Tag: COVID-19 restrictions

Ontario Lifts Mask Mandate for Most Public Spaces

Ontarians no longer need to wear masks in schools, retail settings, and most other public places starting today. Premier Doug Ford thanked residents in a Twitter post on March 21, saying their cooperation has led Ontario to this new stage of exiting the COVID-19 pandemic. “Today marks an important milestone in our fight with COVID….


Alberta Legislature Calls on Feds to Revoke COVID-19 Restrictions for Air Travellers

Alberta is calling on the federal government to revoke its proof of vaccination mandate for air travellers. On March 16, members of Alberta’s legislative assembly voted in favour of a motion to recognize that Canada’s current air travel restrictions “have no measurable public health benefit and continue to impact hundreds of thousands of jobs in…


Thousands of Australians Protest Against Queensland’s Extended COVID-19 Emergency Powers

Thousands of Australians across two protests have rallied against the vaccine mandates and the extended emergency COVID-19 powers in Brisbane with several parliamentarians joining the protests. Demonstrators gathered outside the state Parliament House on Tuesday, chanting “block the bill,” “my body, my choice” and “end the segregation.” They demanded the government to drop the controversial…


‘Mental Health Crisis’: Psychologist Group Urged Ending BC’s Vaccine Mandate for Regulated Health Workers

Just prior to B.C. scrapping plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all regulated health professionals, a group of psychologists had pushed back against the policy. Shortly before that, regional health officials also pointed to evidence that vaccine mandates do not reduce transmission of the virus. On March 10, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said…


Chicago to Drop Vaccine, Indoor Mask Mandates for Certain Locations: Mayor

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday that the city’s indoor mask mandate and COVID-19 vaccination requirement for certain businesses will be scrapped effective Feb. 28. Lightfoot told reporters at a news conference that mask-wearing will still be enforced in the city’s public transit system, health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, and congregate…


BC to Relax COVID-19 Restrictions on Social Gathering and Capacity Limits

The British Columbia government will relax most COVID-19 restrictions on social gathering and capacity limits on Feb. 16 at 11:59 p.m., the province’s health officials said. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry announced the decision in a press conference on Feb. 15, saying that the province is now shifting to a “long-term COVID-19 management strategy.” All…


Norway Scraps COVID-19 Restrictions, Plans to ‘Live With’ Virus

Norway has become the latest Nordic nation to remove almost all COVID-19 restrictions put in place despite the Omicron variant spreading throughout the country, and is on course toward reverting back to pre-pandemic normalcy. “The COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a great threat to the health of most of us. The Omicron variant leads to…


Manitoba to End Vaccine Passport, Mask Mandate in March, Premier Says

Manitoba will end its vaccine passport, mask mandate, and other COVID-19 restrictions next month, its premier said. “Effective March 1, the required use of vaccine cards will be eliminated in Manitoba, and effective March 15, mask requirements and all other restrictions will be eliminated,” Premier Heather Stefanson announced at a press conference on Feb. 11….


BC Events Industry Urges Province to Reopen After Being Denied Government Help

Struggling wedding and event companies say British Columbia’s current COVID-19 rules don’t add up, and are calling on the province to allow indoor wedding receptions with safety plans in place. Paige Petriw, owner of Spotlight Events, wrote an open letter to the B.C. government that highlighted how the $1.2 billion wedding event industry is being ignored and denied…


Hongkongers Rush for Haircuts, Produce Ahead of New Curbs

HONG KONG—Hong Kong residents lined up outside hair salons and snapped up fresh vegetables on Wednesday, a day before tightened COVID-19 restrictions go into effect, as new daily cases in the city ballooned to more than 1,100. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday that places of worship and hair salons must close from…