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TORONTO The surging COVID-19 caseload has Ontario "on its heels," prompting the urgent need for tougher measures to regain control of the deteriorating situation.

And with that dire warning Premier Doug Ford announced a raft of new restrictions Friday that went into effect first thing Saturday morning.

The province's stay-at-home order is being extended an extra two weeks, outdoor gatherings are now restricted to members of the same household though people who live alone can join another household and all recreational facilities such as sports fields, playgrounds and golf courses are now closed.

Essential retailers must lower capacity limits to 25 per cent, indoor religious services are limited to 10 people, and non-essential construction has to shut down.

To enforce the measures, police and bylaw officers can now stop motorists and pedestrians to ask them where they live and why they're not at home.

That new provision drew immediate condemnation from civil liberties activists who warned it could result in a rash of racial profiling.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police said officers will do their part to enforce stay-at-home orders and new enforcement measures, however, a number of police forces were quick to state that they would not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.

The new measures followed on the heels of a warning from Ontario's science advisers that the province's COVID-19 infections could soar past 15,000 cases per day by June without tougher restrictions.

Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of Ontario's science advisory panel, said hospitals were "bursting at the seams" and care was already being compromised.

Brown added that along with tougher restrictions, vaccinations also had to ramp up to regain some control of the pandemic.

The province's opposition New Democrats have already dismissed the new restrictions as not going far enough to flatten the COVID curve.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Apr. 17, 2021.

See the article here:
Ontarians waking up to tough new pandemic restrictions - Kamloops This Week

Harrisburg, PA With all Pennsylvania adults now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding today hosted a virtual discussion with Pennsylvania farmers who have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. They were joined by Dr. Mark Goedecker, regional medical director for WellSpan Health, who discussed the value of vaccinated Pennsylvanians sharing their story to boosting confidence and acceptance among others.

"This vaccine is as essential as our agriculture industry and we want to arm them with the information they need to make decisions with confidence," said Redding. "Today we heard from farmers who shared their 'why' for getting vaccinated and that commonly included something more essential than food and health: family.

"We've all missed out over the past year, and one thing we can't afford to lose is more time with those we love. Parents, children, brothers and sisters there's nothing to replace them. They are the ultimate reason."

Those who work in Pennsylvania's essential food and agriculture industry and choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine are protecting themselves, their family, their co-workers, and their community. In addition to this, they're protecting the availability and accessibility of food. Vaccination is a personal decision which is highly influenced by confidence. Vaccine champions those who have already been successfully vaccinated are critical to building community confidence.

"At WellSpan Health we are committed to decreasing vaccine hesitancy, and it starts with educating those in our communities on the science, while also working to remove barriers to accessing the vaccine," explained Goedecker. "We can and will overcome this pandemic, but it takes all of us doing our part to make that a reality. This shot of hope is a huge step in getting us there."

Dr. Goedecker discussed the importance of those interested in learning about the COVID-19 vaccine to find information from credible sources that are regularly updated. And while the internet is a useful tool for research, when it comes to health-related issues the internet should not replace a discussion with a healthcare professional.

During a Facebook Live event, three Pennsylvania farmers discussed their reasons for choosing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Chris Hoffman, PA Farm Bureau Vice President, Mifflin & Juniata County Farmer

"I got the COVID-19 vaccine to protect my health and my family's health," said Hoffman. "Plus, if I do get COVID down the line, the antibodies from the vaccine will lessen the affect and decrease my risk for serious illness.

"I understand that getting the vaccine is a personal choice, but I have chosen to trust the sciencejust as I do on the farm. We use vaccine to protect the health and safety of our animals in our herd. If we accept science and technology in farming, we should do the same for our own health."

John Good, The Good Farm, Lehigh County Organic Vegetable Farmer

"We operate a small family farm with a three- to five-person field-crew. One of our greatest fears over the past year was getting sick with COVID-19 and unable to work for a few weeks," said Good. "This would be incredibly difficult for us to deal with during any season on a vegetable farm, when production schedules are always extremely tight. It could ruin our entire season. Another reason that was very important for us was to be able to spend more time with our parents, who are high-risk individuals."

Recognizing some farmers are on the fence and leery about the process, John provided some advice and perspective.

"It's worth it for so many reasons. The sense of relief you will feel after you get your shots and know it's one less thing you will have to worry about in the background of an always busy farming season is probably reason enough," said Good. "But also, the only way we are going to end this pandemic once and for all is through vaccination. We felt it was our duty as responsible citizens to be a part of that solution.

"The vaccination process was very efficient and simple. We had minor side effects like a sore arm and feeling a little under the weather for a day, but nothing too big. We are so happy to see widely available vaccinations and a decreasing level of community spread in our county," added Good.

Phoebe Brubaker, Village Acres Farm, Juniata County Vegetable and Flower Farmer

"I couldn't wait to get vaccinated. It gave me so much hope that we could safely return to our farmers markets and distribution sites this summer without worrying about spreading a dangerous virus to our customers," said Brubaker. "It's also a way for me to protect my mom, who is in her late seventies, and a very integral part of our farming operation."

Phoebe talked about the impact of COVID-19 on rural communities. While COVID-19 hit them later than more urban areas of Pennsylvania, hospitals were quickly overwhelmed.

"We need to do our part to protect our communities and our elders," Brubaker added. "They hold a wealth of information about farming and many have weathered the hardships of small pox and measles outbreaks. They did their part to get vaccinated then and control the disease. Now it's our turn."

Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccine and looking to further educate themselves are encouraged to visit GetVaccineAnswers.org(DeTiDepende.orgin Spanish), a project of the COVID Collaborative,for information and resources. Information is also available at pa.gov/covid under COVID-19 Vaccines.

MEDIA CONTACT: Agriculture, Shannon Powers shpowers@pa.gov

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Secretary of Agriculture Hosts Virtual Discussion Encouraging Confidence in Science to Pennsylvania Ag Industry - Governor Tom Wolf

The numbers of mass shootings in the US fell last year due to the pandemic.

With schools and businesses closed, there were fewer opportunities for armed attackers to claim innocent lives.

The shootings that did occur attracted less media attention, competing with the coronavirus, the tumultuous Trump presidency and a dramatic election.

Joe Biden brought a change of tone to the White House. There have been less controversies and no angry tweets. This US president does not dominate the headlines in the way his predecessor did.

But while some would say things have returned to "normal" in Washington, we have also seen the return of one of the darkest problems that continues to beset America.

On Thursday night, a gunman shot and killed eight people and injured several others at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis before taking his own life.

It was the latest in a series of mass shootings in the last month.

On 31 March, four people, including a child, were shot dead in an office building in southern California.

Nine days earlier, ten people were killed in a shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

That came less than a week after a man shot and killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta, Georgia.

After every mass shooting in the US, a similar pattern of events plays out.

Politicians extend their "thoughts and prayers" to the victims' families but then the divisions start to emerge.

On one side, there are calls for tighter restrictions and tougher background checks. On the other side, the pro-gun lobby will tell you that it is a mental health issue.

"Guns don't kill people. It's people that kill people," I have been repeatedly told by those who oppose stricter gun control measures.

They will also point out that Americans' right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment of the US Constitution.

According to opinion polls, most Americans support tougher gun laws, but such measures frequently face an uphill battle in the US Congress.

In March, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted in favour of legislation expanding background checks, but it has yet to be passed by the US Senate, which is split 50-50 between the two parties.

Earlier this month, President Biden announced his first steps since taking office to tighten gun controls including new rules for certain types of weapons and investments in community violence intervention programmes.

He vowed to clamp down on self-assembled or homemade "ghost-guns", which are untraceable, and he also promised action on devices called "stabilising braces", which effectively turn pistols into rifles.

The president announced plans to make it easier for states to adopt "red flag" laws which identify at-risk individuals who own guns.

The House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy accused Mr Biden of trying to trample over people's constitutional rights. "He is soft on crime but infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens. I won't stand for it. And neither will House Republicans. Follow the Constitution!" he tweeted.

After Thursday's shooting in Indianapolis, the US president repeated his calls for Congress and the Justice Department to act.

"Too many Americans are dying every single day from gun violence. It stains our character and pierces the very soul of our nation. We can, and must, do more to act and to save lives," Mr Biden said in a statement.

As the US vaccine rollout continues to surge ahead, it has brought a welcome reopening of the country.

Normal service may be resuming across the US but unfortunately so too is the problem of gun violence.

See the rest here:
US gun violence makes a return to global headlines - RTE.ie

The collegium also faces other daunting issues like proportionate representation and seniority of High Court judges being elevated to the Supreme Court. The new Chief Justice of India will have to break the wall of distrust within the collegium, that might have prevented a consensus on elevating High Court judges during the last 14 months. He will also be required to assure the country that the best legal minds are indeed being elevated to the higher judiciary as judges.

Adequate representation of women and minorities on the bench of the Supreme Court is another issue that needs to be addressed urgently. The apex court currently has just one woman as judge, and given that virtually half the population comprise women and also because gender sensitive cases have seen a sharp rise, there is a strong case for many more women judges in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has only one Muslim judge and no Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or an Adivasi. This is also a matter of grave concern. The Court is an institution of governance that needs to maintain public trust. Should not the minority communities have better and higher representation on the Bench, especially when there is evidence that a disproportionate number of these minorities are victims of the state and the judicial system?

These communities deserve a fair representation in the Apex Court. The collegium is duty-bound to diversify the Bench to give adequate representation to all sections of society so that public trust, which is the greatest strength of the judiciary, could be restored. In addition to this, the perception, if not the reality, that only a few dominant castes/communities monopolise the Bench of the higher judiciary needs to be dispelled.

The new Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court collegium will also have to take up the issue of recommendations pending with the central government. The central government has no justification for sitting over the recommendations for appointment of judges for an indefinite and prolonged period of time. As per media reports, hundreds of names are pending with the central government for elevation to the High Courts. They need to be cleared without further delay. Nothing can justify delaying judicial appointments. The government has always enjoyed the right to communicate its reservations, if any, to the collegium with a request for reconsideration. The collegium will hopefully also take a stand against the central government segregating recommendations made by the collegium, accepting some and rejecting others. The central government has no such power to segregate the recommendations of the collegium without taking it into confidence.

Original post:
The new CJI has a long to-do list before him - National Herald

Arsenal 4

Arsenal win 5-1 on agg

Arsenal's ability to rise to the occasion has been frequently questioned this season, but with their season hanging in the balance, they responded superbly scoring three goals inside the opening 24 minutes to secure their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

It was an excellent response to the disappointment of conceding an added time equaliser in the first leg seven days previously with first half strikes from Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka ensuring Mikel Artetas side enjoyed an unexpectedly comfortable evening as they set up a meeting with Villarreal in the last four. Lacazette capped the win in the 76th minute with his fourth goal in two games.

Victory also came after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang explained the reason for his absence with a post on social media immediately before kick off that showed him in a hospital bed along with the message that he had been receiving treatment after contracting malaria while on international duty with Gabon.

Aubameyang had appeared as a substitute in the first leg but was missing from the weekend trip to Sheffield United.

"I've spent a few days in hospital this week," he said on Instagram. "I'm already feeling much better every day, thanks to the great doctors that detected and treated the virus so quickly. I wasn't really feeling myself the last couple weeks but will be back stronger than ever soon!

A terrible lapse in concentration in the final moments of the first leg allowed Tomas Holes to score an added time equaliser for Slavia Prague that meant Mikel Artetas side arrived in the Czech capital knowing they needed to score to go through.

The manner in which they had allowed control of the tie to slip away was all too typical of so many Arsenal performances this season. On this occasion, though, there could be no doubt about the resolve they demonstrated to keep alive their hopes of winning the competition and claiming the additional reward of a place in next seasons Champions League.

Their belief had been strengthened by Sundays 3-0 win at Sheffield United, their first victory in five games, that was built on a first clean sheet in 15 games. Arteta opted to stick with the back four that started at Bramall Lane meaning there was no place for Gabriel who mistake contributed to Holess goal a week previously. It also meant that Granit Xhaka was once again pressed into an unfamiliar role at left-back.

Further forward, Emile Smith Rowe came in for Gabriel Martinelli because, Arteta confirmed before kick-off, of doubts about the the teenagers ability to see out the 90 minutes after picking up a minor knock at the weekend. The hosts, meanwhile, were without Ondrej Kudela, the centre-back, who was this week banned this week for 10 games after racially abusing Glen Kamara, the Rangers midfielder, in the previous round.

Right from the opening whistle Artetas side look in control of the game. They pressed forward confidently whenever they could while the defence looked assured as they dealt with Slavias attempts to impose themselves on the visitors.

It took just 14 minutes for the Gunners to unpick Slavias defences and they would have been ahead but for a narrow offside decision that ruled out Smith Rowes close range effort. The playmaker was alert and the first to respond after Saka had cut on to his left foot and shot across keeper Ondrej Kolar who did well to divert the ball onto the post. The referee awarded the goal but the video assistant referee spotted an infringement after lengthy wait.

There was no sense Arsenal were deflated at having been denied an opening goal and they immediately forced their way back onto the front foot to claim an 18th minute lead through Pepe.

The winger drilled a low cross into the box and when the ball broke to Smith Rowe on the edge of the area, the midfielder showed superb skill to beat two players and slip in Pepe who finished well from close range.

Saka then burst into the box two minutes later but his run was halted by a clumsy challenge from Slavia midfielder Jakob Hromada. Presented with the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot, Lacazette held his nerve to send the keeper the wrong way.

Arsenal were rampant and had effectively killed off the game in the 24th minute when Saka went one better than his earlier effort after being sent clear by Calum Chambers. This time the midfielder drilled his shot inside Kolars near post to add the third.

With such a commanding lead it was no surprise Arsenal eased off slightly but they produced another fine goal 14 minutes from time to confirm their superiority. Xhaka played the ball to Pepe who cross found Lacazette and the forward showed excellent close control to find space before completing the win.

SLAVIA PRAGUE (4-5-1): Kolar 6; Bah 4 (Visinsky 46, 6), Holes 6, Zima 6, Boril 6; Sevcik 5, Stanciu 5 (Lingr 46, 6), Hromada 5 (Masopust 46, 6), Provod 6, Olayinka 6; Kuchta 5.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno 6; Chambers 7, Holding 7, Mari 7, Xhaka 7; Ceballos 7, Partey 8; Pepe 8, Smith Rowe 8 (Elneny 66, 6), Saka 9; Lacazette 8.

Referee C Cakir (Turkey) 6.

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Arsenal rise to the task to keep their season alive - Irish Examiner