Do COVID-19 vaccines work on the Omicron variant? Your top questions answered
At the end of November 2021, the first case of the Omicron variant was identified in Canada. Since then, it has rapidly spread across the country—infecting more than 10,000 people per day in Ontario alone.
And yet, two months later, Canadians still have lots of questions when it comes to this new dominant strain of COVID-19.
On this week’s episode of Life Unmasked, the team brings in four experts to answer those questions and offer insight into what this variant means for the pandemic. Is the Omicron variant really milder than the Delta variant? Are the symptoms different? Do vaccines work against it?
And ultimately, will the Omicron variant lead to an endemic?
The team is joined by four infections disease specials—including Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti with Trillium Health Partners, Dr. Susy Hota and Dr. Isaac Bogoch with the University Health Network, and Dr. Zain Chagla with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.—who answer those questions and discuss the province’s recent move to break down hospital admissions between patients admitted for COVID-19 and patients who happen to test positive for the disease.
Life Unmasked airs first on the iHeart app every Tuesday morning before becoming available on other streaming platforms. If you have questions for the podcast team, or an idea for an episode, please email lifeunmasked@bellmedia.ca.
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UPDATED | Ont. and Que. scramble to recover from thunderstorm that left at least 8 dead
Clean-up efforts are underway after a massive thunderstorm on Saturday left a trail of destruction in Southern Ontario and Quebec.
What is a 'derecho'? Climatologist explains Saturday's powerful storm
The storm that moved across Ontario and Quebec Saturday is known as a 'derecho', a powerful kind of windstorm that is long lasting and far-reaching.
How concerned should we be about monkeypox?
Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases in Europe and elsewhere of monkeypox, a type of viral infection more common to west and central Africa. Here's what we know about the current outbreak and the relative risk.
Officials expect 3 to 4 days to restore power across Ottawa following storm
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in U.S.
A military plane carrying enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis, the first of several flights expected from Europe aimed at relieving a shortage that has sent parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children.
Flames engulf Indigenous-owned resort in B.C. Interior
Guests at an Indigenous-owned resort in B.C.'s Interior were evacuated Sunday morning and watched as firefighters tried to contain the flames that had engulfed the building's roof.
Russia presses Donbas attacks as Polish leader praises Kyiv
Russia pressed its offensive in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Poland's president traveled to Kyiv to support the country's European Union aspirations, becoming the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament since the start of the war.
43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Solemn day of ceremony to mark anniversary of Kamloops unmarked graves
Beginning at sunrise on Monday, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc will host a solemn day of ceremony and reflection to mark the one-year anniversary of unmarked graves being located at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Montreal
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UPDATED
UPDATED | Ont. and Que. scramble to recover from thunderstorm that left at least 8 dead
Clean-up efforts are underway after a massive thunderstorm on Saturday left a trail of destruction in Southern Ontario and Quebec.
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Body of missing teen girl found in Quebec river two weeks after disappearance
Quebec provincial police have recovered the body of a teen who went missing nearly two weeks ago from the Rivière du Nord in Piedmont, Que. in the Laurentians.
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Large fire rips through brush south of Montreal
A large fire left stretches of brush south of Montreal burnt to ashes as firefighters hosed down fields to contain the blaze.
London
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Multiple power outages in London after fierce thunderstorm tears through southern Ontario
Many people in London, Ont. are still cleaning up debris while 2,500 remain without power Sunday after a powerful thunderstorm rolled through southern Ontario Saturday.
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Hanover fire evacuation centre closes
A temporary evacuation centre at Hanover’s P and H Community Centre is closing.
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'It was scary': severe thunderstorm wreaks havoc in southwestern Ontario
A short but powerful thunderstorm came through southwestern Ontario Saturday, killing several people and injuring others.
Kitchener
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Missing plane leaving Delhi, Ont. discovered in Northern Ontario
OPP say the missing plane that took off from Delhi, Ont. and never arrived at its destination was discovered Saturday evening in Lake Superior Provincial Park, about two kilometres east of Old Woman Bay.
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'Looked like we drove into a warzone': Cleanup continues following strong storm that knocked out power
Residents on Maple Street in Cambridge were busy cleaning up large pieces of broken trees and avoiding dangling power lines on Sunday, after the severe storm that rocked Southwestern Ontario the day before.
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Police investigating fatal crash in Cambridge: WRPS
A man is dead after a fatal single-vehicle crash in Cambridge, according to police.
Northern Ontario
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Missing plane found
Ontario Provincial Police say a missing aircraft was discovered Saturday evening in Lake Superior Provincial Park, about two kilometres east of Old Woman Road.
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8 people dead after storm rips through Ontario; tens of thousands without power
The death count related to a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise
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Officials expect 3 to 4 days to restore power across Ottawa following storm
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
Ottawa
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Officials expect 3 to 4 days to restore power across Ottawa following storm
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
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'We've got a lot of damage': Ottawa residents begin cleaning up after storm damages homes, church
The city of Ottawa says there have been multiple reports of damaged property and fallen trees following Saturday's storm, "particularly in the Navan, Stittsville, Merivale and Hunt Club area."
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OCDSB urges families to prepare for school interruptions Tuesday following storm
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is asking families to prepare for possible school disruptions Tuesday after Saturday’s major storm.
Windsor
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8 people dead after storm rips through Ontario; tens of thousands without power
The death count related to a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise
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As rising food prices become problematic for families, community gardens may be part of the solution
For the last six years, the South Merritt Community Garden in Windsor, Ont., has been a place where people can learn how to grow their own food by acquiring gardening skills
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Popular Greek restaurant Thanasi's says farewell to Windsor after 41 years
Every day since the owner of Thanasi's Olympus Greek Restaurant in Windsor, Ont. announced he would be retiring, Nick Pontikis says the place has been packed like it would be on New Year's Eve.
Barrie
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Cottage country businesses hopeful for busy summer season
Businesses across cottage country eagerly welcome back clientele for a relatively restriction-free summer season.
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Ontario Liberals accuse Progressive Conservatives of avoiding debates
The Liberal candidate for Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte issued a challenge Sunday to all Progressive Conservative candidates, urging them to fill their reserved seats at debates across the province.
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Alliston's gold-medal Olympian hosting soccer camp
Young female soccer stars in the area will soon have the chance to learn from one of the best players in the game.
Atlantic
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One fisherman dead following incident on remote lake near Saint John
New Brunswick RCMP say a Saint John man has died following an incident Saturday afternoon on Loch Alva Lake, near Musquash.
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Parts of New Brunswick under tornado watch Sunday
Environment Canada has issued a tornado watch for various regions in New Brunswick on Sunday.
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'I'll be back next year to win it again': 2 Halifax runners win Blue Nose Marathon Sunday
Two new Haligonians won the Blue Nose Marathon Sunday, and for both, it was their first time winning a marathon.
Calgary
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43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
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Flames look to slow down Connor McDavid in Game 3
The Calgary Flames know the recipe they want to follow in their Western Conference second-round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers.
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Calgary motorcycle enthusiasts dress up in 'Sunday Best' to raise awareness for men's health
A group of Calgary motorcycle enthusiasts showed up in style Sunday, wearing their finest three-piece suits and vintage attire in an effort to raise money for men’s health.
Winnipeg
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'Everything has gone up': Animal shelters struggling to keep up with rising costs
Pet rescues are feeling the pinch with the cost of food, gas and many other items only getting pricier, making it all the more difficult for shelters to operate.
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Indigenous Manitoba man risks his life to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Kim Sigurdson, a Métis philanthropist from Manitoba, travelled to Ukraine in early May on his own dime to bring support to displaced Ukrainians.
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Assault at Thompson hotel leaves man in critical condition
A 48-year-old man was sent to the hospital on Friday night following a serious assault at a Thompson hotel.
Vancouver
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79-year-old waiting for open-heart surgery in B.C. says health is deteriorating
A Vancouver senior says she was told by her doctor in November that she required open-heart surgery. Seven months later, she’s yet to receive a surgery date and says her condition is getting worse.
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Solemn day of ceremony to mark anniversary of Kamloops unmarked graves
Beginning at sunrise on Monday, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc will host a solemn day of ceremony and reflection to mark the one-year anniversary of unmarked graves being located at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
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'Youth detox saves lives': Rally held to protest Vancouver program closure
A group gathered in east Vancouver Sunday to rally against a youth detox being shut down.
Edmonton
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Family of man killed in Chinatown attack hope for solutions to create a safer community
Family members remember one of the men killed in Chinatown this week as a kind and hardworking man, and hope that his needless death will lead to change.
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'Will change the lake': Residents worry about proposed feedlot operation near Pigeon Lake, Alta.
Residents south of Edmonton are concerned about a proposed feedlot near Pigeon Lake.
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'The heart of our city': The spirit of Joey Moss lives on through Oilers anthem La Bamba
As the Oilers look to take home ice for the first time in the Battle of Alberta playoff edition, a significant presence is missing from the team's dressing room.