New federal modelling suggests an estimated peak of 170,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, even with the range of public health restrictions in place across the country. torstar.co/nWt950HuQtJ
The peak may come this month and then recede into February but the overall timing of the peak is likely to vary across the country, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Friday. thestar.com/politics/feder…
The Omicron variant has now displaced Delta as the dominant strain in Canada, and while the risk of hospitalization is lower, severe illness remains possible, Tam stressed. thestar.com/politics/feder…
Hospitalization rates are increasing across all age groups, the modelling shows, and over the last month, severe outcomes have been highest among adults 60 years of age or older and particularly among those aged 80 years or older. thestar.com/politics/feder…
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“Our work can sometimes hit a little close to home.”
As demand for mental health care skyrockets, many Canadian doctors are stepping back from the front lines to heal themselves torstar.co/iwop50HvjXO
The demand for mental health-care during the pandemic has fuelled a front-line crisis few are talking about: psychiatrist burnout, with “extraordinary” rates of exhaustion in an overtaxed profession, Toronto psychiatrist Dr. Yusra Ahmad. thestar.com/news/canada/20…
The general public’s worries about family members getting sick or losing jobs, isolation, and a lack of certainty about the future are all contributing to the rising demand for mental-health services. thestar.com/news/canada/20…
“I haven’t known a normal middle school experience.”
The Star spoke with elementary, middle and high school students around the province to get their thoughts on their return to the classroom. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
📚“I value social interaction a lot and being with friends. I truly believe education needs to incorporate those interactions, and with virtual school you lose it."
✏️“I’m feeling pretty good about going back to school...Mainly because we get longer breaks and more time outside. And it’s more fun to connect with people in person."
— Conor Williams, 13, Grade 8 at École secondaire publique Mille-Îles in Kingston thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
As Omicron-driven staff shortages block access to health-care services, some First Nations and the federal government are butting heads over offsetting the strain. thestar.com/politics/feder…
There are four nurses currently working in northern Manitoba’s Pimicikamak Cree Nation. thestar.com/politics/feder…
Sometimes they work through the night, Chief David Monias says, only to return again in the pre-dawn hours of the morning to conduct rapid COVID-19 tests, administer shots and address whatever emergencies they can. thestar.com/politics/feder…
If Omicron hit you over the holidays this year, you may now be wondering, is there a potential silver lining to this misery? Are you now protected from getting it again?
There’s still a lot of unknowns about the variant that was only first detected in November.
Experts say you should have some protection after an infection, but it will vary a lot and it’s not clear how long it will last. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
They stress that it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a third dose of the vaccine, as that’s what gives everyone the best chance against a severe outcome. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
With restrictions to curb Omicron, such as the closure of bars, gyms and restaurants, physicians are concerned the rise in alcohol use may worsen with people stuck at home. torstar.co/55tF50HvjMt
“I’m seeing a lot more patients moving from one or two drinks a day, to three, four, five, six and beyond,” said Dr. Sam Elfassy, a gastroenterologist.
This trend became apparent six months into the pandemic, Elfassy said, and has persisted. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Multiple data points over the pandemic point to increased alcohol use, especially among adults in their 30s.
“I’m very worried now with this new wave that we’re going to start seeing a further surge in the next couple of months,” Elfassy said. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Your company has to produce a ‘right to disconnect’ policy by June. What will it look like — and will it work?
This former lawyer, forced out of her career by overwhelming demands, says real change needs to come from the top. torstar.co/2UCR50HuTXn
Following the lead of several European countries, Ontario recently passed a law that will soon give employees the “right to disconnect” from their jobs. thestar.com/business/2022/…
Ontario employers with more than 25 workers have until June 2 to draft written right-to-disconnect policies.
Employment lawyers and consultants say most will likely focus on digital communications. thestar.com/business/2022/…