Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Some immunocompromised Canadians face anxious future with lifting of COVID-19 restrictions

Some immunocompromised Canadians face anxious future with lifting of COVID-19 restrictions

CBC
Thursday, February 17, 2022 11:35 AM GMT

Joel Bhikoo has multiple sclerosis, needs an IV infusion of medication every six months and for the most part has been isolating himself since the COVID-19 pandemic hit nearly two years ago.

The Drumheller, Alta., resident is immunocompromised and said he has had to be "extremely careful" to avoid getting infected, a situation that has also led to some psychological counselling to deal with the isolation.

But with his province's announcement that it would be lifting some COVID-19 restrictions, he said he feels that despite acting responsibly, he's now being treated as a "second-class citizen."

"I enjoyed going out for lunch with my brother once a week. And we can't even do that because I don't know if the person in the next table is carrying COVID," he said.

"And now people that aren't immunized are being able to do things and [it's] putting me into jail again."

Bhikoo is just one of thousands of Canadians whose medical condition has put them more at risk for developing complications in case of infection from COVID-19. And some of them are now facing a more anxious future as many provinces, in an attempt to get things back to normal or learn to live with COVID-19, announce the lifting of measures.

Alberta has announced a three-step plan to ease public health measures in the province, including the scrapping of the vaccine passport and an intention to remove the mask mandate and lift capacity limits at all venues by March.

Saskatchewan ended its vaccine passport and will scuttle its indoor masking requirement by the end of the month. 

Quebec will drop its vaccine passport Mar. 14, while Manitoba is looking to end all restrictions in mid-March. P.E.I. is hoping to phase out most of its COVID-19 restrictions in the next two months.

Meanwhile, Ontario is planning on keeping masking requirements in place but end the vaccine passport by March 1.

B.C. has lifted many restrictions but is keeping indoor mask requirements and vaccine passports in place for now.

"With restrictions being lifted, it changes the dynamic where instead of it being sort of society's job to help these people live as normal life as they possibly can, it [falls] on them," said Dawn Bowdish, Canada Research Chair in aging and immunity and assistant professor at McMaster University in Hamilton.

According to Statistics Canada data in 2020, around 14 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years or older have a compromised immune system that increases their risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19.

Around 38 per cent of Canadian adults living in private households reported having one or more underlying health conditions that could put them at elevated risk of complications following COVID-19 infection, StatsCan found.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
What's at the heart of Sask.'s early wildfire season? Humans, in more ways than one

Four in five of the wildfires so far in Saskatchewan this year have been caused by humans — the vast majority of them accidentally. But experts say part of the reason they've spread so far, so fast, is another human factor: climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels.

Border city of Lloydminster united through gardening

Just a block away from the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan there's a garden uniting green thumbs in Lloydminster. 

Rare spirit bear cub living near B.C. highway stirs excitement, concern, as word of its existence spreads

Shelley Lindaas has long dreamed of seeing a Kermode bear cub in person.

'He did not deserve this,' says friend of Erixon Kabera after SIU clears officers who killed him

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report outlining the events leading to the death of Erixon Kabera answered some questions for his family and friends, but many remain.

'Unacceptable': Some of Windsor's parking meters are wrong — but people are still getting tickets

Syed Hassan says he doesn't like to complain much. But when his wife told him she got a parking ticket on Thursday night, he knew he needed to speak out. 

Sex assault trial reforms followed Ghomeshi case. Some experts worry Hockey Canada trial could spark more

Following the public outcry over the Jian Ghomeshi case, some legal scholars and sexual assault survivor advocates lauded changes made to the Criminal Code that would prevent defence lawyers from surprising complainants at trial with past emails or text messages with the defendant.

The word 'family' has caused controversy for this Ontario school board. Here's why

The Waterloo Region District School Board has been talking a lot about the word "family" this month.

As some restaurants ditch seed oils for beef tallow, UPEI prof warns it's no health upgrade

At Pedro's Island Eatery in North Rustico, owner Pedro Gameiro has long been not a fan of using seed oils for frying

Yukon First Nations graduation turns 50

The parking lot of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse was full on Friday, and the building surrounded by well-dressed young people and their proud families. Despite the smoky conditions in the city, there was much to celebrate. 

Toronto should allow sixplexes to bring 'gentle density' to city, council committee says

Toronto has moved one step closer to allowing fiveplexes and sixplexes in neighbourhoods across the city.

Why removing a dead deer from the Thames River wasn't a situation of passing the buck

Warning: Some readers may find photos in this story distressing.

Can the G7 leaders still find anything to agree about?

Fifty years ago this fall the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States met in a castle outside Paris for three days of meetings, at the conclusion of which they issued the Declaration of Rambouillet, a 15-point statement of principles and commitments.

'It's escalating every minute': Iranian woman living in N.L. watches conflict with worry

An Iranian woman living in Newfoundland and Labrador says she's watching attacks between Israel and Iran with worry for her family back home.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Protesters hold 'people's forum' in Calgary ahead of G7, prepare for Sunday march

On the final day before G7 leaders gather in Kananaskis, Alta., activists and community groups met in downtown Calgary on Saturday afternoon for a "people's forum" that took aim at the priorities of G7 leaders.

P.E.I. optometrist goes mobile to serve care homes in Prince County

An Island optometrist has gone mobile, providing on-site eye exams at long-term and community care homes across western P.E.I..

Funeral held for 3 children killed in alleged impaired driving crash

The Laviña-Galve family held a joint funeral in Scarborough on Saturday for three children killed last month in an alleged impaired driving crash on Highway 401. 

Canadians urged to 'avoid all travel' to Israel amid escalating hostilities with Iran

The federal government is urging Canadians to "avoid all travel" to Israel as the country exchanges missile and air strikes with Iran.

Ontario Pride groups say extra federal security dollars now necessary to run safe events

For a third year in a row, $1.5 million in federal funding is being made available to local and national Pride organizations to pay for increased security at festivals and parades celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community. 

2 Minnesota lawmakers and spouses shot in their homes, ex-state House Speaker and husband dead: governor

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed Saturday in a politically motivated assassination, and a second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded.

Information about TFSA contribution limits now available, says the CRA

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says it has resolved an issue that prevented people from seeing how much contribution room they had left in their tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs).

He thought he was calling Air Canada. The airline says it wasn't them

A Stellarton, N.S., man says he was baffled when he discovered his $2,000 non-refundable airline ticket to Texas was cancelled.

Heat-pump scheme banned in Ontario snares Miramichi homeowner

Theresa Marcotte now regrets her decision four years ago to have two heat pumps installed in her Miramichi home. 

Here comes the MPP: Ontario bill could let politicians officiate weddings

Cut the red tape and cue the white dress.

More than 400 Manitoba infants got measles vaccine since eligibility expanded: province

More than 400 children under the age of one have received the measles vaccine in Manitoba since the government expanded eligibility for the shot last month due to a growing number of cases. 

Experts say Sask. wildfires could remain ablaze until snowfall

Wildfires continue to rage in northern Saskatchewan as the province faces its worst fire season in more than a decade.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us