Health

China to resume issuing passports, visas as virus curbs ease

BEIJING (AP) — China says it will resume issuing passports for tourism in another big step away from anti-virus controls that isolated the country for almost three years, setting up a potential flood of Chinese going abroad for next month’s Lunar New

Dec 28, 2022 4:46 PM Read more >

Health agency 'closely monitoring' COVID-19 in China, no mention of pre-flight tests

OTTAWA — The national public health agency says it's "closely monitoring" the COVID-19 situation in China, but gives no indication it's planning to follow the U.S. by requiring that travellers from China be tested for the virus.

Dec 28, 2022 4:08 PM Read more >

Ontario pharmacists can prescribe for 13 common ailments as of Jan. 1

As of Jan. 1 pharmacists in Ontario will be allowed to prescribe treatments for 13 common conditions, but that doesn't mean they'll all be ready to do it.

Dec 28, 2022 1:57 PM Read more >

Hong Kong scraps vaccine pass, COVID-19 tests for travelers

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong will scrap some of its COVID-19 restrictions, including PCR tests for inbound travelers and vaccination requirements to enter certain venues, the city’s leader said Wednesday.

Dec 28, 2022 12:53 AM Read more >

Canadians fined at least $15M for breaking COVID quarantine rules in 2022, data shows

OTTAWA — Canadians who were caught violating federal COVID-19 quarantine rules racked up at least $15 million in fines this year, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, but it's not clear how much of that will actually be paid.

Dec 27, 2022 12:40 PM Read more >

Canadian Blood Services needs blood, plasma donors after storm disruption

OTTAWA — Canadian Blood Services is hoping to appeal to the generous spirit of the holiday season as it faces a severe shortfall of blood products after several days of stormy weather across the country.

Dec 27, 2022 11:36 AM Read more >

State lawsuits defend abortion access with religious freedom

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Cara Berg Raunick watched with bafflement as Indiana's Republican legislators took less than two weeks to debate and pass an abortion ban that the governor signed quickly into law.

Dec 27, 2022 8:05 AM Read more >

Germany's governing coalition argues over COVID restrictions

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's governing coalition is arguing over whether remaining COVID-19 restrictions should be dropped after one of the country's top virologists was quoted as saying that the pandemic is over.

Dec 27, 2022 6:48 AM Read more >

New hospital program helps Toronto's homeless, cuts ambulance offload time

TORONTO — A Toronto hospital has opened a stand-alone clinic where paramedics can drop off homeless people who are intoxicated by alcohol so they can recover and then access services.

Dec 27, 2022 6:00 AM Read more >

Foreign firms: China 'turns corner' by ending quarantine

BEIJING (AP) — Foreign companies welcomed China’s decision to end quarantines for travelers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity while Japan on Tuesday joined India in announcing restrictions on visitors from the coun

Dec 27, 2022 4:12 AM Read more >