Primary Country (Mandatory)

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
Other Source(s) (Optional)
Customize Country
United States
  • Other Countries
    • India
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
News Categories
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Special
  • All Categories
Customize Language
  • Available Languages
    • English
Customize News Source
  • Selected Source(s)
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • Information Times
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
      • Hebei News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Friday

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Friday

CBC
Saturday, January 01, 2022 12:53:05 AM UTC

The latest:

More provinces have reduced isolation requirements for people who test positive for COVID-19 Friday in an effort to lessen staffing shortages as the Omicron variant continued to drive diagnoses at record rates.

British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick are the latest to reduce to five the number of days that people with two doses of vaccine must isolate if they test positive for the virus.

"With rapid increases in numbers, we're facing some challenges," said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s chief medical officer.

"The illness that we're seeing, particularly in health-care workers, is starting to have impacts on our health-care system and our long-term care system."

Those who are still symptomatic after five days must continue to isolate until they feel better, and those who become asymptomatic have to wear a mask around others for an extra five days — rules also brought into force by Alberta and Manitoba on Friday.

Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon said the province is also requiring people who test positive from a rapid antigen test to self-isolate.

The changes come as the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus continues to drive high case counts across the country. Manitoba reported a single-day high of 1,494 new cases on Friday, as well as five new deaths. B.C. reported 3,795 new cases and three new deaths.

Early research suggests the Omicron variant causes less severe outcomes than previous strains. But experts say the sheer number of cases — caused by Omicron's high transmissibility — threaten to overrun the health-care system because more people will be hospitalized and more health workers will be infected.

New Brunswick Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said her province is also experiencing staffing shortages in the health-care system due to Omicron. "We expect the situation will become even more challenging as we live through this latest wave of COVID-19," she said.

In response to the surging COVID-19 case numbers, the province's hospitals are moving to urgent and emergency services only. That means people in New Brunswick can expect to see "non-urgent and elective surgeries, procedures and lab services cancelled," Shephard said.

During the same news conference, Premier Blaine Higgs announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 using a rapid test and was waiting for confirmation via a more accurate PCR test. He said he was experiencing only mild symptoms.

New Brunswick reported a record 682 cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Due to the influx of new infections, the province announced it will limit access to its PCR tests starting Tuesday to only those considered at highest risk of the virus, including people who live in congregate-care settings and members of the general public who are 50 or older.

New Brunswick is also pushing back the resumption of in-person learning by 11 days, with students to learn virtually until Jan. 21.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
More Related News
P.E.I. senior injured in 2016 wipeout goes on to cycle the globe — virtually

Not much can slow down 72-year-old Jan Meulenkamp — not the COVID-19 pandemic, and not a bone-shattering cycling accident that almost sidelined him permanently seven years ago. 

Culling of bighorn sheep near Diamond Valley, Alta. sparks call for protective regulation

The president of a wildlife foundation meant to protect a vulnerable species of wildlife in Alberta is calling for stricter regulations after a herd of bighorn sheep contracted a deadly illness. 

Inuk TikTok star encourages Iqaluit youth to prioritize personal health

An Inuk social media star is urging youth to put themselves first. 

Ontario extended hospital care to uninsured patients during the pandemic. But that's coming to an end

Toronto woman Rose Celeste says she spent years avoiding a visit to the doctor.

Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to ease burden on doctors, walk-in clinics

The Ford government announced on Thursday as part of its 2023 budget that it is increasing the number of ailments pharmacists can prescribe treatments for this fall.

This documentary wants to take you on a real-time train ride through northern Ontario

When Via Rail Canada's Budd car eases to a stop in the northern Ontario wilderness, it's anyone's guess what will come out of the baggage car — a half-dozen canoes, a fishing lodge's bait supply for the week or even a badly needed new appliance for a bush camp.

Concerned about air quality at home? Halifax libraries now loaning out CO2 monitors

If you've ever wondered about the air quality in your home, and whether it might explain why you feel tired, suffer from headaches, or whether it's putting you at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and other viruses, Halifax Public Libraries can help.

N.B. woman spent 20 years in pain, now she's ready to get her life back

For more than 20 years, Nicola Sleep has endured excruciating pain for up to two weeks of every month.

Stunned faces and heartbreak for migrants heading to Roxham as they learn Canada will likely send them back

At 4 a.m. on Saturday morning, two buses from New York City arrived at a gas station in Plattsburgh, NY, where groups of migrants carrying luggage and determined to cross into Canada disembarked with no knowledge of the closure of Roxham Road. 

Sask. govt. criticized from left and right for not cutting taxes

Saskatchewan's 2023-24 budget boasts a $1-billion surplus, but no substantial tax relief. That has the government facing criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

Advance polling stations for provincial election open across P.E.I.

Advance polling stations for P.E.I.'s upcoming provincial election will be open all day Saturday, the first of three advance voting dates.

A living wake: Why this Charlottetown man chose to talk about his medically assisted death

In the weeks leading up to his death, Craig Mackie's breathing mirrored the short, sharp strokes he was making on his laptop keyboard, documenting his final days. 

79-year-old N.W.T. elder joins overland journey to Old Crow, Yukon

79-year-old Ernest Vittrekwa has learned a thing or two from the many times he's made the overland journey from his home in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., to Old Crow, Yukon.

Once more, David Johnston steps into the breach

In its first throne speech in 1994, Jean Chrétien's Liberal government promised to implement a national strategy for the "information highway." A few months later, an advisory council was appointed by the minister of industry to guide that work. David Johnston, who recently had stepped down as principal of McGill, was appointed to chair it.

How an autism diagnosis helped this resident doctor find her place in medicine

Dr. JJ Mráček knew since she was a kid that she would one day go to medical school. But once she got there, the journey was rockier than expected. 

City of Mississauga rejects applications for 2 residential towers because proposed buildings are too tall

The City of Mississauga rejected applications for two residential towers in Port Credit steps from two major transit stations this month, saying the buildings proposed were too tall. 

As NHL teams, players opt out of Pride Night events, concerns grow about league's commitment to change

Growing up in Edmonton, Daylen Mitansky didn't feel like the hockey rink was a place that would welcome him. 

St. John's International Airport terminal to remain closed after Friday night fire

The St. John's airport will stay closed to travellers until Sunday evening, after a fire led to the closure of its terminal Friday night.

Snowy, messy Sunday on the way for the Maritimes

A system tracking into the Maritimes will bring another messy mix of snow, ice pellets and rain beginning Saturday night and into Sunday.

New York officials worry closing Roxham Road could lead to chaos if migrants keep coming

The decision to stop most migrants from coming to Canada via Roxham Road sparked indignation in New York state on Saturday, even as it was celebrated by the Quebec government.

Sask. Cree elder wants apology from provincial government after home raided by conservation officers in 2021

An elder from a First Nation in western Saskatchewan wants a public apology from the provincial government, after conservation officers raided his home in 2021 and confiscated moose meat he says was given to him by community members for a ceremonial gathering and feast.

Hundreds gather in Vancouver to protest crackdown in India's Sikh-majority state

B.C. residents with ties to India's Punjab region gathered in downtown Vancouver Saturday to wave flags, chant and listen to speeches calling out the India government over its so-called crackdown to arrest a prominent voice in the separatist movement.

Chinese Freemasons celebrate 160 years of community and cultural support in Canada

Cecil Fung's first visit to central B.C. was an enlightening one, and not just because he had lived most of his life in Vancouver since arriving from Hong Kong in the 1960s.

PM details defence spending plans during Biden's visit — but the timelines are largely the same

Canada plans to invest $7.3 billion to upgrade its fighter jet bases and Far North landing strips to accommodate the air force's new F-35s, the Prime Minister's Office announced Friday at the conclusion of a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Nearly three-quarters of Albertans support free prescription birth control, survey suggests

A large majority of Albertans support the idea of the government providing universal access to free birth control, suggests a new poll from a Calgary-based public relations firm. 

© 2008 - 2023 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Contact Us