COVID-19

This May 2022 photo provided by Pfizer shows production of the Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5 in Puurs, Belgium. U.S. regulators on Friday, June 17, authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants and preschoolers, paving the way for vaccinations to begin next week. (Pfizer via AP)

COVID vaccine available for Albertans age five and under starting Aug. 2

Appointments can be booked starting Aug. 2

 

Riley Oldford, 16-years-old and who suffers from cerebral palsy, is the first N.W.T. youth to get the Pfizer vaccine, receives the needle from Nurse practitioner Janie Neudorf in Yellowknife on Thursday May 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

Once months ahead, N.W.T. behind in COVID-19 vaccine rollout for 4th doses

The National Advisory Committee stressed the importance of a fall booster program

 

Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., on February 25, 2022. A think tank that’s been compiling data on COVID-19 in Canadian long-term care homes says it has to stop its work because provinces are no longer making enough information public about the spread of the virus in the sector. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Project tracking COVID-19 in Canadian long-term care paused due to lack of data

The website for the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Tracker Project will remain available online

 

(Contributed photo).

Albertans 18 years and older can book a fourth COVID vaccine starting Wednesday

This second booster will be available five months after getting the first booster shot

(Contributed photo).
FILE - This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

Red Deer COVID-19 testing centre scales down

Testing still available at a mobile unit

FILE - This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
A total of 6,569 COVID cases were reported in Alberta over the latest seven-day period, and 565,052 were confirmed so far during the pandemic. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML)

Alberta hospitals remain under significant pressure, says health minister

Signs of COVID transmission slowing

A total of 6,569 COVID cases were reported in Alberta over the latest seven-day period, and 565,052 were confirmed so far during the pandemic. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML)
Bo’s Bar and Stage owner Brennan Wowk, who is the Alberta Hospitality Association vice-president, said the “Welcome Back” campaign, designed to promote the mental health and well-being of their staff, incorporate a high standard of cleaning and sanitization standards, and to implement proactive and responsive plans to health concerns within their business. (Advocate file photo)

Central Alberta businesses unite to say ‘Welcome Back’ to customers

Campaign dedicated to health standards for staff and customers

Bo’s Bar and Stage owner Brennan Wowk, who is the Alberta Hospitality Association vice-president, said the “Welcome Back” campaign, designed to promote the mental health and well-being of their staff, incorporate a high standard of cleaning and sanitization standards, and to implement proactive and responsive plans to health concerns within their business. (Advocate file photo)
Registered nurses working at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre say the new wave of COVID-19 is impacting staffing at the hospital. (File photo by Advocate staff)

Red Deer nurses stretched thin during new COVID wave

Registered nurses working a ton of overtime

Registered nurses working at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre say the new wave of COVID-19 is impacting staffing at the hospital. (File photo by Advocate staff)
Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping was in Red Deer on Wednesday to help announce a long-awaited $1.8 billion expansion to Red Deer hospital. (Photo by LANA MICHELIN/Advocate staff).

30 new deaths related to COVID-19 in Alberta over last 7 days

The province is reporting 30 new deaths due to the implications of…

Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping was in Red Deer on Wednesday to help announce a long-awaited $1.8 billion expansion to Red Deer hospital. (Photo by LANA MICHELIN/Advocate staff).
FILE - This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/NIAID-RML via AP

Long COVID is less of a problem with Omicron variant, says Red Deer doctor

‘There’s nothing that is the magic cure’

FILE - This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/NIAID-RML via AP
Red Deer has active 297 COVID-19 cases, according to geospatial mapping on the provincial government’s website.(Image courtesy CDC)

Seven more COVID-19 related deaths reported in Alberta

Central zone has 1,032 active cases

Red Deer has active 297 COVID-19 cases, according to geospatial mapping on the provincial government’s website.(Image courtesy CDC)
FILE - Health Minister Jason Copping takes his mask off to give a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Youth aged 12 to 17 now eligible for COVID boosters

Boosters available at AHS clinics and participating pharmacies

FILE - Health Minister Jason Copping takes his mask off to give a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Alberta Health Services has been directed by the province to illiminate its COVID-19 vaccination policy. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)

Mandatory vaccination policy to be lifted for AHS workers on March 10

Majority of AHS staff are fully vaccinated

Alberta Health Services has been directed by the province to illiminate its COVID-19 vaccination policy. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)
Alberta has announced it will be lifting most COVID-19 health restrictions on March 1. (File photo by Advocate staff)

Alberta to lift almost all remaining health restrictions

Effective March 1, Alberta will begin step two in its plan to lift COVID-19 restriction

Alberta has announced it will be lifting most COVID-19 health restrictions on March 1. (File photo by Advocate staff)
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to outline the Government’s new long-term COVID-19 plan. (Tolga Akmen/Pool via AP)

England ends all COVID restrictions, including isolation law

Some other European countries also recently lifted all COVID-19 restrictions

  • Feb 24, 2022
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to outline the Government’s new long-term COVID-19 plan. (Tolga Akmen/Pool via AP)
Protestors gather along Wellington Street as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns reaches its 14th day, in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Red Deer MP calls Emergencies Act ‘government overreach’

Liberals should have talked to protesters

Protestors gather along Wellington Street as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns reaches its 14th day, in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
A person walks among trucks as Wellington Street is lined with trucks during a protest against COVID-19 measures that has grown into a broader anti-government protest, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Members of Ottawa blockade dismiss use of Emergencies Act as ‘scare tactic’

Blockades are not allowed on Parliament Hill

A person walks among trucks as Wellington Street is lined with trucks during a protest against COVID-19 measures that has grown into a broader anti-government protest, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
FILE - A lunch counter was added to the Sunworks gift store to diversify offerings to customers during the pandemic. (Photo by Advocate staff)

Red Deer businesses seek community support through GoFundMe

Omicron and health-care mandates crippled sales

FILE - A lunch counter was added to the Sunworks gift store to diversify offerings to customers during the pandemic. (Photo by Advocate staff)
Protesters block traffic at the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor, Ontario and Detroit on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. The demonstration in solidarity with protests in Ottawa against COVID-19 restrictions blocked traffic into Canada on the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit. It is the single busiest commercial crossing in North America. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

Are vaccine protests in Canada a factor in Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine timeline?

Professor sees earmarks of Russia’s foreign interference techniques

Protesters block traffic at the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor, Ontario and Detroit on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. The demonstration in solidarity with protests in Ottawa against COVID-19 restrictions blocked traffic into Canada on the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit. It is the single busiest commercial crossing in North America. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne
A protester yells “freedom” towards a person who attempted to stick a paper sign on a truck criticizing the so called “Freedom Convoy,” a protest against COVID-19 measures that has grown into a broader anti-government protest, on its 18th day, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

CCLA warns normalizing emergency legislation threatens democracy and civil liberties

Act to force towing companies to remove big rigs and other vehicles

A protester yells “freedom” towards a person who attempted to stick a paper sign on a truck criticizing the so called “Freedom Convoy,” a protest against COVID-19 measures that has grown into a broader anti-government protest, on its 18th day, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang