SpiritRx Services Health Blog
Stay up to date on the most recent health news and updatesHealth Canada green-lights rapid COVID-19 test
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OTTAWA – Health Canada has given the green light to a rapid test for COVID-19. The department posted news of the approval of the Abbott Diagnostics ID Now test this afternoon, …
Pets Helped People Cope During Pandemic: Study
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More than 90% said their pet helped them cope emotionally with the lockdown and 96% said their pet helped keep them fit and active.
Positive Coronavirus Tests Shut Down Two NFL Teams
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The Vikings hosted the Titans this past Sunday in Minneapolis but, as of Tuesday morning, had no positive test results for anyone on their club, NBC News reported.
NYC Will Fine People Who Don’t Wear Masks
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People in New York City who aren’t wearing a mask will first be offered one.
COVID update: 34 new cases in Manitoba; York Factory ‘needs help now’
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Dozens of York Factory First Nation residents are quarantining, with some beginning to show symptoms of the novel coronavirus, after a family of seven in the northern Manitoba community tested …
Trudeau pledges extra $400 million in humanitarian aid to fight COVID-19
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OTTAWA – Aid agencies welcomed Canada’s commitment on Tuesday of an extra $400 million in development and humanitarian spending to combat COVID-19. The new money will go to “to trusted partners …
Experts worry social restrictions might be tough to swallow after months of freedom
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As COVID-19 case counts continue to rise across Canada, some of the country’s top doctors are urging people to pop their social bubbles in favour of a more cautious approach. While …
Lockdown Could Worsen Hearing Woes for Seniors
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Older adults who use hearing aids may be using them less, because they think there’s no one to interact with. This can reduce sound input to the brain and lead to auditory deprivation.
Women Get Worse Care for Heart Attack
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Women aged 18 to 55 are less likely to receive the tests and aggressive treatment that men routinely receive, and are more likely to die in the hospital, the researchers added.
COVID-19 cluster puts York Factory in lockdown
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A northern Manitoba Indigenous community’s worst fears have come true, after an entire family has tested positive for COVID-19 — with as many as 100 others having come into contact …
Manitoba adopting COVID-alert technology
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Manitobans will soon join others elsewhere in the country with smartphone technology designed to alert them if they’ve been exposed to someone who has COVID-19. “Now is the time to download ……
Most Newborns of COVID-19-Infected Moms Fare Well
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These newborns generally do well in the six to eight weeks after birth, but more are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) if their mothers had COVID-19 in the two weeks before delivery.
COVID-19 pandemic highlights need to document decisions: Information commissioner
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OTTAWA – The federal information czar says the shift to doing government work at home is underscoring a need to ensure decisions are properly documented. Information commissioner Caroline Maynard is concerned …
Privacy Concerns Hindering Digital Contact Tracing
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To try to make that easier, countries and states are turning digital. Smartphone apps allow anyone, whether they have COVID or just worry they’ve been exposed, to detail their movements leading up to infection or exposure.
Doctors Wary of Rushed COVID Vaccine
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Only 17% of doctors say they will get a COVID-19 vaccine if it is authorized before all clinical trials have been completed, according to results of a Medscape poll.
Virus continues to surge as city moves to code orange
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Winnipeg continues to grow as a COVID-19 hot spot with 92 new cases identified in the city by public health officials over the weekend. Today marks the first day Winnipeg and …
Province announces 65 new COVID cases Saturday, most in Winnipeg
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Sixty-five new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Manitoba on Saturday, bringing the total of active cases in the province to 545, with 84 per cent of those in the ……
Manitoba shines at 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards
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William Prince was the big winner Friday night at the 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards. The Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter took home three trophies, including two of the biggest — songwriter …
Mask mandate ordered in Winnipeg as virus cases spike
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In the past week, public health officials have watched with increasing concern the steady rise of COVID-19 cases in Winnipeg, many the result of community transmission. On Friday, with 54 new ……
Crisis in care
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A quarter of the people infected with the novel coronavirus while at a hospital or personal care home has died from COVID-19. A Free Press analysis of provincial data and reports …
City cancelling events, reducing size of gatherings in parks
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The city is cancelling parks bookings for 10 or more people, as well as any city-led public events, following a surge in local COVID-19 cases that led the province to …
Mask-wearing on the menu, but little else changing at city bars, eateries
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Many of the recent COVID-19 infections in Winnipeg have been linked to bar-hopping and restaurant-going 20-somethings, yet Manitoba’s new pandemic restrictions taking effect Monday don’t specifically target drinking establishments and …
We can do more; why aren’t we?
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When the news broke Friday afternoon Winnipeg and surrounding areas had been upgraded to a “code orange” COVID-19 threat assessment, with all of the added restrictions it implies, there was …
Hungry for Hungary
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Kelsey Wog had to put off her first trip to the Olympics when the Tokyo Summer Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. But the 2020 competitive …
Is Key Safety Data at Risk in Race for COVID Vaccine?
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Public health experts worry that ending a COVID vaccine trial early and giving it swift approval under an Emergency Use Authorization could compromise the collection of further safety data.
FDA Warns of Danger From ‘Benadryl Challenge’
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The new internet dare, broadcast widely on teen-friendly TikTok, urges kids to overdose on the over-the-counter antihistamine Benadryl to achieve a hallucinatory state.
America’s COVID Pandemic Is Now Skewing Younger
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From June through August, people in their 20s accounted for more than 20% of all COVID infections in the United States, CDC researchers found.
Low Vitamin D Levels Tied to Odds for Severe COVID
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Patients who were vitamin D-sufficient — a blood level of at least 30 nanograms per milliliter — had a significantly lower risk for serious complications from COVID-19, including losing consciousness, low blood oxygen levels and death.
Could Wildfires Have Long-Term Health Effects?
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When people breathe wildfire smoke, the short-term health effects can range from eye and nasal irritation and coughing to worsening asthma, heart attacks, and strokes. Scientists aren’t sure yet of the long-term effects, but there are some early clues.
Ingredients Make ‘Smart’ Supplements Not-So-Smart
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A review of so-called “smart drug” nutritional supplements found a handful that were packed with foreign pharmaceuticals not approved in the United States, often in potentially dangerous combinations and dosages.
Accuracy of COVID-19 Antibody Tests Varies Widely
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There was a wide range of accuracy among the tests. Specificity — the ability to correctly identify those without the disease — ranged from 82% to 100%
Symptoms or No, COVID Patients Have Same Viral Load
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Fifty-four percent of patients without symptoms tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, as did 64% of those with mild symptoms. There was no significant difference in the viral load between the two groups, the researchers said.
Severe COVID Clues: Autoantibodies, Gene Mutations
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New research from the National Institutes of Health and other institutions suggests that some people have antibodies that are misguided, called autoantibodies, that attack the immune system instead of attacking the virus that causes COVID-19
Manitoba makes masks mandatory for Winnipeg as COVID-19 cases surge
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WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer is making masks mandatory in indoor public spaces in Winnipeg, as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in the capital city. Dr. Brent …
Feds pledge $440 million to join international vaccine program
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OTTAWA – Canada will spend $440 million to join an international program which is trying ensure COVID-19 vaccines aren’t just hoarded by rich countries, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday. But …
Pallister government immune to pandemic so far
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COVID-19 has thrown thousands of Manitobans out of work, weakened businesses and amped up anxiety levels, but it doesn’t seem to have had much impact on provincial voting intentions. Brian Pallister’s …
Cabbies hail city hall for pandemic relief
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For Winnipeg’s taxi industry, COVID-19 has made for an especially bumpy ride. For six months, there have been no professional sports games outside which cabs have sat idle, few departures or …
Premier defends trip to Ottawa, a COVID hot spot
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While his office has repeatedly refused to produce an itinerary, Premier Brian Pallister says his recent week in Ottawa was productive and he made “maximum use” of his time while …
Vandal, Pallister trade shots over health-care investments
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OTTAWA — Manitoba’s sole cabinet minister is challenging the provincial government to spend existing pots of money before demanding Ottawa increase its health transfers. On Thursday, Premier Brian Pallister shot back, …
Ontario, Quebec report higher daily COVID-19 cases after Trudeau warns of second wave
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Quebecers are being urged to minimize in-person contact and Ontario is trying to clear its COVID-19 testing backlog as Canada’s two most populous provinces reported increases in new daily infections. …
9 in 10 Americans Not Yet Exposed to COVID
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The head of the CDC said some states are seeing infection rates of 15% to 20% while others are seeing a less than 1% infection rate, CBS News reported.
No Trick: Halloween Must be Different During COVID
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Trick-or-treating may seem safer than some group activities that have been discouraged during the coronavirus outbreak. But many medical experts suggest that it offers more risks than some parents may realize.
Teacher tests not fast-tracked
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Patients at COVID-19 testing centres are asked if they work in a school before getting their nasal cavities swabbed — but not because teacher results are being fast-tracked. Since the 2020-21 …
Jumping the COVID testing queue
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As Manitobans wait in long lines for COVID-19 testing by public health, industry heavyweights with deep pockets are arranging for private tests for employees and avoiding the queue. Without discussing details ……
Winnipeg continues to be COVID hot spot
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Manitoba recorded its highest COVID-19 case count of the month Wednesday, and Winnipeg continued to be the province’s hot spot. Health officials reported 42 new cases of the novel coronavirus provincewide, …
Diabetes Drug Metformin May Protect Aging Brains
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New research suggests that people taking the drug appear to have significantly slower declines in thinking and memory as they age.
Juror with COVID symptoms puts murder trial deliberations on hold
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Jurors set to begin deliberations Wednesday in a second-degree murder trial were instead sent home, after one juror reported experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and was not allowed inside the courthouse. “We have …
Daily new COVID-19 cases triple in past month; more schools hit
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TORONTO – A dramatic tripling of daily new cases of COVID-19 in the past month, mostly among young people, prompted warnings on Wednesday that Canada is staring at a major …
Manitoba chiefs weigh in on carbon tax, reconciliation
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The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs was among a host of groups representing Indigenous interests to present Wednesday before the Supreme Court of Canada on the issue of the federal carbon …
Parties agree on hybrid House of Commons meetings through autumn
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OTTAWA – The House of Commons will sit this fall with most MPs participating by video link so they can stay physically apart during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government House leader Pablo …
Singing Without a Face Mask Can Spread COVID-19
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If you sing indoors without a face mask, you run the risk of spreading COVID-19 through tiny airborne particles known as aerosols.
Could Zinc Help Fight COVID-19?
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Researchers from Spain reporting at a European coronavirus conference found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with low blood levels of zinc tended to fare worse than those with healthier levels.
Resuming Sex After Heart Attack May Help Recovery
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Research out of Israel finds that resuming a normal sex life in the months after a heart attack may actually boost survival.
First private mobile COVID-19 testing site expected next week
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After the outcry over long lineups and people being turned away, the province said several more COVID-19 testing sites will open next week, providing an additional 1,400 tests a day, …
Police accept special-duty jobs again
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The Winnipeg Police Service is once again accepting some special duty policing jobs, after pausing new bookings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board said. Coun. …
Liberals lose lustre in Manitoba: poll
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OTTAWA — The federal Liberals have squandered the bump in support they got from Winnipeg voters at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, making swing ridings vulnerable to a Tory …
COVID Hits Minorities Hardest in Nursing Homes, Too
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A study found that nursing homes with higher percentages of racial and ethnic minority residents reported two to four times more new COVID-19 cases and deaths compared to others for the week of May 25.
Many Metrics to Measure COVID-19, Which Are Best?
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The metrics used to track the coronavirus pandemic typically include daily cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Analyzing these metrics separately can show how much community spread there is or whether hospital capacity is being reached.
Public health officials urge Canadians to limit contacts again as COVID-19 cases rise
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OTTAWA – Canada will see a dramatic resurgence of COVID-19 cases unless people limit contact with others in coming days, the country’s chief public health officer warns. Dr. Theresa Tam said …
Homemade Masks Do a Great Job Blocking COVID-19
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The team tested breathability and droplet-blocking of 11 common household fabrics. The fabrics ranged from new and used garments, quilted cloths, bedsheets and dishcloths.
Pandemic puts brakes on new construction
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OTTAWA — The COVID-19 pandemic has steered Winnipeg’s housing market away from a glut of new builds, according to federal data released Monday morning. “There has been an impact on both …
Potential COVID Drug May Raise Heart Risk: Study
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The widely prescribed antibiotic azithromycin is being investigated as a COVID-19 treatment, but a new study warns it could increase the risk of heart problems.
Too Much or Too Little Sleep Bad for Your Brain
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Too little sleep was defined as four or fewer hours a night, while too much was deemed 10 or more hours a night. The ideal amount? Seven hours a night.
Ottawa summoned by Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishermen in N.S. to settle dispute
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SAULNIERVILLE, N.S. – Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishermen are calling on the Canadian government to settle a lobster-fishing dispute following a weekend of tension during which lobster traps set by Mi’kmaq …
EPA Adds to List of Coronavirus-Fighting Cleaners
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Original Pine-Sol was proven effective against the coronavirus after 10 minutes, the EPA says. It joins other Clorox-brand products as well as several from Lysol on the EPA-approved list.
Global Life Expectancy Likely to Drop Due to COVID
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Using a computer model, the researchers concluded that infection rates of only 2% could cause a drop in life expectancy in countries where average life expectancy is high (about 80 years).
The Benefits of Vitamin C
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Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective nutrients, experts say.
23 of 29 new COVID-19 cases reported Sunday identified within city
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Cases of the novel coronavirus in Winnipeg continued to rise, Sunday, as 23 of 29 new COVID-19 cases in the province were identified within the city. The remaining cases were split ……
City assessing traffic surrounding COVID testing sites
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Lengthy vehicle lineups and increased traffic at COVID-19 testing sites have caught the attention of the city. On Friday, Jason Shaw, Winnipeg’s assistant chief of emergency management, said the public works …
Many Need Follow-Up Colonoscopy and Don’t Know it
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Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Because people with advanced polyps have triple the risk of developing cancer, it’s generally recommended that they have a colonoscopy every three years.
Provinces crack down as COVID-19 cases soar across much of Canada
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Rapid increases in new COVID-19 cases could quickly spiral out of control, public health officials said Friday as some provinces continued to impose new and tougher public health measures. Canada’s top …
Film, TV productions can’t get COVID-19 insurance, want Ottawa to intervene
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Hundreds of productions and thousands of entertainment jobs are on hold because the federal government has yet to intervene and help them get COVID-19 insurance, say two Canadian film and …
COVID Adds Risk for People With Addiction Disorders
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People with a recent addiction disorder diagnosis were more likely than others to develop COVID-19, and the connection was strongest among those with opioid and tobacco use disorders, the findings showed.
CDC Posted Test Guideline Without Scientific Review
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The guidance — which was posted on Aug. 24 and widely criticized by experts — said it wasn’t necessary to test people without symptoms of COVID-19 even if they’d been exposed to the virus, and was posted on the CDC website when public health experts were urging more testing, not less.
Winnipeg grapples with COVID testing demand surge
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A line of cars, three-blocks deep, stretched through the St. John’s neighbourhood Thursday morning, as people waited for a COVID-19 test at the single drive-thru site in Winnipeg. Since July, the …
‘Pandemic’s strangely been a blessing in disguise’
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Watching clothing stores across the country shutter amid COVID-19, Joshua Akom scratched his head in wonder: “What happens to fashion and its consumers when the world still needs to shop?” But …
Western Manitoba winning battle against COVID
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Western Manitoba has gone from being a national COVID-19 hot spot to a shining example of how to fight the novel coronavirus and win. On Thursday, chief provincial public health officer …
Coffee May Slow Spread of Colon Cancer
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Of the nearly 1,200 patients in the study, those who drank four or more cups of java on a daily basis had 36% higher odds of surviving during the 13-year study period.
Smoking Ups Your Risk of a Fatal Brain Bleed
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Compared to nonsmokers, the risk of fatal bleeding in the brain was three times higher among heavy and moderate smokers, and 2.8 times higher among light smokers.
COVID exposure warning at Winnipeg hookah lounge
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The province is warning of a potential COVID-19 exposure at a Winnipeg hookah lounge, as establishments that serve the smoking product continue to rack up fines for breaching public health …
Province seeks review of discrimination ruling
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The Manitoba government will seek a judicial review of a ruling that found the province discriminated against a disabled Indigenous boy by not providing adequate health care. The Manitoba Human Rights …
Coronavirus and Apartments: What’s the Risk?
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The best advice for apartment and condo dwellers is what you already know: Wear a mask, wash your hands often, and keep your distance from others in highly trafficked common areas in your building.
John Pritchard School outbreak up to seven cases
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Manitoba public health officials say two new cases of COVID-19 are connected with John Pritchard School on Henderson Highway, bringing the total to seven at the elementary school. The province confirmed ……
Trudeau releases details on $19B in anti-COVID-19 spending as cabinet retreat wraps
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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released details Wednesday of how provinces and territories will spend the $19 billion the federal government is giving them to safely restart the economy. The …
Shipping containers to become visiting rooms
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On the same day a St. Boniface personal care home was added to the growing list of nursing homes forced to ban visitors owing to COVID-19, the province revealed its …
Hookah lounges frequent target of health inspectors
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Profits at Winnipeg hookah lounges are going up in smoke as the provincial government continues to impose fines on them for breaching public health orders during the pandemic. Public health officials …
Half of Pediatricians Dismiss Anti-Vaccine Families
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When doctors dismiss families for refusing vaccines, parents are sometimes swayed, the survey revealed. In fact, 18% often or always change their minds, while another 48% sometimes do.
Many MS Patients Struggle With Finances, Forgo Treatments
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More than one-third (35%) of the patients reported not sticking to their medication or medical imaging routines due to the cost. Thirteen percent said they didn’t get recommended imaging tests.
Doctors Should Watch for Punctured Lungs in COVID Patients
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Before the pandemic, this problem was typically seen in very tall young men or older patients with severe lung disease. But some British researchers noticed that several patients with COVID-19 developed the condition and decided to investigate.
Could COVID-19 Someday Become Seasonal, Like Flu?
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The scenario depends on many unknowns, and assumes the new coronavirus will bend to weather factors
Threat of fall federal election eases as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
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OTTAWA – The threat of a federal election seemed to be easing as the Liberal government and opposition parties prepared for a return to Parliament amid concerns Canada could already ……
Some Canadians believe officials exaggerate threat of COVID-19, poll suggests
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OTTAWA – A new survey suggests there are Canadians who believe that warnings from public officials about the threat of COVID-19 are vastly overblown. Almost one-quarter of respondents in an online …
Southern Hemisphere Has Fewer Flu Cases Amid COVID
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Face masks and other measures used to curb the coronavirus’ spread have helped drive a lower-than-normal influenza rate in the Southern Hemisphere.
Progressive Conservatives win majority in New Brunswick’s pandemic election
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservatives won a majority government on Monday, concluding a highly unusual election race — the first in Canada since the emergence of the COVID-19 …
Ignorance still biggest obstacle holding back Indigenous rights
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The federal Liberal government, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have a tendency to say the “right things” when it comes to Indigenous rights and reconciliation. Virtually from the beginning, Trudeau has …
Office furniture shortages loom as Canadians stay home this fall
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OTTAWA – As Canadians continue to work and study from home this fall in anticipation of a second wave of COVID-19, furniture stores are running low on desks and chairs …
COVID-19 Takes Heavy Toll on Kidneys
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The study authors warned that doctors should prepare for a significant rise in chronic kidney disease cases due to the pandemic.
Further lockdowns possible if COVID-19 cases continue to increase: Ford
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TORONTO – Premier Doug Ford says more regional lockdowns could be coming as the province reports a spike in COVID-19 cases for the fourth consecutive day. Ford says the recent increases …
No Canadian COVID Deaths for First Time in 6 Months
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As of Saturday, there had been 137,676 COVID-19 cases and 9,214 deaths from the illness in Canada, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Virus warnings issued for two Winnipeg schools
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Just as the second week of school is set to begin, public health officials are warning of two more possible COVID-19 exposures at Winnipeg schools. On Sunday afternoon, the province announced …
An election without rallies or baby-kissing: New Brunswick vote a pandemic first
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FREDERICTON – Voters in New Brunswick head to the polls Monday in the country’s first provincial election since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and lessons learned may provide a …
‘We are prepared to deal with it,’ Peguis chief says as Manitoba First Nations report three presumed positive COVID-19 cases
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Three residents of two neighbouring First Nations have tested positive for COVID-19, marking what could be the first cases of the virus on reserves in Manitoba. On Friday, Fisher River ……
Pedal pushers
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Cycling Sophistication A trip to Europe opened Dutch bike enthusiast Erin Riediger’s eyes to the simple pleasures of a civilized, active and healthy daily commute By Eva Wasney It’s a warm and windy …
Six months into a pandemic
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It’s been six months since the first COVID-19 case was recorded in Manitoba. It’s been a roller-coaster ride — in July, the province was down to one active case — but …
Performance review
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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Manitoba government workers to think outside the box and has shaken up a bureaucracy embattled by cuts and often stereotyped as underworked, including by the …
Trudeau, Tam defend Canadian response times to COVID-19 pandemic
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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government began preparing for a possible pandemic as soon as it received the first alert about a mysterious cluster of pneumonia …
Blood Pressure Meds Can Affect COVID-19 Care
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People with high blood pressure tend to fare worse when infected with COVID-19, and the chronic condition can complicate their treatment in unexpected ways, new research shows.
Canada vaccine deals criticized as minister affirms support for equal access
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OTTAWA – More than 100 Canadian health and policy experts say the federal government has succumbed to “vaccine nationalism” because it has pre-purchased tens of millions of vaccine doses from …
‘The kids have been fine’: Only 1.4% of children and teens with COVID hospitalized: stats
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Early data suggests children are much less likely than adults to develop severe cases of COVID-19. Statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada reveal only 1.4 per cent of 10,467 …
COVID-19 May Strike More Cats Than Believed
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New research suggests that COVID-19 may be more common in cats than previously thought.
Wildfires, COVID a Double Whammy to Lung Health
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Wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs and harm the immune system, putting people at an increased risk of COVID infection.
PM agrees to virtual meeting devoted to federal health transfers to provinces
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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to hold a virtual first ministers meeting on federal health care transfers to the provinces and territories. His agreement during a conference call …
Florida Teen Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba
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The parents of a 13-year-old boy in Florida who died from brain-eating amoeba want to warn others about the risk of the waterborne infection.
Early RA Treatment May Thwart Heart Disease
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Starting drug treatment early in rheumatoid arthritis patients may reduce their risk of heart disease, a new study suggests.
Cost Puts HIV-Preventing PrEP Out of Reach for Many
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The daily drug regimen known as PrEP is a nearly foolproof way to prevent HIV infection. But a new study suggests that many high-risk Americans may be giving the medication a pass because of cost.
Untreated High Blood Pressure a Growing Problem
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Uncontrolled high blood pressure is becoming more common among Americans, putting them at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, a new study shows.
Premier Ford cautions against sending kids out at Halloween as COVID cases rise
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TORONTO – Premier Doug Ford said Thursday he would prefer parents not take their children trick or treating this Halloween as the province struggles to keep its COVID-19 case numbers …
Curling schedule loses six more events because of COVID-19
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Curling Canada has cancelled six more events in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization announced Thursday it has cancelled the Continental Cup in Oakville, Ont., the Canadian under-18 championships …
More Using Pot When Depressed — But Does it Help?
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Folks struggling with depression are much more likely to turn to marijuana to ease their symptoms these days, and that’s not necessarily a good thing, researchers report.
Transit drives revenue shortfall
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The City of Winnipeg is crediting cost-cutting measures taken early in the pandemic for lessening its financial fallout from COVID-19. However, with an expected deficit that reaches nearly $30 million when …
Statistics Canada rejigs low-income stats, showing growing poverty gap
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OTTAWA – Canadians living well below the low-income threshold had fallen further behind in the years prior to COVID-19, based on updated poverty figures that experts say might get worse …
Sturgis Bike Rally: Superspreading Event or Not?
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A new study says that the recent bike rally in Sturgis is linked to 260,000 cases of COVID, but South Dakota officials don’t agree.
Surgery May Help Treat Sleep Apnea
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For people with sleep apnea who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, new research finds that a combination of surgical techniques may bring relief.
Two patients died in spring COVID-19 outbreak at HSC
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A new report on the early days of the novel coronavirus in Manitoba reveals that two persons died as a result of an outbreak at Health Sciences Centre, while another …
More detail on city COVID-19 cases on way
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Winnipeggers will soon have a better idea of where people who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 live. “We will be providing more specificity to Winnipeg,” Health Minister Cameron Friesen said Tuesday. By the ……
Indigenous leaders allege conflict of interest on Hydro project review
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OTTAWA — Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall is facing pushback ahead of a meeting this week with northern Manitoba chiefs as part of the Pallister government’s review of Hydro cost …
No fear beer
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created myriad challenges for all manner of small businesses, and craft breweries are certainly no exception. From losing draft accounts at pubs and eateries to shutting …
Rules for approaching autumn amid COVID-19
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There’s a chill in the air — and it’s not just the turn of the calendar page to September. COVID-19 has been in our lives — and affecting daily living — …
Canadians maintain strong trust in doctors and scientists during pandemic
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OTTAWA – Canadians appear to still have solid faith in doctors and scientists nearly six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, but opinions of educators have not fared so well. A new …
Kids Can Have COVID And Antibodies at Same Time
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The new coronavirus and antibodies that fight it can be in children’s bodies at the same time, surprised researchers have found.
‘It is urgent:’ Commissioner calls for Indigenous bodies to oversee police
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Aboriginal civilian groups that would oversee police actions are long past due in Canada, says a commissioner who served on the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Michele …
Message delivered… but is anyone listening?
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Seven months ago, Dr. Brent Roussin took to the microphone in a lecture hall at the University of Manitoba’s Bannatyne campus in what are now unfathomable conditions for a public …
Manitoba education minister an “anti-vaxxer,” Kinew charges
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Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew is calling the Conservative education minister an “anti-vaxxer” following controversial posts the minister made on his personal Facebook account. “It’s bananas to me that Mr. Pallister …
COVID-19 Ills No Greater for Those With Lupus, RA
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People with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis aren’t at increased risk of hospitalization from COVID-19.
Asthma May Not Boost Odds of Severe COVID-19
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New research may have people with asthma breathing a little easier: Doctors found the airway disease doesn’t raise the risk of being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
Study Backs Use of Saliva COVID-19 Test
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A COVID-19 saliva test developed by researchers at Yale University appeared to perform at least as well as nasal swabs in a study of hospital patients, a finding that may help encourage more frequent use of self-collected samples.
Early in Pandemic, Were Antibiotics Prescribed Too Often?
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When the coronavirus pandemic first spread across the United States this spring, most COVID-19 patients in Michigan were prescribed unneeded antibiotics, a new study indicates.
Why A Vaccine Won’t Be a Quick Fix for COVID-19
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As important as a vaccine will be, some experts are already trying to temper expectations for how much it will be able to do.
Can COVID-19 Cause Diabetes?
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A new report details the case of a 19-year-old German with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection who ended up hospitalized with a new case of insulin-dependent diabetes.
Coronavirus on Surfaces: What’s the Real Risk?
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Now that we know more about how coronavirus is transmitted, can you really catch COVID-19 from touching a cereal box you bought at the supermarket, or a package delivered to your door?
Parents Can Stop Pandemic Cyberbullying
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Those who said their parents were “almost never” loving were at least six times more likely to engage in high levels of cyberbullying than those who said their parents were “almost always” loving.
How Effective is the Flu Vaccine?
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Since health officials started tracking it in 2003, effectiveness of the flu shot has varied from year to year, averaging at 40%.
WebMD Poll: More Acceptance of COVID Vaccine
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A new poll from WebMD finds that acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine is gradually growing, with 54.6% of readers saying they would get one in the first year. That number increased slightly from a WebMD poll released in July,
Study: Face Shields Not a Good Mask Substitute
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The shields, which sit away from the face and have gaps at the bottom and sides, would allow many more droplets to escape if the wearer coughed or sneezed.
Dear Commissioner Hahn: Tell the Truth or Resign
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Eric Topol, MD, editor-in-chief of Medscape, writes an open letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, expressing concerns about the FDA’s leadership during the COVID-19 crisis.
Most Americans Wear Masks, But Myths Linger: Poll
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About nine in 10 Americans said they are knowledgeable about mask-wearing and that they sometimes, often or always wear a mask when they leave their home and are unable to social distance, the online poll shows.
Remote Monitoring May Help Control High Blood Pressure
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Doctors already recommend that people with high blood pressure use a home monitor to track their numbers. But research suggests that home readings, alone, only make a small difference in getting the condition under control.
With COVID Vax in Works, 20% Don’t Believe in Shots
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Misinformed vaccine beliefs drive opposition to public vaccine policies even more than politics, education, religion or other factors, researchers say.
COVID Unlikely to Be Transmitted by Breast Milk
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No cases of an infant contracting COVID-19 from breast milk have been documented, but questions about the potential risk remain.
FDA Warning Issued About Hand Sanitizer Packaging
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The FDA says many alcohol-based hand sanitizers are packaged in containers that look like food items or drinks and could cause injury or death if ingested.
Will Telehealth Remain After COVID? Should It?
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The global market for telehealth is projected to grow from $25.4 billion this year to $55.6 billion by 2025.
Fewer Severe Asthma Attacks In Kids During COVID
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In a new study, doctors there noted the drops were significant: the hospital and its care network witnessed a 60% decrease in daily asthma health care visits and an 83% decrease in steroid prescriptions.
COVID & Social Distancing: Is 6 Feet Enough?
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In a new study, researchers found that the virus can travel on respiratory droplets up 26 feet in just a few seconds after someone cough, sneezes, or sings.
Texas Mother Transmitted COVID-19 to Unborn Baby
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Though the patient didn’t have the typical respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19, she did have a fever and diarrhea, suggesting possible viral infection. Before going to the hospital, she didn’t know she had the coronavirus.
Polio Eradicated in Africa: WHO
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The campaign by governments and nonprofits delivered nearly 9 billion polio vaccines.
Blood Pressure Meds Don’t Raise Risk of Depression
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Although previous research hinted there might be a connection between high blood pressure medications and depression, a new study of dozens of commonly used drugs found no such link.
Study Confirms It’s Possible to Catch COVID Twice
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The special thing about this case is that each time the patient was hospitalized, doctors sequenced the genome of the virus that infected him. It was slightly different from one infection to the next, suggesting that the virus had mutated – or changed — in the 4 months between his infections.
Pandemic Drove Spike in Panic Attacks
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New research found that between mid-March and early May of this year, there were 375,000 more Google searches for anxiety or panic attacks than would normally be expected.
Flushing a Public Toilet? Be Sure to Wear a Mask
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Flushing public toilets or urinals can spew clouds of particles filled with germs into the air, including the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, Chinese researchers warn.
Flu Shots for Kids Protect Everybody, Study Shows
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An increased vaccination rate among grade schoolers in California was associated with a decrease in flu hospitalizations for folks in every other age bracket, researchers report.
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