Paxlovid, anti-viral COVID-19 drug, available to eligible Sask. residents Wednesday
Paxlovid, an oral anti-viral drug used to treat COVID-19, will be available to eligible Saskatchewan residents 18 and over, starting Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Paxlovid is the first Health Canada approved pill used to treat COVID-19.
The pill is meant for those who have already tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms. It is not meant to be taken as a preventative measure.
It is taken twice per day for five days and stops the virus from multiplying in a person’s body.
Paxlovid is only being given to eligible patients through HealthLine 811 referrals. The province is asking those who feel they are eligible to not visit family physicians or a pharmacy to request the medication.
In a release, the province said Paxlovid is only recommended for adults 18 and older who are symptomatic and within five days of developing symptoms, test positive (PCR or rapid test) for mild or moderate COVID-19, do not have any medical conditions that would make treatment inappropriate and meet one of the following criteria: are immunocompromised, regardless of vaccine status, are 55 and older, and not fully vaccinated, or have a medical condition that puts them at high risk and are not fully vaccinated.
The province also wants people to know the treatment is not meant to be a substitute for vaccination, reiterating that vaccines are still the best defense against serious outcomes from COVID-19.
All Saskatchewan residents five and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Crown wants Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich returned to jail to await trial
Crown prosecutors want Ottawa protest organizer Tamara Lich sent back to jail to await trial, claiming she breached her bail conditions by agreeing to participate in an event next month where she will receive a 'Freedom Award.'
Prince Charles, Camilla visit Ukrainian church in Ottawa on second day of royal tour
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, lit candles and listened to a prayer service on Wednesday inside a gilded Ukrainian Orthodox cathedral in Ottawa, while congregants and onlookers waved blue-and-yellow flags and Union Jacks outside.
'Suffer in silence:' Experts worry of fallout from public reaction to Amber Heard's testimony
As Johnny Depp's defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard stretches into its fifth week, experts say public reaction to Heard's testimony sends a perilous reminder that despite the 'MeToo' movement, the credibility of alleged victims of abuse can be fragile.
Portugal identifies five monkeypox infections, Spain has eight suspected cases
Portuguese authorities said on Wednesday they had identified five cases of rare monkeypox infection and Spain's health services are testing eight potential cases after Britain put Europe on alert for the virus.
Chantel Moore shot by N.B. police officer in chest, abdomen and leg, inquest hears
The pathologist who conducted an autopsy on Chantel Moore says the 26-year-old Indigenous woman was shot twice in the chest, once in the abdomen and once in her left leg.
'Most horrific': Alberta First Nation investigating after remains of children found
Saddle Lake Cree Nation in eastern Alberta is 'actively researching and investigating' the deaths of at least 200 residential school children who never came home, as remains are being found in unmarked grave sites.
'A pretty amazing phenomenon': Giant ice shoves form on Lake Winnipeg
Even though it is spring, some Manitobans were in for a cool surprise over the weekend as ice piled up on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, creating what looked like giant hills of ice.
Worry, buyer's remorse high as real estate market slowdown materializes
A wave of buyer's remorse is taking shape in several heated real estate markets, after housing prices started dropping and the number of sales slowed over the last two months.
Canada's inflation rate hits three-decade high of 6.8 per cent: StatCan
The cost of nearly everything at the grocery store continued to climb higher to push the annual inflation rate up in April.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon driver 'shocked' after $150 ticket issued for bike rack
A Saskatoon man says he was "shocked" after receiving a ticket related to the bike rack on his car.
-
Former Epic Alliance employee says firm 'pushed' for higher appraisals of homes it sold to investors
A former employee of Epic Alliance says the firm sometimes "pushed" for higher appraisals on homes sold to landlords and would rent to tenants who would "destroy" properties
-
Saskatoon community volunteer faces additional sexual assault charge
A man known volunteer in the community is facing another sexual assault charge, according to police.
Winnipeg
-
Cyclist in critical condition after being hit by garbage truck: Winnipeg police
A cyclist was taken to the hospital in critical condition on Wednesday after a crash with a garbage truck at a Winnipeg intersection.
-
'A pretty amazing phenomenon': Giant ice shoves form on Lake Winnipeg
Even though it is spring, some Manitobans were in for a cool surprise over the weekend as ice piled up on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, creating what looked like giant hills of ice.
-
What Manitobans can expect for gas prices this summer
As gas prices reached a new Canadian record once again, an expert said that Manitobans could be spared from the record-high prices – for now.
Calgary
-
$100K raised for 5 Calgary siblings orphaned in crash
Five Calgary siblings who lost their mother and father in a three-month period are set to receive financial support from an online fundraising campaign.
-
Calgary's Red Mile celebrations: what to know before you go
The Calgary Flames take on the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but if you're heading to the Red Mile to celebrate there are some key things you'll need to know.
-
Alberta gas tax pause helps, but latest inflation stats still 'worrisome': Economist
New data shows record-high inflation across the country but in Alberta, huge increases were at least somewhat softened by new provincial government policy.
Edmonton
-
Alberta's Kenney to learn fate as party announces results of leadership review vote
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is to learn today if he still has enough support from his party to stay on as leader.
-
Edmonton Elks, Calgary Stampeders players will be in legal strike position Thursday
Elks and Stampeders players were the only ones to open training camp Sunday after talks between the CFL and CFL Players' Association on a new collective bargaining agreement broke off Saturday.
-
Bullet holes found in several south Edmonton homes, no injuries reported
Edmonton police are asking residents of the Cavanagh and Allard neighbourhoods to check their homes for damage after bullet holes were found in several houses in the area.
Toronto
-
Nurse pushed to ground as Doug Ford arrived at Toronto debate, union says
Two nurses protesting wage restraint by the Ford government were injured outside the provincial leaders' debate in Toronto on Monday evening, their union says, as Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford’s bus arrived at the site and he prepared to disembark.
-
Ontario gas prices are about to drop. Here's the best time to fill up
Drivers are set to get some relief at the pumps with gas prices set to drop in Ontario.
-
Hazel McCallion throws support behind Doug Ford for Ontario premier
Hazel McCallion, one of the longest serving mayors in Canadian history, has officially thrown her support behind Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford for premier ahead of the Ontario election.
Ottawa
-
LIVE BLOG
LIVE BLOG | Live updates: Prince Charles and Camilla visit Ottawa
Follow along for live updates on Prince Charles and his wife Camilla's visit to Ottawa on Wednesday.
-
Here's where Prince Charles and Camilla are stopping on their visit to Ottawa
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have a busy itinerary in Ottawa on Day 2 of their visit to Canada.
-
Crown wants Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich returned to jail to await trial
Crown prosecutors want Ottawa protest organizer Tamara Lich sent back to jail to await trial, claiming she breached her bail conditions by agreeing to participate in an event next month where she will receive a 'Freedom Award.'
Vancouver
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Victims of fatal Gastown fire officially identified
The two people whose remains were found after a fire destroyed a building in Vancouver's Gastown have been officially identified.
-
Premier meets with B.C. doctors ahead of rally at legislature
Amid growing tensions with family doctors and frustration from the public, the premier met with physicians ahead of a "wear your colours" rally they're organizing on the government's doorstep.
-
Victim was stabbed in the neck on a Vancouver sidewalk at lunchtime by a stranger: judge
A British Columbia man was just 18 when he approached a stranger on a downtown Vancouver sidewalk at lunchtime and stabbed the victim in the neck, a local courtroom heard last week at a sentencing hearing.
Montreal
-
Legault insists health care won't change under Bill 96, calls out 'disinformation'; experts disagree
Peppered with questions on Bill 96, Legault said there's been 'disinformation' spreading, in his opinion -- and that on one important question, health care, many critics of the bill are wrong. In fact, the bill is confusing on that point and the details still haven't been fully explained.
-
Animal rights activists want to take Longueuil, Quebec to court over deer cull
Animal rights activists have filed a lawsuit against the City of Longueuil and the Quebec government for what they are calling an "unnecessary and cruel slaughter" to control the deer population at Michel-Chartrand Park.
-
Quebec reports 14 more COVID-19 deaths, drop of 35 hospitalizations
Quebec reported a drop of 35 hospitalizations for COVID-19 on Wednesday, along with 14 more deaths from the virus.
Vancouver Island
-
Widespread power outages, cruise cancellation as windstorm hits Vancouver Island
Thousands of BC Hydro customers in Greater Victoria and across Vancouver Island were without power Wednesday morning as Environment Canada forecasted wind gusts over 100 km/h.
-
No kids injured after school bus crash on Vancouver Island
No children were injured following a collision between a school bus and car in the Comox Valley on Wednesday morning.
-
'It was a total wreck': Nanaimo family escapes house fire
A family has safely escaped an evening house fire in central Nanaimo, but their home is badly damaged.
Atlantic
-
Chantel Moore shot by N.B. police officer in chest, abdomen and leg, inquest hears
The pathologist who conducted an autopsy on Chantel Moore says the 26-year-old Indigenous woman was shot twice in the chest, once in the abdomen and once in her left leg.
-
RCMP incident commander says radio service a challenge during N.S. mass shooting
A retired RCMP officer who led much of the response to the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia testified today that spotty radio service posed challenges as Mounties chased a murderous suspect.
-
Fisheries Department issuing licenses in N.L. without checking boat registration: TSB
An investigation into a fatal 2020 fishing accident in Newfoundland has prompted the Transportation Safety Board to call on the federal Fisheries Department to change the way it issues fishing licences.
Northern Ontario
-
Mental health advocates call on politicians to focus on opioid crisis
As part of its ‘I Choose’ election campaign, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is calling on provincial party leaders to focus on the opioid crisis.
-
Charges pending in Highway 11 crash, road fully reopened
The driver of a transport is going to be facing charges after the vehicle ended up on its side blocking Highway 11 south of North Bay for most of Tuesday, police say.
-
Wanted man has ties to these Ontario cities
A federal offender wanted for violating his release conditions could be in Sudbury or North Bay.
Kitchener
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Police investigating after remains of young girl found in water in Dunnville, Ont.
Provincial police announced Wednesday the human remains found in the water in Dunnville, Ont., the day before are that of a young girl.
-
Assault charges withdrawn against Kitchener teacher accused of taping students
The 52-year-old woman was charged with two counts of assault in November after an investigation into “allegations she taped two children with masking tape while in the classroom,” Waterloo regional police said at the time.
-
All aboard! Retiree buys 'cheapest home in the GTA' -- a caboose
No bedroom, no bathroom, no kitchen. Why one retiree decided to buy -- and live -- in a caboose.