Yahoo MoviesCanada Plummets On Most Powerful Passport Ranking
The Canadian passport lost some of its power when it comes to international mobility in 2021 and the global pandemic is mostly to blame.
The Canadian passport lost some of its power when it comes to international mobility in 2021 and the global pandemic is mostly to blame.
Ten years after ousting their strongman leader, some say the new system isn't working.
President Joe Biden will need to renew the relationship with the continent, writes Waihiga Mwaura.
PM raises prospect of free trade deal between UK and US during first discussion
Indian courts have been awarding compensation for unpaid work done by homemakers who die in accidents.
Key maps and charts explain how the virus has impacted markets and businesses around the world.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation says the Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford have mutually agreed to explore the possibilities of trading him. The person spoke Saturday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team and Stafford did not announce the decision. The person says Stafford expressed an interest in being traded after the season ended and the team responded by tabling the idea until a new general manager and coach were hired. Stafford was on a call earlier this week with Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell earlier this week, according to the person, and they discussed parting ways. Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and he has two years left on a $135 million, five-year contract. ___ Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/larrylage ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Larry Lage, The Associated Press
Conor McGregor fights Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night
American Magic’s race boat Patriot might have been battered and broken when it capsized at speed during the America’s Cup challenger series in Auckland, but skipper Terry Hutchinson says its proud heart is still beating. The United States team remains in a race against time to repair Patriot, to make it fighting fit in time to face Italy’s Luna Rossa in the semifinal of the Prada Cup series beginning Friday. Hutchinson is fully confident Patriot will be at the start line and as good as new after tireless efforts from American Magic’s shore team and help from America’s Cup defender Team New Zealand.
Avec les 580 000 onces d’or récemment inférées, la valeur potentielle de la propriété de Troilus, au nord-est de Chibougamau, s’évalue provisoirement à environ huit millions d’onces. Avec ces quantités, assure le géologue en chef de Troilus, Bertrand Brassard, la firme s’élève au niveau des jours majeurs au Québec et à un niveau important au Canada. Il faudra tout de même attendre pour avoir un constat plus juste du potentiel de la propriété. « Il y a eu d’autres forages entre septembre et décembre 2020, dont on attend les résultats, explique Bertrand Brassard. Les laboratoires au Québec sont submergés. Il y a beaucoup de forages actuellement. » Plus de 100 000 hectares D’une part, la compagnie basée à Toronto,mais bénéficiant d’investissements québécois, notamment du Fonds de solidarité de la FTQ, n’a pas encore ausculté l’ensemble de sa propriété. Par des transactions avec le gouvernement québécois et d’autres minières, la propriété de Troilus est passée de 16 000 hectares à plus de 100 000hectares, qui n’ont pas encore été pleinement prospectés. De surcroit,il faut préciser qu’une quantité inférée possède un certain degré de certitude,mais n’est pas une quantité garantie à 100%. Il s’agit du stade précédant indiqué, puis avéré. « Nous aurions besoin de forages supplémentaires pour transférer dans la catégorie indiqué », explique Bertrand Brassard. Des consultations avec les Cris Avec la pandémie de COVID-19,Troilus a perdu six mois d’exploration et d’études géotechniques.En 2021, la compagnie veut continuer les forages et faire différentes études, dont une de faisabilité. « Ça nous dira le financement qui sera nécessaire, explique M. Brassard. Jusqu’à quelle profondeur forer, etc. » Troilus compte poursuivre les consultations avec le Grand Conseil des Cris et la Première Nation de Mistissini. L’eau s’est accumulée au fil des ans dans les mines à ciel ouvert,mais le dénoyage a déjà commencé et devrait se poursuivre, préalable à de probables travaux d’agrandissements. Vendre ou exploiter En fait, la propriété Troilus pourrait être miseen exploitation d’ici quelques années, mais le géologue en chef ne peut pas dire pour l’instant si la compagnie le fera elle-même. « Troilus est une compagnie junior, précise-t-il. Habituellement, les compagnies junior font de la prospection, de la mise en valeur. On peut vendre ou exploiter, nous ne savons pas encore. Ça dépendra comment évoluent les marchés. » Selon les estimations, la mine a un cycle de vie de 22 ans avec 246 000 onces d’or durant les 14 premières années. Outre ses claims, Troilus posséderait pour 350 M$ USd’infrastructures : garages, routes, une station et des lignes électriques, une usine de traitement d’eau,etc. « Il faudrait rebâtir l’usine », concède le géologue. Il faudrait aussi rebâtir un camp, le précédent ayant été démantelé. En août 2020, Troilus a été la première société au Canada à recevoir la certificationECOLOGO visant les entreprises d'exploration minière démontrant un engagement envers les pratiques exemplaires sur les plans environnemental et social. La zone sud-ouest C’est dans la zone sud-ouestque sesituent les 580 000 onces d’or inférées; cette zone est incluse dans les anciens dépôts de First Quantum, où deux mines à ciel ouvert ont déjà donné deux millions d’once d’or. « Nous avons creusé plus profondément et de manière latérale dans ce secteur, explique Bertrand Brassard. Il y avait plus d’or qu’anticipé. » « En seulement 12 mois », affirme le directeur général de Troilus, Justin Reid, « notre équipe de géologues a découvert et analysé […] ce qui pourrait être les résultats les plus signifiants de nouveaux forages dans la ceinture de roches vertes de Frôtet-Evans depuis la découverte de la mine Troilus, il y a 35 ans. »Denis Lord, Initiative de journalisme local, La Sentinelle
The pair will main event in Abu Dhabi in a rematch seven years in the making
Those aged over 70, health and social care workers and clinically extremely vulnerable people are highest in the priority list.
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has denied a Southern California church’s request to overturn the state’s coronavirus restrictions barring worship services indoors during the coronavirus pandemic. The Sacramento Bee says Friday’s ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals leaves the door open for addressing Gov. Gavin Newsom administration’s limits on church attendance if a California county is in a less-restrictive COVID-19 tier. A three-judge panel ruled against South Bay United Pentecostal Church of Chula Vista over public health orders that restrict religious services from being held inside while virus case rates and hospitalizations remain high. Currently in California, indoor worship services are banned in all purple-tiered counties — those deemed to be at widespread risk of coronavirus transmission. This tier accounts for the vast majority of the state. Just four counties are in less-restrictive tiers. __ THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: Life in the Chinese city of Wuhan has some normalcy a year after deadly pandemic erupted there. British doctors are urging the government to review its policy of delaying 2nd virus vaccine shot for 12 weeks. Hong Kong is in lockdown to contain the coronavirus. And Mexico's president has OK'd states acquiring vaccines. ___ Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico on Saturday reported 859 additional COVID-19 cases and 38 more deaths. That increases the state’s pandemic totals to 168,579 cases and 3,115 deaths. Bernalillo County had the most additional cases with 184, followed by 83 in San Juan County, 74 in Dona Ana County and 53 in McKinley County. Most of the additional deaths involved older New Mexicans, but they also included several people in their 20s and 30s. The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. ___ RIO DE JANEIRO — The governor of Brazil´s Amazonas state has announced tough new lockdown measures to combat a surge in COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed local hospitals. Gov. Wilson Lima said Saturday that as of Monday, the state’s 4 million people can only go out for essential activities such as buying food or seeking medical attention. Hospitals in the state capital of Manaus have been strained amid reports that a new variant of the novel coronavirus is more contagious, and the state has seen a shortage of oxygen supplies. The state health secretary says 584 people are on a waiting list for hospital beds, 101 of them requiring intensive therapy. “People need to understand that we have to take tough measures to save as many lives as possible,” Lima said in an announcement posted on social media. ___ HELSINKI — Norway says its capital, Oslo, and nine municipalities have been placed under strict restrictions to contain the spread of the new variant of the coronavirus first detected in Britain. The Norwegian government said shopping centres and other non-essential stores in those regions were closed at noon on Saturday, and would remain shut at least until Jan. 31. In addition, organized sports activities were halted, schools were ordered to rely increasingly on remote teaching and households were requested to not invite visitors home in those specified areas. Norwegian health officials say the Scandinavian country of 5.4 million has so far identified some 55 cases of the virus variant which has spread widely in Britain. Neighbouring Sweden, where the overall pandemic situation is substantially worse than in Norway, said late Saturday that it was planning to launch a temporary entry ban from Norway due to the new mutated form of COVID-19. ___ LAS VEGAS -- Federal prosecutors have charged a Nevada man with fraudulently obtaining about $2 million in federal coronavirus relief aid, meant for small businesses, to buy luxury vehicles and condominiums in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the U.S. attorney’s office in Nevada accused Jorge Abramovs of bank fraud after he allegedly applied for funding to at least seven banks between April and June 2020. The complaint said a financial analysis determined Abramovs spent the money on personal luxury items, including a 2020 Bentley Continental GT Convertible for more than $260,000 and a 2020 Tesla Model 3 for about $55,000. Abramovs was ordered remanded in custody on Friday during a detention hearing. A defence lawyer assigned to represent Abramovs didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request by The Associated Press for comment. ___ CHICAGO — Restaurants and certain bars across Chicago and suburban Cook County have opened their doors to customers for the first time since late October after winning approval Saturday from Illinois health officials. With the city and county moving up to Tier I of the state’s coronavirus mitigation plan, restaurants and bars that serve food can seat customers indoors at 25% capacity or 25 people per room, whichever is less. Tables will be limited to no more than four people indoors or six people outdoors, and tables must be spaced 6 feet apart. Indoor service will be limited to a maximum of two hours and bars and restaurants must close by 11 p.m. ___ WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pledged in his inaugural address to level with the American people, and the message from his first three days in office has been nothing if not grim and grimmer. He has painted a bleak picture of the country’s immediate future dealing with the coronavirus, warning Americans that it will take months, not weeks, to reorient a nation facing a historic convergence of crises. The dire language is meant as a call to action, but it is also a deliberate effort to temper expectations. The U.S. is trying to roll out its vaccination program, with issues of slow production and distribution. The U.S. leads the world with 24.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 415,000 deaths. ___ MILAN — Italian premier Giuseppe Conte is pledging legal action not only against Pfizer but any pharmaceutical company that doesn’t meet its coronavirus vaccine commitments. Conte says delays announced by a second company, AstraZeneca, were “worrying” and if confirmed would mean that Italy would receive an initial delivery of 3.4 million doses instead of the agreed 8 million. Conte says the “the slowdown in deliveries constitute serious contractual violations that produce enormous damages to Italy and other European countries, with direct repercussions on the lives and health of citizens and on our socio-economic fabric, already badly tested by a year of the pandemic.” He pledged Italy would take every legal recourse “as we are already doing with Pfizer-Biontech.” Italy is under tiered restrictions and intensive care wards have surpassed the threshold for alarm in five regions. On Saturday, 13,000 new cases and 488 deaths were recorded by the Health Ministry. Italy’s death toll of 85,000 is the second highest in Europe and sixth highest in the world. ___ MADRID — Spain’s top military commander has been forced to resign after he and other high-ranking officers violated established protocols and received the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of time. Spain’s defence ministry confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that Minister Margarita Robles had accepted the resignation of Chief of Staff Gen. Miguel Ángel Villarroya. His resignation comes after online news site El Confidencial Digital reported that Villarroya and other top brass had broken national protocols for Spain’s vaccination strategy, which currently only allows nursing home residents and medical workers to receive shots. Several public officials have jumped the vaccine queue in recent weeks, including a regional health chief for southeast Murcia, who also resigned. ___ ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska health officials say they are considering moving up teachers on the state’s vaccine list as more students have restarted in-person instruction. A top vaccine official with the state Department of Health and Social Services made the announcement. The state has prioritized health care workers, seniors 65 years or older and long-term care residents and staff. Teachers 50 years or older, residents that have two or more high-risk health conditions and other essential workers will be prioritized next. State officials say conversations about vaccinating teachers are happening both in Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office and among a scientific and medical advisory committee that helped develop the state’s vaccine policy. ___ MECCA, Calif. — Advocacy groups are heading into farm fields in California to bring vaccines and information to migrant labourers in Spanish and other languages. Some immigrants in the country illegally may fear that information taken during vaccinations could be turned over to authorities and not seek out vaccines. Those who speak little or no English may find it difficult to access shots. These challenges are particularly worrying for Latino immigrants, who make a large portion of the workforce in industries where they have a significant risk of exposure. In California’s sprawling Riverside County, home to a $1.3 billion agriculture industry, a health care non-profit went to a grape farm to register workers for vaccine appointments. The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation also shares information about the virus and how to get tested on WhatsApp in Spanish. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network has used a Spanish-language radio show on social media to share information. ___ PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. — A multipurpose arena in Prescott Valley will be the latest large venue in Arizona to become a COVID-19 vaccination site. Cottonwood-based Spectrum Healthcare on Monday will open an appointment-only site called “Vaccination Station” inside Findlay Toyota Center, a 5,100-seat facility that has hosted events including basketball games, rodeos, concerts and ice shows. The Daily Courier reports that Spectrum plans to administer shots to as many as 1,000 people daily. Pima County already opened a drive-through vaccination site in Tucson at Kino Sports Complex. The state plans to open a site at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Feb. 1. Arizona has the worst infection rate in the country with 1 in every 141 residents diagnosed with the coronavirus in the past week. The Department of Health Services on Friday reported 8,099 new cases and 229 more deaths. That increased the state’s confirmed pandemic totals to 708,041 cases and 12,001 deaths. ___ MEXICO CITY — Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has given state governors permission to acquire coronavirus vaccines on their own. With coronavirus infections and COVID-19 deaths at record highs in recent days, the federal government hasn’t received enough vaccine for the country’s 750,000 front-line medical workers. So state governors have been calling for permission to obtain vaccines on their own, and the president said Friday they can do so as long as they inform federal officials and use only approved vaccines. Also, López Obrador announced Mexico plans to start vaccinating teachers and other school personnel in one of the country’s 32 states this weekend with an eye toward resuming in-person classes there in late February. Officials reported more than 21,000 confirmed infections Friday, a day after the country listed a record 22,339 cases. Deaths related to the virus in the previous 24 hours reached 1,440. Mexico ranks No. 4 in deaths with more than 147,000, behind the U.S., Brazil and India. ___ LISBON, Portugal — Portugal’s medical agency says it has identified the first case in the country of the new coronavirus variant believed to have originated in South Africa. The agency says the new variant was found in a South African resident of Lisbon. Medical authorities have already suggested a massive surge in infections is from the spread of a variant identified in southeast England. Portugal’s hospital COVID-19 wards and ICUs are on average around 90% full. Daily deaths reached a new record for a fifth day in a row at 234 on Friday, bringing the total to 9,920 in a country of 10.3 million. The country also faces the challenge of holding a general election on Sunday. ___ LONDON — A leading politician in Wales has resigned from a senior post after he and colleagues had a drinking session inside the Welsh parliament buildings while pubs and bars are closed during a coronavirus lockdown. Paul Davies says he was stepping down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives “for the sake of my party, my health and my own conscience.” Another Welsh Conservative lawmaker, Darren Millar, was quitting as the party’s chief whip. ___ PARIS — French doctors have new advice to slow the spread of the virus: Stop talking on public transport. The French Academy of Doctors issued guidance saying people should “avoid talking or making phone calls” in subways, buses or anywhere in public where social distancing isn’t possible. Masks have been required since May, but travellers often loosen or remove them to talk on the phone. Other French experts are urging more dramatic measures — notably a third lockdown. France’s hospitals hold more COVID patients than in October, when President Emmanuel Macron imposed a second lockdown. Virus patients occupy more than half of the country’s intensive care beds. Infections in France are gradually rising this month, at more than 20,000 per day. France currently has the longest virus curfew in Europe, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and restaurants and tourist sites have been closed since October. The government has so far sought to avoid a full new lockdown. Protests are expected around France on Saturday against virus-related layoffs and to support those arrested for holding a techno rave party despite virus restrictions. France has registered 72,647 confirmed virus-related deaths. ___ LONDON — Britain’s main doctors’ organization says it is concerned about the U.K.’s decision to give people a second dose of coronavirus vaccine up to 12 weeks after the first, rather than the shorter gap recommended by manufacturers and the World Health Organization. The U.K., which has Europe’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak, adopted the policy in order to give as many people a first dose of the vaccine as quickly as possible. So far almost 5.5 million people have received a first dose of either a vaccine made by Pfizer or one developed by AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca has said it believes a dose of its vaccine offers protection after 12 weeks, but Pfizer says it has not tested the efficacy of its jab after such a long gap. The British Medical Association urged England’s chief medical officer to “urgently review” the policy for the Pfizer vaccine. It says there was “growing concern from the medical profession regarding the delay of the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine as the U.K.’s strategy has become increasingly isolated from many other countries.” Pfizer says its second dose should take place 21 days after the first. The WHO says the second shots of coronavirus vaccines can been given up to six weeks after the first. The Associated Press
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday: ENGLAND Old rivals Liverpool and Manchester United meet in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Liverpool's poor recent form gives United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer an excellent chance of his first win over Liverpool as a coach. Jürgen Klopp's team has won just one of its last six games in all competitions and failed to score in four of those six matches. Liverpool and United drew 0-0 in the Premier League a week ago at Anfield. Chelsea has won just three of its last nine games as it faces second-tier Luton for a place in the fifth round and Leicester plays Brentford without injured forward Jamie Vardy. Fulham faces Burnley and Everton takes on Sheffield Wednesday. SPAIN Atlético Madrid hosts Valencia and is seeking a seventh straight win in the Spanish league to strengthen its hold at the top. Atlético midfielder Héctor Herrera is back from injury, but defender Kieran Trippier remains suspended for breaking betting rules in England and Mario Hermoso is injured. Diego Simeone’s side leads second-place Real Madrid by four points and has played two fewer games. Barcelona needs to win at Elche to reclaim third place from Sevilla. Lionel Messi will miss the match serving the second of a two-game suspension for hitting an Athletic Bilbao player in the Spanish Super Cup final. Barcelona will have United States defender Sergiño Dest back from injury for the game. Coach Ronald Koeman says his players must improve at penalties after missing seven of 12 spot kicks this campaign, including two against a third-tier team in the Copa del Rey midweek. Granada visits Osasuna, while Eibar is at Celta Vigo. ITALY Sixth-place Juventus has the chance to gain some ground in the Serie A title race when it hosts Bologna. With a win, the nine-time defending champion can move within seven points of Italian league leader AC Milan, which was beaten 3-0 at home by Atalanta on Saturday. Second-place Inter Milan also dropped points with a 0-0 draw at Udinese. Even after playing Bologna, Juventus will still have a match in hand. Fifth-place Napoli faces a tricky visit to ninth-place Hellas Verona, and seventh-place Lazio hosts eighth-place Sassuolo. Genoa plays Cagliari in a matchup of two teams fighting to avoid the drop zone while relegation-threatened Parma hosts Sampdoria. GERMANY Bayern Munich can stretch its lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a win over Schalke after its main rivals — Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund — all lost their games. Bayern hammered Schalke 8-0 on the opening day of the season and will be confident of another win against a team which is last in the league and in financial trouble. There are some bright spots for Schalke, with veteran striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar returning to the club and the 19-year-old Matthew Hoppe on a good run of scoring form. Hoffenheim hosts Cologne in the other game. FRANCE Second-place Lille needs to win at fifth-place Rennes to stay level on points with leader Paris Saint-Germain, which has a much better goal difference. It promises to be a tight game in chilly Brittany. Rennes has found its form again after being knocked out of the Champions League group stage and is unbeaten in seven games, winning five of those. If Lille loses, Lyon can move into second place with a win away to local rival Saint-Etienne, which has several players out with the coronavirus. Former France coach Raymond Domenech is unbeaten since taking charge of struggling Nantes, which is just above the relegation zone. But after three gritty draws Domenech will hope for a first win when his side goes to midtable Metz. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made clear to President Joe Biden on Saturday that he's eager to forge a new U.S.-U.K. trade deal. The push for a new deal came in a broad-ranging call between the two leaders that touched on the global response to the coronavirus pandemic as well as the Biden administration announcing this week that the U.S. would rejoin the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization, according to a statement from Downing Street. A new trade agreement between the allies is a higher priority for Johnson than it is for Biden. The U.K. regained control over its national trade policy at the start of the month following the end of a post-Brexit transition period. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that the administration had no timeline for forging a new trade deal as Biden's attention is largely focused on getting the coronavirus pandemic under control and pressing Congress to pass the president's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan. Janet Yellen, Biden's Treasury secretary nominee, also signalled during her confirmation hearing earlier this week that Biden wasn't eager to negotiate new trade deals. “President Biden has been clear that he will not sign any new free trade agreements before the U.S. makes major investments in American workers and our infrastructure,” Yellen said. Downing Street said Saturday that Biden and Johnson discussed “the benefits of a potential free trade deal between our two countries," and Johnson “reiterated his intention to resolve existing trade issues as soon as possible." The White House in its own statement said that the two leaders spoke about combating climate change, containing COVID-19, and ensuring global health security as well as shared foreign policy priorities in China, Iran and Russia. But the statement notably made no mention of discussion on trade. The call with Johnson was at least Biden's third call with a foreign counterpart since Friday. The president spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Friday evening. Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press
The Food Network has scrubbed its latest season of Worst Cooks In America after its champion has been arrested for a child’s murder. Ariel Robinson, age 29, was charged Tuesday along with her husband Jerry Robinson in the death of a 3-year-old girl in South Carolina. They face counts of homicide by child abuse in the […]
Even Diageo's cocktail of brands won't guarantee heady profits in a pandemic. Shuttered bars and restaurants will have taken their toll on the Guinness owner, which reports interim results this week
These Amazon Essentials are everyday staples at extremely affordable prices.
Eden Hazard reminded Real Madrid of his class in Saturday's 41 win at Alaves and was backed by his team mates and coach to rediscover his old self after a disappointing first two seasons since his club record move from Chelsea.
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn didn't practise Saturday, a day after his right leg buckled awkwardly during a collision in the season opener. Coach Rick Bowness provided no update after practice on Benn's condition or his status for Sunday's game, when the Stars play Nashville again. The coach only repeated what he said after the 7-0 win over the Predators on Friday night, saying Benn has a lower-body injury and is day-to-day. Benn got hurt when colliding with Viktor Arvidsson in the second period. Benn went to both knees on the ice, before going to the bench and then being helped down the tunnel before gingerly walking himself. The Stars captain returned a few minutes later for a power play, but didn’t play after the second intermission, when Dallas already led 5-0. The Stars were the last NHL team to open the season after their first four games were postponed because of COVID-19 protocols. They started with their most lopsided victory since beating the New York Rangers 10-2 on Feb. 6, 2009. It was their most goals in a shutout victory since blanking Anaheim 8-0 on March 21, 2001. ___ More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL The Associated Press
L’espoir d’un retour à la normale se renforce alors que la population de la Jamésie reçoit progressivement la première dose du vaccin contre la COVID-19. Au moment d’écrire ces lignes, le 20 janvier, l’équipe de vaccination s’en va administrer Moderna au Manoir Pierre-Guénette de Chapais. Les personnes âgées de Chibougamau, de Lebel-sur-Quévillon et de Matagami, ainsi que le personnel soignant ont déjà été vaccinées. La vaccination des autres travailleurs de la santé a déjà commencé et devrait être terminée d’ici le 22 janvier. « Aucun effet secondaire anormal n’a été observé jusqu’à maintenant », affirme la présidente-directrice générale du Centre régional de santé et de services sociaux de la Baie-James (CRSSSBJ), Nathalie Boisvert. Nous avions hâte! Au Manoir Providence de Chibougamau, les quelques 70 résidents et travailleurs ont tous été vaccinés… sauf un! Cela s’est déroulé le 19 janvier entre 8 h 15 et 15 h. « Tout était merveilleusement organisé », assure un des copropriétaires, André Naud. « Avec l’éclosion qu’il y a eu avant Noël, c’était très difficile. À partir d’aujourd’hui, il y a eu un souffle nouveau, les gens étaient contents. Nous avions hâte! » M. Naud ne trouve pas bizarre qu’il faille maintenir les précautions même après le vaccin. « Ça fait moins de danger », explique-t-il. Quant à la personne qui a refusé d’être vaccinée, M. Naud affirme être le seul à connaitre son identité; il assure qu’elle ne subira aucun opprobre. « Elle peut encore changer d’idée », dit-il, taquin. 40 ans, 18 ans La vaccination pour les 40 ans et plus commence le 21 janvier aux salles des Chevaliers de Colomb de Lebel-sur-Quévillon et de Chapais, et à la salle adjacente à l’église de Matagami. À Chibougamau, elle début le 23 janvier, au Club de golf. Selon la disponibilité des doses, la vaccination pourrait s’étendre aux plus jeunes. Autrement, c’est en février que l’offre devrait être élargie aux 18 ans et plus. À Radisson, où il y a eu des difficultés de recrutement de personnel, la distribution de la première dose de vaccin, pour les 18 ans et plus, devrait avoir lieu à l’église pendant la première semaine de février. Selon Nathalie Boisvert, c’est le CRSSS Abitibi-Témiscamingue qui devrait procéder à la vaccination à Villebois et Valcanton. « Les discussions ne sont pas terminées, dit-elle. Ça devrait être la seconde semaine de février, pour les 18 ans et plus. » Rester à l’affût Comme c’est la première fois qu’une opération de ce type est effectuée, des modifications à l’horaire peuvent arriver. Des journées pourraient s’ajouter aux dates prévues. La population doit rester à l’affut. Pour recevoir le vaccin, la population doit préalablement prendre un rendez-vous, soit par téléphone, soit par le biais du site Internet du CRSSSBJ. Il est également important d’annuler son rendez-vous lorsqu’il y a empêchement, par respect pour la population et pour faciliter la gestion du temps des travailleurs de la santé. On demande aux patients de porter un gilet à manches courtes, pour faciliter l’opération, et de rester sur place 15 minutes après la piqure, afin de vérifier s’il y a des effets secondaires. Moderna choisi pour les facilités de gestion C’est le vaccin Moderna qui a été choisi pour le Nord-du-Québec, comme pour les autres régions éloignées et isolées du groupe 4, parce qu’il offre plus de facilités pour le transport et la congélation que le vaccin de Pfizer. « C’est un vaccin sécuritaire. Tous les milieux de recherches ont été mis à profit », assure Mme Boisvert, qui se réjouit que la Jamésie soit vaccinée avant plusieurs autres régions du Québec. La seconde dose du vaccin Moderna doit être administrée en mars. Selon des études citées par l’Institut national de santé publique du Québec, l’efficacité du vaccin chez les participants n’ayant reçu qu’une seule dose de vaccin est de 50,8 % en moyenne durant les 14 premiers jours et augmente à 92,1 % par la suite. Pour la seconde dose, l’efficacité est de 94,5 % après 14 jours. La durée de l’efficacité des vaccins n’est pas connue. La livraison des secondes doses est prévue au mois de mars pour l’ensemble de la population. Même après la seconde dose, il est recommandé de maintenir la distanciation physique, le lavage des mains et le port du masque. « L’objectif est de vacciner 80 % de la population pour lui donner une protection », explique la présidente-directrice du CRSSSBJ.Denis Lord, Initiative de journalisme local, La Sentinelle