Protesters bring Ottawa to halt for a second day
OTTAWA: A “Freedom Convoy” of trucks joined by thousands of demonstrators brought Ottawa to a virtual standstill for a second day on Sunday to protest Canada’s vaccine mandates, as other sympathetic truckers blocked a border highway into the United States.
The chaos clogged the capital’s downtown near parliament throughout the weekend and brought criticism from officials including Ottawa’s mayor.
The boisterous protests threatened to disrupt business on Monday, with authorities stating that City Hall will remain closed, traffic will be disrupted and some other services stalled.
The protest originated last week in western Canada, where dozens of truckers organised a convoy to drive from Vancouver to the Canadian capital to demonstrate against Covid-related restrictions, particularly a recent vaccination requirement for truck drivers crossing the long US-Canada border.
Spotify to link virus content to Covid facts Music streaming giant Spotify announced on Sunday it would start guiding listeners of podcasts discussing Covid-19 to facts about the pandemic, after artistes including Neil Young pulled their songs from the platform in anger at misinformation.
This comes after US podcaster Joe Rogan, 54, discouraged vaccination in young people and promoted the off-label use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat the virus on the platform.
HIV patient with Covid developed mutations
A South African woman suffering from inadequately treated HIV, and who harboured Covid-19 for nine months saw the respiratory virus develop at least 21 mutations while in her body, according to a study.
Once the 22-year-old adhered to the anti-retroviral medication used to treat HIV and her immune system strengthened she was able to overcome the Covid-19 infection within six to nine weeks, the study, led by scientists from Stellenbosch and the University the University of KwaZulu-Natal showed. The research has not been peer reviewed.
The study adds to evidence that Covid may mutate rapidly when harboured by immunosuppressed individuals, and this may lead to the development of new variants.