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Flu cases are rising across much of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, though overall flu levels remain low. Weekly flu cases had been declining through most of January, but began rising nationally the week ending March 5, the CDC said. That increase has continued, albeit slowly.

New Zealand has announced the end of QR codes, mask rules, COVID-19 vaccine passports, and other mandates in most industries.As of April 4, vaccination passport rules will be removed and vaccination mandates will be lifted in all industries except health and disability, aged care, corrections, and border forces. Changes that take effect on March 26 include increasing indoor capacity limits to 200 from 100, while outdoor limits will be completely removed.Mask mandates also will be removed for all outdoor events, but remain for workers at indoor events with an orange risk rating.QR code scanning requirements also will be removed.As the...

Former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, a leading contender for the GOP nomination in the Pennsylvania governor’s race, is hoisting up the economic impacts of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine as a portrait of why American energy independence is so important. Speaking to the Post-Gazette by phone on Thursday amid a four-day swing through Pittsburgh, Mr. Barletta blamed Democrats and President Joe Biden’s administration for weakening America’s energy exportation worldwide — a vacuum that Russian energy was able to fill, he claims. . . . Despite criticism from GOP officials, oil and gas drilling in the U.S. has actually increased since Mr....

When Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks ago, some were quick to quip that Vladimir Putin had single-handedly killed Covid. As the story goes, worldwide collapse of public support for Covid restrictions, abysmal approval ratings for the Biden administration, and internal Democratic party polling warning of a political bloodbath in November necessitated a shift in the news cycle away from the pandemic. In characteristic lockstep, jurisdictions around the world began hastily walking back their mandates because, you know, science. Putin’s war in Ukraine certainly provided a much-needed diversion from Covid woes. Yet we should not conclude that the unconscionable precepts underpinning...

As the omicron wave of the COVID pandemic continues to wane in the US (recently convincing the CDC to finally drop its federal masking guidance), the situation in Hong Kong couldn't be more different. As case numbers continue to soar despite the government's suddenly draconian measures to suppress spread, thousands of Hong Kongers have decided to flee, escaping both the crushing COVID restrictions, and the city-state's increasingly authoritarian tendencies now that Beijing has reasserted political control.Hong Kong's response to the virus has gotten increasingly heavy-handed as authorities demand that it fall in line with Beijing's "COVID zero" policy, which requires...

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly planning to announce the end to all COVID-19 restrictions in the country on Monday. Johnson will unveil his “Living With COVID” plan when Parliament returns from a break this week, The Sun reported.

Switzerland announced this week that it is lifting nearly all coronavirus restrictions in the country as infection rates in the country steadily decline. The Federal Council, the seven-member Swiss executive branch, said as of Thursday, masks and COVID-19 vaccination passes will no longer be required to enter shops, restaurants, cultural venues and other public settings and events. The requirement to wear masks in workplaces and a work-from-home recommendation will also end, as will capacity limits on large-scale gatherings.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday that his government will accelerate its timetable for lifting coronavirus restrictions, reopening businesses, and terminating its vaccine passport system. “The world’s done with it, so let’s just move forward,” he said of the pandemic.

Ontario will remove most pandemic restrictions, including vaccine passports, by March 1 and loosen capacity limits sooner, Premier Doug Ford announced Monday. Masks will still be required indoors in public spaces until at least mid-March. The announcement, which came as convoy protesters occupied Ottawa for an 18th day and the federal government enacted the Emergencies Act, brought accusations that the province had caved in to convoy demands. Ford denied that, saying Monday’s announcement occurred “not because of what is happening in Ottawa and Windsor, but in spite of it.” Still, at least some saw the announcement as a victory for...

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that plans are underway to remove “almost all restrictions for businesses,” including the controversial “vaccine passport system” that inspired the Freedom Convoy protests. On Sunday, the vital Ambassador Bridge linking Ontario with Michigan was reopened after police cleared the protesters who had blocked it for six days. “Today we are on track to very soon remove almost all restrictions for businesses as part of our reopening plan. And we heard from Dr. Moore last week, and again yesterday, that he is now working on a plan that will allow us to remove the...

HELSINKI (AP) – Norway says it is lifting almost all remaining COVID restrictions as it doesn´t see a major health threat to citizens any more, even though the omicron variant is still spreading in the Nordic nation. “This is the day we have been waiting for,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere during a news conference in Oslo on Saturday. “We are removing almost all coronavirus measures.”

Dr. Leana Wen, who appears on CNN frequently as a medical analyst, got tongues wagging earlier this week when she was asked by CNN anchor John Berman whether she supported the lifting of mask mandates across the country. "I do," Wen said. "(T)he science has changed." She continued, "We know that vaccines protect very well against omicron, which is the dominant variant." Wen also announced her support for what she called "one-way masking." "We also know that ... even if other people around you aren't wearing masks, if you wear a high-quality mask, that also protects you." If you've followed...

As provinces begin lifting COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, psychology experts expect stress and anxiety to run high among those who remain wary of letting their guards down.It will take time for many to adjust, they say, but the quick approach some provinces are taking could make the transition more jarring."I have every intention of still sending them to school with masks," she said. "With Omicron not gone yet... it's terrifying."Raissa Zukowski, a 33-year-old Calgary resident who was born with spina bifida, feels the same way.Zukowski said she's anxious about Alberta's swift reopening approach, and often feels people don't understand her trepidations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned Americans on Monday that as COVID-19 restrictions are dropped, there is an increased risk for “acts of violence” such as mass shootings. “The United States Remains in a heightened threat environment fueled by several actors, including an online environment filled with false or misleading narratives and conspiracy theories,” the DHS warned. “As COVID-19 restrictions continue to decrease nationwide, increased access to commercial and government facilities and the rising number of mass gatherings could provide increased opportunities for individuals looking to commit acts of violence to do so, often with little or no warning,”...

President Joe Biden’s coronavirus policies remain frozen in place as federal health advisers remain unwilling to lift national restrictions. The president largely ignored governors who asked the administration for a path out of the pandemic and restoring some degree of normalcy to the daily life of Americans.

Sweden and Switzerland joined Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, France and the UK in announcing they will lift COVID restrictions and open up their countries.(Children’s Health Defense) – Europe is accelerating steps to roll back COVID restrictions as efforts to control the spread of the virus have failed and countries downgrade the threat posed by SARS-CoV-2.Sweden and Switzerland joined Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, France and the U.K. in announcing they will lift COVID restrictions and open up their countries.Top Israeli officials also announced this week they are abolishing the country’s “Green Pass” COVID...

During his February 3 YouTube livestream, outspoken conservative rocker Ted Nugent discussed his plans to hit the road in support of his new album, "Detroit Muscle", which is due on April 29 via Pavement Music. The follow-up to 2018's "The Music Made Me Do It" was recorded with Ted's current band, which includes bassist Greg Smith and drummer Jason "Tickets go on sale tomorrow, I think, for this gonzo beach party rock and roll concert headlined by Ted Nugent in Panama City [Florida] on April 29th," Ted said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "Write that down. That's confirmed. There'll be no...

GoFundMe says it won’t be giving the C$10 million ($8 million USD) raised to support the truckers protesting COVID-19 mandates to the organizers anymore, saying it will instead work with the organizers to send the funds to “established charities verified by GoFundMe.” “To ensure GoFundMe remains a trusted platform, we work with local authorities to ensure we have a detailed, factual understanding of events taking place on the ground,” the fundraising platform said in a statement on Feb. 4. “Following a review of relevant facts and multiple discussions with local law enforcement and city officials, this fundraiser is now in...

STOCKHOLM — The Swedish government will lift most Covid restrictions next week, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden announced on Thursday. The move adds Sweden to the growing list of European nations, including Denmark and Norway, that are scrapping pandemic protocols even though new cases continue to soar in Europe. Starting on Feb. 9, there will be no limit on how many people can gather at restaurants, sports stadiums, and other events, according to Lena Hallengren, the minister of health and social affairs. People will no longer be required to work from home. And travel restrictions on visitors from other...

Alberta’s ruling United Conservative Party has denied that members have been negotiating with an anti-coronavirus restriction trucker border blockade, but nevertheless noted that vaccine passports could end in the province within days.United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus chair Nathan Neudorf dismissed claims that rural UCP members of the Alberta legislative assembly (MLAs) had negotiated a deal with the trucker blockade at the border town of Coutts to end the coronavirus restrictions in the province in exchange for opening the border.“Reports have surfaced that the United Conservative rural caucus has negotiated an agreement to temporarily end the Coutts blockade pending the...