.Physical distancing requirements and indoor/outdoor social gathering limits have also been dropped.However, masking in indoor public settings will remain in place. Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Masking is one of the last remaining provincial measures that has not yet been eliminated.Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr.

Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has received its first shipment of medical masks for students, as schools continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.In an email to Global News Monday evening, Ryan Bird a spokesperson for TDSB, confirmed the board has received its first shipment of level 3 medical masks.According to Bird, the board has received two sizes of the masks.He said “they’ll begin being delivered to schools” on Tuesday.

Doug Ford said the province isn’t “far away” from lifting its mask mandate.Ford made the comment at an unrelated press conference Monday morning in response to a question from a reporter about the status of masking requirements in the province.“Right from the get-go, I’m listening to the chief medical officer,” Ford said. Mask mandate will likely be lifted in schools when it is removed for wider public: Ontario top doc “It’s his advice when they’re going to come off and we’ll wait for his advice and recommendations and once he gives the recommendations, we’ll be able to move forward.”Ford hinted that the province’s masking requirements could be lifted in the third week of March.“What I’m hearing: over the next few weeks, maybe after March break when the kids get back, but we’ll see.

Ontario hospital with COVID-19 on Sunday, as the province continues to work to control the ongoing pandemic.The latest data released by the province also said 281 people were receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU). Ontario reports 1,024 in hospital with COVID-19, 284 in intensive care The numbers reflect a drop in both hospitalizations and ICU admissions from numbers provided by the province on Saturday, when 1,024 people were in hospital and 284 were in intensive care.842 people are hospitalized with #COVID19.