Coronavirus

Bob Dorobis plays his guitar at home in Middletown, N.J., on Dec. 4, 2022. Dorobis redoubled his efforts to learn fingerpicking during the pandemic. (Jeanann Dorobis via AP)

Music, exercise, gray hair: Pandemic practices that live on

Taking a look at some of the changes we made that seemed to stick around

Bob Dorobis plays his guitar at home in Middletown, N.J., on Dec. 4, 2022. Dorobis redoubled his efforts to learn fingerpicking during the pandemic. (Jeanann Dorobis via AP)
Parliament buildings in Ottawa. (Black Press file photo)

Return to in-person work a contentious issue among federal public servants

Workers await announcement this week requiring a certain number of work days in person

Parliament buildings in Ottawa. (Black Press file photo)
Vials of Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is seen during production in Kalamazoo, Mich., in an Aug. 2022, handout photo. Health Canada has approved a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster for use in children ages five to 11, which targets the original strain of the coronavirus and more recent variants. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer

Health Canada approves first bivalent booster for kids ages 5 to 11

Child-sized dose is about a third of the dose that is approved for people over the age of 12

Vials of Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is seen during production in Kalamazoo, Mich., in an Aug. 2022, handout photo. Health Canada has approved a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster for use in children ages five to 11, which targets the original strain of the coronavirus and more recent variants. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer
FILE- A woman has her routine COVID-19 throat swab at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. China on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, announced new measures rolling back COVID-19 restrictions, including limiting lockdowns and testing requirements. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

China eases anti-COVID measures following protests

China last major country trying to stamp out virus while many switch to trying to live it

FILE- A woman has her routine COVID-19 throat swab at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. China on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, announced new measures rolling back COVID-19 restrictions, including limiting lockdowns and testing requirements. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
The landing page for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is seen in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini

COVID-19 benefits helped economy rebound, but post-payment verification lacking: AG

Auditor general estimates $4.6 billion was paid to people who were not eligible

The landing page for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is seen in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini
Workers unload a shipment of the Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine at the FedEx hub at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on May 20, 2021. Canada’s auditor general is expected to release two highly anticipated reports on the government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis in 2021, including access to vaccines and pandemic benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Most unused COVID-19 vaccines will expire at the end of the year: auditor general

Tens of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines are likely about to…

Workers unload a shipment of the Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine at the FedEx hub at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on May 20, 2021. Canada’s auditor general is expected to release two highly anticipated reports on the government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis in 2021, including access to vaccines and pandemic benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Daily hospital visits continue to increase in B.C. as cases of respiratory illness surge among kids. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

B.C. hospital visits up about 200 cases a day amid influenza surge

Province one third of the way through its flu season, Dr. Bonnie Henry says

Daily hospital visits continue to increase in B.C. as cases of respiratory illness surge among kids. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. A large study that chronicles the trajectory of COVID-19 over the first 2-1/2 years of the pandemic shows most British Columbia children and adults under age 60 developed antibodies to slash the risk of severe illness either through vaccination, infection or both. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Most B.C. residents under 60 have been infected with COVID-19 or vaccinated: study

Proportion of those with COVID-19 antibodies rose to 95 per cent this summer from 5 at start of 2021

Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. A large study that chronicles the trajectory of COVID-19 over the first 2-1/2 years of the pandemic shows most British Columbia children and adults under age 60 developed antibodies to slash the risk of severe illness either through vaccination, infection or both. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. A review of British Columbia’s COVID-19 response says despite being unprepared for the pandemic, the province showed “resilience, balance, and nimbleness” during the emergency.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. COVID response praised for ‘nimbleness,’ despite lack of public trust: review

Authors say online survey on lack of trust was not representative of the population as a whole

B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. A review of British Columbia’s COVID-19 response says despite being unprepared for the pandemic, the province showed “resilience, balance, and nimbleness” during the emergency.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is seen during a vaccination clinic at the Norristown Public Health Center in Norristown, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. A Canadian study suggests cases of myocarditis are rare but higher than expected among young men who got a second dose of Moderna, though there's little to no difference between that COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech following a third shot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke

B.C. study finds low but increased risk of myocarditis after 2nd Moderna COVID shot

BC Centre for Disease Control finds men between the ages of 18 and 29 are most at risk

A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is seen during a vaccination clinic at the Norristown Public Health Center in Norristown, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. A Canadian study suggests cases of myocarditis are rare but higher than expected among young men who got a second dose of Moderna, though there's little to no difference between that COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech following a third shot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
Kate Forte kisses her daughter, Lexie Stroiney, 6, as research nurse Michelle Harris, left, demonstrates a blood draw on her stuffed animal “Sprinkles” at Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Lexie had COVID-19 and is part of a NIH-funded multi-year study at Children’s National Hospital to look at impacts of COVID-19 on children’s physical health and quality of life. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

BC Children’s Hospital triages patients from E/R due to respiratory illness spike

Department is mostly seeing viral illnesses including COVID-19, influenza, or RSV

Kate Forte kisses her daughter, Lexie Stroiney, 6, as research nurse Michelle Harris, left, demonstrates a blood draw on her stuffed animal “Sprinkles” at Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Lexie had COVID-19 and is part of a NIH-funded multi-year study at Children’s National Hospital to look at impacts of COVID-19 on children’s physical health and quality of life. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, released an annual report Nov. 22, 2022 revealing the price tags on the province’s 2021 disasters and pandemic relief funds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Billions: B.C. auditor highlights costs of 2021 disasters, pandemic relief payments

Province owed nearly $10.5 million from people who wrongfully collected COVID relief funds: report

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, released an annual report Nov. 22, 2022 revealing the price tags on the province’s 2021 disasters and pandemic relief funds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau and leader of the BC Greens wants to see the mask mandate reinstated in indoor public spaces. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Green Party leader wants mask mandate in public places reinstated

Call comes as B.C.’s pediatric beds fill up

Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau and leader of the BC Greens wants to see the mask mandate reinstated in indoor public spaces. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rev. John Koopman of Free Reformed Church in Chilliwack who was found guilty of violating COVID-19 orders on religious gatherings. (Screenshot www.sermonaudio.com)

Fraser Valley pastor found guilty of hosting church service in violation of COVID rules

Rev. John Koopman’s lawyer to make Charter argument that prohibition violated freedom of religion

Rev. John Koopman of Free Reformed Church in Chilliwack who was found guilty of violating COVID-19 orders on religious gatherings. (Screenshot www.sermonaudio.com)
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks with members of the media after tabling legislation in the House of Commons, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal government still strongly encourages people to use masks while travelling

But mask wearing on planes and trains will not be a requirement

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks with members of the media after tabling legislation in the House of Commons, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks at the legislature in Victoria on March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. will only consider mask mandate if new major virus emerges: public health officer

Dr. Bonnie Henry says masks were vital during COVID peak, but not as much so now

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks at the legislature in Victoria on March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
FILE - A sign requiring masks seen on a storefront in February 2022. Four groups in B.C. are calling on the province to re-introduce a mask mandate, in an open letter published Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Should B.C. reintroduce mask mandate? Groups pen open letter to province

Province says it’s not considering it at this time

FILE - A sign requiring masks seen on a storefront in February 2022. Four groups in B.C. are calling on the province to re-introduce a mask mandate, in an open letter published Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

New Democrats call for independent review of government’s COVID-19 response

Health critic Don Davies wants to know how well feds did on early response, vaccine supply

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
People wearing face masks stand in line for COVID-19 tests at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Shanghai Disneyland was closed and visitors temporarily kept in the park for virus testing, the city government announced, while social media posts said some amusements kept operating for guests who were blocked from leaving. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Shanghai Disney guests kept in closed park for virus testing

Visitors to Shanghai Disneyland were temporarily blocked from leaving as part of…

People wearing face masks stand in line for COVID-19 tests at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Shanghai Disneyland was closed and visitors temporarily kept in the park for virus testing, the city government announced, while social media posts said some amusements kept operating for guests who were blocked from leaving. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Canadian Paediatric Society says the strain children’s hospitals are seeing due to a resurgence of viral infections is likely to get worse in the months ahead and could spill over into already-struggling community hospitals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

Local hospitals could face strain as early viral infections swamp pediatrics: CPS

Hospitals report an earlier than usual season of respiratory illnesses

The emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Canadian Paediatric Society says the strain children’s hospitals are seeing due to a resurgence of viral infections is likely to get worse in the months ahead and could spill over into already-struggling community hospitals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
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