Coronavirus

Christiane Coopman, a 73-year-old blood cancer patient in Chilliwack, B.C., and her husband Murry who suffers from melanoma, both received booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine two weeks ago. HO-Cristiane Coopman / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Third-dose Thanksgiving: immunocompromised guests still wary of gatherings

Many immunocompromised Canadians deciding to forego or modify their traditional Thanksgiving plans

Christiane Coopman, a 73-year-old blood cancer patient in Chilliwack, B.C., and her husband Murry who suffers from melanoma, both received booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine two weeks ago. HO-Cristiane Coopman / THE CANADIAN PRESS
A vial of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is pictured at an Alberta Health Services vaccination clinic in Didsbury, Alta., Tuesday, June 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Pfizer to seek vaccine approval for Canadians as young as five in about a week

U.S. drugmaker submitted a formal request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today

A vial of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is pictured at an Alberta Health Services vaccination clinic in Didsbury, Alta., Tuesday, June 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Katharine Smart is shown in a handout photo. The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association held an emergency summit Tuesday night to discuss how move forward since the pandemic brought the health system to a breaking point, with no end in sight. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO/Canadian Medical Association

CMA president decries ‘gaslighting’ of health-care workers over COVID-19 toll

Health-care sector facing a “huge data gap” in knowing what resources are available for them

Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Katharine Smart is shown in a handout photo. The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association held an emergency summit Tuesday night to discuss how move forward since the pandemic brought the health system to a breaking point, with no end in sight. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO/Canadian Medical Association
(Black Press file photo).

Red Deer’s COVID-19 cases have risen to 825

The city had 818 active cases on Tuesday

(Black Press file photo).
Healthcare workers from Women’s College Hospital prepare doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood, in the M3N postal code, on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Despite rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations far exceeding other areas of the city, residents of the M3N postal code continue to struggle with the lowest vaccination rates in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Moderna asks Health Canada to authorize booster shot of its SpikeVax COVID-19 vaccine

Last month Moderna said there were signs immunity was waning the longer people got from their doses

Healthcare workers from Women’s College Hospital prepare doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood, in the M3N postal code, on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Despite rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations far exceeding other areas of the city, residents of the M3N postal code continue to struggle with the lowest vaccination rates in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
A Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine is readied at a vaccination clinic in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, June 3, 2021. A new study using Canadian data suggests the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus causes more serious disease and is associated with an increased risk of death compared to previous strains — dangers that are drastically reduced with vaccination. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Risk of death 133% higher with Delta than original COVID: Canadian study

Delta presents huge risk, especially for the unvaccinated who now make up the vast majority of COVID-19 cases

A Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine is readied at a vaccination clinic in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, June 3, 2021. A new study using Canadian data suggests the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus causes more serious disease and is associated with an increased risk of death compared to previous strains — dangers that are drastically reduced with vaccination. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland make their way to hold a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

RCMP, corrections staff among federal public servants covered by new vaccine mandate

Plane and train travellers must be vaccinated by end of October

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland make their way to hold a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make good today on his election promise to require all federal employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Trudeau expected to announce all federal workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19

Policy is expected to go into effect by the end of this month, allow only very narrow exceptions

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make good today on his election promise to require all federal employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Sarah Hoffman, Alberta Minister of Health, responds to a reporter’s questions at a press conference during the Conferences of Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health in Winnipeg on June 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Alberta resumes COVID-19 contact tracing in schools, offers rapid testing

Kenney says cases are growing in children between five and 11 years old

Sarah Hoffman, Alberta Minister of Health, responds to a reporter’s questions at a press conference during the Conferences of Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health in Winnipeg on June 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Peace tower is seen as politicians begin returning to work in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The government’s draft policy to mandate vaccines for federal workers could close the door to allowing unvaccinated employees working from home, according to one union executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Draft policy says even telecommuting public servants must be vaccinated: union exec

Working from home may not give federal workers an out from the jab

The Peace tower is seen as politicians begin returning to work in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The government’s draft policy to mandate vaccines for federal workers could close the door to allowing unvaccinated employees working from home, according to one union executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan speaks during a news conference Thursday May 7, 2020 in Ottawa. Sajjan says that as part of Operation LASER, Canadian Armed Forces members will use their experience to help Alberta in the fight against the fourth wave of the pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Alberta reports slight drop in critically ill COVID-19 patients in hospitals

Province says there are 298 patients in intensive care wards, most of them with the infection

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan speaks during a news conference Thursday May 7, 2020 in Ottawa. Sajjan says that as part of Operation LASER, Canadian Armed Forces members will use their experience to help Alberta in the fight against the fourth wave of the pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam speaks during a technical briefing on the COVID pandemic in Canada, Friday, January 15, 2021 in Ottawa. The Public Health Agency of Canada says it’s working with other governments still dubious about allowing Canadians with mixed doses travel across their borders without quarantining. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada must convince countries who reject mixed-dose travellers: travel association

Several countries, including the US, only recognize people with identical doses of approved vaccine

Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam speaks during a technical briefing on the COVID pandemic in Canada, Friday, January 15, 2021 in Ottawa. The Public Health Agency of Canada says it’s working with other governments still dubious about allowing Canadians with mixed doses travel across their borders without quarantining. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits a vaccine clinic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal government could push provinces on worker vaccine mandate, document says

Despite provincial authority, feds could consider making COVID-19 vaccines ‘national interest item’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits a vaccine clinic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw encouraged Albertans to get vaccinated on Monday. (File photo by The Associated Press)

Red Deer at 904 active cases

Alberta identifies 4,037 new COVID-19 cases over weekend

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw encouraged Albertans to get vaccinated on Monday. (File photo by The Associated Press)
(Adobe stock photo)

B.C. to begin COVID-19 booster shots for long-term care, assisted living residents

Those eligible will be getting their extra jabs along with influenza shots

(Adobe stock photo)
Public Safety Canada says the Canadian Red Cross is also planning to send up to 20 medical professionals, some with intensive care experience, to augment or relieve staff working in Alberta’s hospitals. (Photo from Black Press)

Defence minister sends in military nurse unit to help Alberta battle COVID

Canadian Red Cross is also planning to send up to 20 medical professionals to Alberta

Public Safety Canada says the Canadian Red Cross is also planning to send up to 20 medical professionals, some with intensive care experience, to augment or relieve staff working in Alberta’s hospitals. (Photo from Black Press)
A snowboarder glides under a chairlift at the Big White Ski Resort, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 near Kelowna, B.C. Strength in season pass sales has been one bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for big mountain resorts in Western Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Strength in season pass sales a rare silver lining for ski resorts post-pandemic

Resorts near cities like Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton have more to gain from strong season pass sales

A snowboarder glides under a chairlift at the Big White Ski Resort, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 near Kelowna, B.C. Strength in season pass sales has been one bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for big mountain resorts in Western Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Alberta still has more than 20,000 active cases of COVID-19. (Black Press file image)

Red Deer adds three more COVID-19 deaths, active cases drop to 784

Alberta reports 1,630 new cases of the virus

  • Oct 1, 2021
Alberta still has more than 20,000 active cases of COVID-19. (Black Press file image)
Premier Andrew Furey poses for a picture outside Woodward Aviation Hangar at the St. John’s Airport awaiting the departure of the second team of medical professionals who left St. John’s, Tuesday, May 4, 2021, en route to Brampton Ont. to assist with caring for COVID-19 patients. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

Newfoundland sends team to help Alberta battle COVID-19

Fort McMurray home to thousands of people originally from the eastern province

Premier Andrew Furey poses for a picture outside Woodward Aviation Hangar at the St. John’s Airport awaiting the departure of the second team of medical professionals who left St. John’s, Tuesday, May 4, 2021, en route to Brampton Ont. to assist with caring for COVID-19 patients. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly
New Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping takes his mask off to give a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

‘It’s really scary’: Alberta physicians face more aggressive, misinformed patients

Multiple patients a day are asking their clinics for medical exemptions

New Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping takes his mask off to give a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson