Preliminary lab tests suggest Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine produced a weaker immune response to the South African variant of the virus. So out of an abundance of caution, Moderna will test a possible booster dose against it. Vaccine manufacturers have been testing their shots against variants, including two that first emerged in Britain and South Africa. Pfizer has previously reported that its shot appears effective against the strain from Britain. Although some other research has raised questions about the vaccine's effectiveness on South African variant.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is asking all Canadians to put in their two-cents' worth as she prepares what she calls one of the most important federal budgets in the country's history. Freeland is launching consultations designed to help Canada recover from the pandemic. She says she wants people to share their priorities when it comes to the government supporting families and businesses. The government has set up a website called letstalkbudget2021.ca, where Canadians can fill out a questionnaire and share their views. Freeland says the Trudeau government will emphasize the interconnect

Dentists and bus drivers are among those disappointed they will not be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine in BC. The province had initially considered prioritizing essential workers, but on Friday said it planned to take an age-based approach instead because older people are more likely to die of COVID-19. The British Columbia Dental Association has written a letter to Premier John Horgan urging him to include dentists in stage two of the vaccination plan along with family doctors and specialists. Unifor Local 111, which represents Metro Vancouver bus drivers, is also demanding that its mem

The BC Centre for Disease Control has added eight flights that passed through Vancouver International Airport to its list of COVID-19 exposures. The flights, four of them domestic and the other four international, either took off from or landed at YVR between January 5th and January 19th. They include an Air Canada flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver on January 5th, a WestJet flight from Toronto to Vancouver on January 9th and an Aeromexico flight from Mexico City to Vancouver on January 17th. The full list can be seen on the B-C Centre for Disease Control website. Anyone who was on any of t

Farmers protesting against the Centre's three farm laws on Monday announced that will undertake a foot march towards the Parliament building from various locations on Budget Day, on February 1."On February 1, we will march on foot towards Parliament in Delhi from different locations." Krantikari Kisan Union chief Darshan Pal said here today while addressing a press conference at the Singhu border.Farmers from all across the country are marching towards Delhi to participate the scheduled tractor rally on January 26, Republic Day to protest against the Central Government's three new farm laws.F

It's been exactly one year since the first known case of COVID-19 was detected in Canada.The 56-year-old man had arrived at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto with what seemed to be mild pneumonia. But because he had travelled from China and his X-rays were unusual, the decision was made to admit him.Samples were sent by taxi to Ontario's public health laboratory, which had been working to come up with a reliable test.The lab was soon able to confirm the man was infected with what was then being called the novel coronavirus. Although ``Patient Zero'' eventually recovered, more than 19,000 people

B.C. is reporting 508 new cases of COVID-19, pushing active infections to 4,479. Nine more people have died due to the illness, bringing the death toll in the province to 1,128. There have been 110,566 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in B.C., including 2,202 second doses. The province is reporting new outbreaks at two hospitals, one in Kamloops and the other in New Westminster, as well as at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement the risk from the virus in B.C. remains high a

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warning that his government could impose stricter restrictions on travellers at any moment in response to new, likely more contagious variants of the coronavirus. That could include making it mandatory to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada. Trudeau said Friday that such measures could be imposed suddenly and bluntly warned against nonessential trips abroad. Canada already requires those entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days and to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before arrival. The suggeste

Health Minister Patty Hajdu is thanking Canadians for altering their travel plans because of the pandemic. During a virtual news conference with cabinet ministers and public health officials, Hajdu said there is evidence the message is getting through and people are not leaving the country. She says over the past week, over 50,000 people have cancelled their flights and postponed travel. Earlier today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is considering a number of options that will make it harder for people to return to Canada. The decision being taken as the new variants of COV