Coronavirus Update: Border crossing reopened after anti-vaccine-mandate blockade
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 was edging closer to 920,000 on Monday, as a U.S.-Canada border crossing — and key supply route — was reopened after a six-day blockade by truckers protesting vaccine mandates and other COVID-related restrictions.
A threatened blockade of Paris failed to materialize over the weekend, despite days of online organizing efforts. Among the protesters’ grievances is the requirement in New Zealand that certain workers get vaccinated against COVID-19, including teachers, doctors, nurses, police and military personnel. Many protesters also oppose mask mandates — such as those in stores and among children over about age 8 in classrooms.New Zealand was spared the worst of the pandemic after it closed its borders and implemented strict lockdowns, limiting the spread of the virus.
Hospitalizations are down 35% from two weeks ago at 92,896 a day on average. And deaths are finally starting to fall, down 3% to an average of 2,465 a day, which is an improvement but still the most since last winter, before vaccines were widely available. Don’t miss: ‘You will not believe what I’ve just found.’ Inside the ivermectin saga: a hacked password, mysterious websites and faulty data.• Hong Kong’s paramedics are being “stretched to the limit” by a fifth wave of COVID cases, the South China Morning Post reported. Unions are urging patients with no symptoms or those who test positive with rapid kits not to call the emergency services.