Provinces begin to unveil pandemic policy changes, back-to-school plans
After Alberta announced it will roll back all restrictions, other provinces are releasing COVID-19 reopening plans which are also raising concerns from critics.
Masks will be required in Ontario classrooms this fall for all grades except kindergarten, while Alberta will not require them, and British Columbia has yet to announce its mask requirement for schools.
Alberta is similar to Ontario in that there will be no provision for how schools should plan to manage outbreaks.
B.C. is also not requiring cohorts for learning and that province has not made any changes to its back-to-school plan in recent months, despite the rise of the Delta variant.
The resounding concern from rallies happening daily in Calgary and Edmonton since July 30 is that the health and safety of Alberta's children is at risk.
As well, there's an eagerness to open Alberta's financial books on the handling of the pandemic — a taxpayer-funded report looking into the first wave will be made public this week, according to Health Minister Tyler Shandro.
As daily case counts increase and active cases climb, the lagging indicators of hospitalizations and deaths continue to demonstrate that the fully-vaccinated experience a far milder degree of illness compared to earlier in the pandemic.
Officials say the vast majority of new infections are among the unvaccinated, as are the vast majority of those experiencing severe outcomes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.