Titillated titters could leave intimacy in tatters

Manitoba volunteer medical mission to Nicaragua cancelled due to unrest

Dozens of Nicaraguans in need of hip and knee replacements won't get surgery this fall, after a group of Manitoba doctors cancelled a surgical mission due to ongoing civil unrest in the Central American country's capital.

For the first time in seven years, a team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other medical staff won't travel to Managua as part of the annual Operation Walk Winnipeg. Medical volunteers from across the province have treated hundreds of underprivileged Nicaraguans over the years; they gave new hips and knees to nearly 70 patients in desperate need of joint surgery during last year's three-day trip.

The 2018 trip, scheduled for November, was cancelled last week, the group's lead surgeon, David Hedden told the Free Press.

"We feel terrible that we can't go this year, but the safety of the team is the most important thing," said Hedden, who doubles as medical director at the Concordia Joint Replacement Group at the Winnipeg hospital.

Spread the message, not COVID: Stay home when sick

Staying home when sick may be the single most important thing people can do to slow the spread of COVID-19. But in a culture where biting the bullet and going to work or school with a sore throat, a runny nose or a cough – if not a full-blown fever – has been programmed into us since elementary school, it’s not a natural directive to follow.

“I’ve done it,” Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial health officer, confessed Thursday, explaining how many of us have ventured out in public when sick prior to the pandemic — and how that needs to change.

It’s not clear how many of the 3,098 cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba were the result of someone spreading the virus in the community while symptomatic. But to illustrate how damaging it can be, Roussin shared the example of someone with symptoms who attended a social gathering Sept. 11, which led to 40 infections in just under two weeks. That represented 2.3 per cent of the 1,711 total infections in Manitoba at the time.

Roussin said contact tracing has revealed multiple examples of people going to work or attending social gatherings while symptomatic. While it’s not easy for some to stay home from work while ill (including those without financial supports, such as paid sick leave), there's no excuse for those attending social gatherings. It’s reckless.

‘Freedom Convoy’ leader shared symbol of far-right hate group on TikTok

Dave Steenburg has called for calm and respect from protesters in other posts.

EXPLAINER: Brexit ends Britons' right to live and work in EU

LONDON - So far, the large majority of British and EU citizens have not felt the realities of Brexit. Though the U.K. left the European Union on Jan. 31, it follows the bloc’s rules until the end of this year as part of a transition period to the new economic relationship.

That's all set to change.

On Jan. 1, Britain embarks on its new, more distant relationship with the EU after nearly five decades of closer economic, cultural and social integration.

The change for Britain's economy and people is the most dramatic since World War II, certainly more so than when the country joined what was then the European Economic Community in 1973.

Kinew says watchdog could enforce proposed social media ban

Premier Wab Kinew floated the possibility of using a regulator or commissioner to enforce his proposed ban on social media and artificial intelligence chatbot use for kids.

“I think what you could potentially see is a regulator-commissioner type who would have the ability to say ‘You’re out of compliance with law in Manitoba. Let’s talk about how you get back into compliance,’” Kinew told reporters Wednesday.

“Then of course, if that doesn’t happen, you have the avenue of fines and other remedial actions.”

Kinew pledged a ban on social media use for children under 16 during an address last month.