Trump has furiously clung on to hope of overturning the election - but Wednesday night's mob may have been the final straw.
WASHINGTON — Federal law enforcement officials are examining a number of threats aimed at members of Congress as the second trial of former President Donald Trump nears, including ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside of the U.S. Capitol, a U.S. official told The Associated Press. The threats, and concerns that armed protesters could return to sack the Capitol anew, have prompted the U.S. Capitol Police and other federal law enforcement to insist thousands of National Guard troops remain in Washington as the Senate moves forward with plans for Trump's trial, the official said Sunday. The shocking insurrection at the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob prompted federal officials to rethink security in and around its landmarks, resulting in an unprecedented lockdown for Biden's inauguration. Though the event went off without any problems and armed protests around the country did not materialize, the threats to lawmakers ahead of Trump's trial exemplified the continued potential for danger. Similar to those intercepted by investigators ahead of Biden’s inauguration, the threats that law enforcement agents are tracking vary in specificity and credibility, said the official, who had been briefed on the matter. Mainly posted online and in chat groups, the messages have included plots to attack members of Congress during travel to and from the Capitol complex during the trial, according to the official. The official was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Law enforcement officials are already starting to plan for the possibility of armed protesters returning to the nation's capital when Trump’s Senate trial on a charge of inciting a violent insurrection begins the week of Feb. 8. It would be the first impeachment trial of a former U.S. president. Thousands of Trump’s supporters descended on the Capitol on Jan. 6 as Congress met to certify Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential race. More than 800 are believed to have made their way into the Capitol during the violent siege, pushing past overwhelmed police officers. The Capitol police said they planned for a free speech protest, not a riot, and were caught off guard despite intelligence suggesting the rally would descend into a riot. Five people died in the melee, including a Capitol police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher. Though much of the security apparatus around Washington set up after the riot and ahead of Biden’s inauguration — it included scores of military checkpoints and hundreds of additional law enforcement personnel — is no longer in place, about 7,000 members of the National Guard will remain to assist federal law enforcement, officials said. The Guard Bureau said that the number of Guard members in D.C. is less than 20,000 as of Sunday. All but about 7,000 of those will go home in the coming days. The Guard Bureau said that the number of troops in D.C. would then continue to decline in the coming weeks to about 5,000. They are expected to stay in D.C. until mid-March. At least five people facing federal charges have suggested they believed they were taking orders from Trump when they marched on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6 to challenge the certification of Biden’s election victory. But now those comments, captured in interviews with reporters and federal agents, are likely to take centre stage as Democrats lay out their case. More than 130 people have been charged by federal prosecutors for their roles in the riot. In recent weeks, others have been arrested after posting threats against members of Congress. They include a Proud Boys supporter who authorities said threatened to deploy “three cars full of armed patriots” to Washington, threatened harm against Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and who is accused of stockpiling military-style combat knives and more than 1,000 rifle rounds in his New York home. A Texas man was arrested this week for taking part in the riot at the Capitol and for posting violent threats, including a call to assassinate Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y ___ Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. Michael Balsamo, The Associated Press
As B.C. rolls out its COVID-19 immunization program, there are concerns vulnerable populations are being left behind. On Friday, the premier and health officials revealed its plans for a four phase timeline for the vaccine based on age, which has a family in Burnaby, B.C. pleading for swifter access for their teenage son and others with Down syndrome. "We think it's a fairly straightforward decision to be made to protect a vulnerable community," said Mike Waddingham. His 17-year-old son Aaron has Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality, which is the most common congenital anomaly in Canada. The Government of Canada says one in every 750 live born babies in Canada is diagnosed with Down syndrome, which can result in physical, mental, and developmental disabilities. As a result, people with the condition can have complex health and mental health needs. Waddingham's mother Sue Robbins says he has been rushed to hospital with pneumonia several times. She said she felt helpless watching her son's lips turn blue as he struggled to breathe on one of those occasions. "When covid came along and presented primarily as a respiratory disease, that was terrifying to us. No one would want to relive that again," she said. Vaccination based on age B.C's approach is to immunize more than four million people against COVID-19 by September, vaccinating the high-risk and most elderly populations by April, before reaching younger adults in the summer. On Friday, the province broke down the vaccination plan into four phases. Those going first include residents, staff, and essential visitors at long-term care and assisted living residences; people waiting for long-term care; people in remote Indigenous communities and hospital workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Phase 2, from February to March, includes seniors over 80; Indigenous seniors over 65, Indigenous elders; more health-care workers; vulnerable populations and nursing-home staff. Phase 3, includes members of the general public aged 60 to 79, and Phase 4 if for those aged 18 to 59. 'Got me all worried' At 17, Aaron Waddingham isn't even included in the province's vaccination plans based on his age, but he says he wants to be vaccinated as soon as possible so he can get back to school, and back to his routine. "This thing with covid has got me all worried because it's taking forever," said Aaron. "Disabled people need to have the vaccine quicker." In a letter addressed to Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry earlier this month, the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation appealed to the province to recognize those with the condition as a group with increased risk, and hasten their vaccinations. Phase 2 please In part, the letter says individuals with Down Syndrome are "at four times higher risk of hospitalization and ten times higher risk of death from COVID-19 than the typical population." Wayne Leslie, the CEO of the foundation says there are approximately 4000 people with Down Syndrome in the province, a small cohort that he says could easily be prioritized to be included in Phase 2, which begins in February. "We're not talking about a number of vaccinations that would swamp the roll out program. It would be a relatively small number," Leslie said. He's encouraged the foundation's recommendations are being considered by the provincial health office, and he has been told to expect a response.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It took the Kansas City Chiefs five frustrating decades to make their second Super Bowl appearance. Now, the defending champs are headed there for the second straight year. Showing no lingering effects from his concussion, Patrick Mahomes sliced up Buffalo's secondary with ruthless efficiency Sunday night, helping the Chiefs roll to a 38-24 victory over Josh Allen and the Bills in the AFC championship game. The reigning Super Bowl MVP finished with 325 yards passing and three touchdowns, most of it to favourite targets Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, who complemented their star quarterback with a record-setting night of their own. The Chiefs will face a familiar foe — Tom Brady — and the NFC champ Buccaneers in two weeks in Tampa, Florida. “It was just trusting each other. The best thing about this team is we believe in each other," said Mahomes, who was also dealing with a toe injury. “But the job's not finished. We're going to Tampa; we're trying to run it back." Kelce finished with 13 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and Hill added nine catches for 172 yards, becoming the first duo in NFL history with consecutive games of at least 100 yards receiving each in a single post-season. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams added short TD runs for the Chiefs, who will try to become the eighth franchise and first team since the Brady-led New England Patriots in 2003 and '04 to defend the Lombardi Trophy. Allen, who had his worst game of the season in a Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, again struggled against the blitzing Kansas City defence. He finished with 287 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception, but a big chunk of his numbers came as the Bills tried to rally from a 38-15 deficit in the final minutes. Their frustration boiled over with 3:19 to go, when Allen was getting sacked by Tanoh Kpassagnon. Alex Okafor finished off the tackle, and Allen pitched the ball in his face in resentment. Offensive linemen Jon Feliciano and Dion Dawkins rushed in and levelled Okafor, resulting in a flood of offsetting personal foul penalties. It capped a bitter loss for the Bills, who had reached their first AFC title game since beating Kansas City at home on Jan. 1, 1994. They had won 11 of 12 since their loss to the Chiefs earlier this season — in fact, they hadn’t trailed in the second half since Week 8 — and were riding a wave of confidence that this might finally be their championship year. Instead, after finally conquering the Patriots in the AFC East, the Bills have a new roadblock to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs actually spotted the Bills a 9-0 lead, thanks in large part to Mecole Hardman's muffed punt inside their 5 that gifted Buffalo a touchdown. But the reigning champs were hardly rattled; the Chiefs, after all, rallied from double-digits in each of their post-season wins last season, including their Super Bowl triumph over San Francisco. Mahomes and Kelce soon found their groove. And the rest of the Chiefs offence followed suit. They surgically took apart Buffalo's defence on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a short TD throw to Hardman — no hard feelings over that fumble. Then, the Chiefs cruised 82 yards in just five plays, the big one Hardman's 50-yard end-around that set up Williams' touchdown tumble. Finally, they made it three TDs in three possessions when Edwards-Helaire — in his first game back from an ankle injury — capped a 77-yard drive with a short plunge. The only answer from Buffalo was Tyler Bass's chip-shot field goal that made it 21-12 at the break. You don't beat Kansas City by kicking field goals from the 3-yard line, though. Or from the 9, where the Bills settled for another one to close within 24-15 late in the third quarter. That became painfully clear on the ensuing drive. Mahomes hit Hill in stride and the All-Pro wide receiver promptly made the Bills secondary look downright foolish. Weaving in and out of woebegone defenders, Hill was finally caught inside the 5-yard line after a 71-yard gain, ultimately setting up Kelce's short TD catch a few plays later. Any hopes the Bills had of a comeback were dashed when Rashad Fenton picked off a tipped pass deep in Kansas City territory. The Chiefs breezily marched the other direction, and Mahomes and Kelce kicked off the celebration of another trip to the Super Bowl when they connected for their second score of the game. “I’m proud of these guys,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who moved into a tie with Joe Gibbs for fourth on the career list with his 17th playoff win. “They did a phenomenal job, and hats off to the Buffalo Bills and the great job they did all year, and most of all, listen, we have the Lamar Hunt Trophy back in Kansas City. "Now we have to get the big one.” INJURIES Chiefs: RG Andrew Wylie hurt his knee early in the second half and LT Eric Fisher limped off in the fourth quarter with an injury to his Achilles' tendon. ... CB L'Jarius Sneed and SS Armani Watts were evaluated for concussions. UP NEXT The Chiefs and Buccaneers have only played 13 times, and Kansas City had lost five straight before a 27-24 win in Tampa on Nov. 29 — a game that wasn't as close as the final score. Brady is 5-5 in his career against the Chiefs, including an overtime victory with the Patriots in the AFC title game at Arrowhead Stadium two years ago. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
Chinese online video company Kuaishou Technology is aiming to raise $4.95 billion to $5.42 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) that will be the largest in Hong Kong for more than a year, according to a term sheet reviewed by Reuters. The online video site, backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd, will price 365.2 million shares at between HK$105 and $HK115 apiece, the term sheet shows. Kuaishou did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
En janvier 2021, Elvis Presley aurait eu 86 ans. Le culte du King se sera transposé jusqu’à Matane, car l’extase et la félicité que Jean-Marie Dumas porte pour Elvis ne seront jamais essoufflées, même après plus de 60 ans. À sa résidence de l’avenue Jacques-Cartier, il cache une vaste collection d’objets à l’effigie ou dédiés à l’image d’Elvis Presley. L’adoration de Jean-Marie Dumas pour Elvis a commencé un peu avant 1960, lorsqu’il a vu son premier film d’Elvis. Jean-Marie n’avait que 17 ans et un après-midi, alors que lui et son ami étaient ennuyés puisqu’il n’y avait rien de bon à faire cette journée-là, ils se sont rendus au cinéma à Matane pour aller voir le film Bagarres au King Créole. Après tout, à l’époque, le cinéma coûtait 25 cents. Ils s’y sont donc rendus, sans avoir d’attentes. Dès la première chanson d’Elvis, Jean-Marie Dumas a eu la piqûre. Il adorait sa voix, et comment il se comportait sur la scène, et la chanson Trouble l’a particulièrement marqué. Après le film, il est revenu en courant chez ses parents partager la bonne nouvelle. La folie d’Elvis s’est déclenchée : Jean-Marie s’achète un phonographe automatique et commence à débourser pour de nouveaux disques. « Elvis jouait le matin, le midi puis le soir. Et de temps en temps, ça cognait contre le mur et je me disais, « ce n’est pas assez fort », a-t-il ri. Avant le début des années 1950, le monde n’avait pas entendu parler d’Elvis. Il est arrivé comme une bombe dans les vies de milliers de jeunes, marquant une génération après-guerre entière. Le début de la carrière du King est d’ailleurs la décennie musicale de Jean-Marie, avec les chansons spéciales That’s All Right Mama, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Mystery Train ou Heartbreak Hotel, qui sont toutes près de son cœur. En 60 ans d’écoute d’Elvis, Jean-Marie Dumas ne s’est jamais tanné d’écouter. Ce qu’il apprécie le plus, c’est sa voix unique et son déhanchement. « Et je vais mourir avec ça, c’est certain. Ils finiront par mettre des objets à l’effigie d’Elvis dans ma tombe », rigole-t-il. D’ailleurs, son héritage perdurera selon M. Dumas, car il « a été un pionnier de la musique moderne. Il fait partie de l’histoire culturelle commune et l’initiateur d’un genre unique. » Il a fait scandale au début des années 50, sa musique était « le diable en personne » comme Dumas dit. « C’est sa voix qui fait que la légende perdure », a ajouté Dumas. Dès 1960, Jean-Marie commence sa collection, et ne ralentit jamais pour les années suivantes. Aujourd’hui, il affirme posséder plus 5000 objets en lien avec Elvis, une collection évaluée à plus de 75 000 $. Selon lui, il aurait plus de 600 vinyles ou moins d’un huitième de ce qui est offert dans le monde, 200 cassettes, 700 CDs et 600 DVDs, offrant le visionnement de plusieurs spectacles. Il a plusieurs costumes d’Elvis Presley également qu’il ne porte pas, mais qu’il est ravi de posséder. Également, Jean-Marie fait des collages qu’il place dans des albums. Aussitôt qu’il passe quelque chose sur Elvis, il le découpe et le colle. Il tient désormais plus d’une quinzaine d’albums. Certains produits à l’effigie d’Elvis sont vendus trop chers selon Jean-Marie, comme des bouteilles de vin à 45 $ sans le prix du transport. Il juge alors que la dépense n’en vaut pas la peine. Sa possession la plus chère est le portrait d’Elvis sculpté dans le bois, remis par son frère à l’une de ses fêtes il y a déjà plusieurs années. « C’est une pièce de collection, c’est unique. Ça a été fait à Québec par un artiste local », a-t-il expliqué. Des livres et des disques sur Elvis Presley continuent d’être lancés continuellement, même 40 ans après la mort d’Elvis. « Il sort environ 2 ou 3 livres sur Elvis par semaine. C’est difficile à croire, mais c’est vrai, et ils se vendent entre 200 et 300 dollars », a-t-il lancé. « Et ça doit se vendre, parce que ça n’arrête pas. » Il commande parfois des disques d’Elvis de pair avec un ami collectionneur de Sainte-Anne-des-Monts pour un coût de livraison moins onéreux. N’ayant pas arrêté de chercher de nouvelles pièces de collection depuis 1960, il assure d’être arrivé à rassembler autant d’objets en 2010 qu’en 1970. Tout de même, l’arrivée de l’internet a facilité l’acquisition et la recherche active. Sa dernière commande date d’il y a un mois, un nouvel album venant de France : « C’est mon dernier petit bébé », dit-il. Avant le World Wide Web, M. Dumas recevait une tonne de revues et de journaux chez lui pour s’informer. En 1992, lui et sa conjointe ont participé à un voyage organisé en autocar jusqu’à Memphis au Tennessee. Ils ont traversé le Midwest américain pour se rendre jusqu’au sud. « Nous étions une grosse gang de craqués qui n’avaient jamais vu Elvis en personne », s’est-il bidonné. Là-bas, ils ont visité Graceland et l’école de son enfance, et le soir, ils ont assisté au Candlelight. Ils ont aussi déboursé de l’argent un livre souvenir, mais il y avait tellement de monde qu’ils ne s’y trouvent pas. Jean-Marie Dumas se dit d’ailleurs très fier du disque d’or acheté lors de son voyage à Memphis. « C’est un long jeu de 45 tours acheté pour 250 dollars américains. Ça a été une grosse dépense, mais je suis vraiment heureux de l’avoir », a-t-il indiqué. Jean-Marie et sa conjointe viennent tous les deux de Matane. Leurs parents restaient l’un en arrière de l’autre et leurs pères travaillaient ensemble dans un garage sur l’avenue du Phare Est. Cette année, cela fera 54 ans qu’ils sont mariés, et ils ont aussi une fille de 52 ans demeurant à Drummondville, qui elle, plus jeune, a toujours préféré Michael Jackson à Elvis. Sa femme l’a toujours appuyé dans sa passion. Elle l’aide même à fournir sa collection, en écoutant par exemple des émissions d’information à la télévision. Ensemble, ils sont allés voir les spectacles de Martin Fontaine, « Elvis Story », au Capitole de Québec, 9 années de file sur 10. Ils ont manqué le spectacle de 1998 car Jean-Marie était aux prises avec des problèmes de santé. À l’avenir, Jean-Marie continuera à collectionner, sauf si un jour, un futur fan d’Elvis l’approche pour acheter sa collection. « Rendu à mon âge, si quelqu’un arrivait chez moi et me proposait 100 000 $, c’est sûr que je donnerais tout, même si ça me ferait un peu de peine », a-t-il dit. Au décès d’Elvis, le 16 août 1977, Jean-Marie Dumas a été très triste. C’était même une catastrophe selon lui. « Je ne m’y attendais pas, même s’il était malade. En juillet 1977, on était en vacances à Old Orchard et on est allés visiter Portland. Un spectacle se préparait pour août 1977, on a vu des affiches publicitaires, mais finalement il est décédé avant. » M. Dumas n’est pas convaincu par les théories du complot à son sujet. « Il aimait trop sa fille. Et on s’en serait sûrement aperçu s’il n’était pas mort, j’en suis certain », a-t-il avancé. Et selon Jean-Marie Dumas, bien que le King soit décédé depuis des années, ce n’est que son enveloppe corporelle, car son essence continue de vivre. À jamais.Claudie Arseneault, Initiative de journalisme local, Mon Matane
Some young activists formed the Revolution Youth Coalition to draw together the uprising's disparate strands and give the protesters occupying Cairo's Tahrir Square a coherent voice. They demanded freedom, dignity, democracy and social justice amid battles with police and state-hired thugs, and on Feb. 11 President Hosni Mubarak resigned. But the coalition fragmented as it faced two much more established forces: the Muslim Brotherhood that swept to power in later elections, and the military that toppled it in 2013.
The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday Jan. 24, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 15,213 new vaccinations administered for a total of 816,451 doses given. The provinces have administered doses at a rate of 2,154.265 per 100,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to the provinces and territories for a total of 1,122,450 doses delivered so far. The provinces and territories have used 72.74 per cent of their available vaccine supply. Please note that Newfoundland, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the territories typically do not report on a daily basis. Newfoundland is reporting 3,258 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 8,549 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 16.326 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Newfoundland for a total of 16,500 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 3.2 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 51.81 per cent of its available vaccine supply. P.E.I. is reporting 1,423 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 6,525 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 41.134 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to P.E.I. for a total of 9,225 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 5.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 70.73 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Nova Scotia is reporting 2,975 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 10,575 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 10.836 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Nova Scotia for a total of 28,850 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 3.0 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 36.66 per cent of its available vaccine supply. New Brunswick is reporting 2,704 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 10,436 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 13.379 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to New Brunswick for a total of 21,675 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 2.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 48.15 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Quebec is reporting 8,503 new vaccinations administered for a total of 218,755 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 25.565 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Quebec for a total of 238,100 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 2.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 91.88 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Ontario is reporting 4,427 new vaccinations administered for a total of 280,573 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 19.101 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Ontario for a total of 411,650 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 2.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 68.16 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Manitoba is reporting 1,389 new vaccinations administered for a total of 28,941 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 21.017 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Manitoba for a total of 55,650 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 4.0 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 52.01 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Saskatchewan is reporting 654 new vaccinations administered for a total of 33,039 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 28.019 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Saskatchewan for a total of 32,725 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 2.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 101 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Alberta is reporting 240 new vaccinations administered for a total of 99,047 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 22.50 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Alberta for a total of 122,725 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 2.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 80.71 per cent of its available vaccine supply. British Columbia is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 110,566 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 21.546 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to British Columbia for a total of 144,550 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 2.8 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 76.49 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Yukon is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 3,730 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 89.382 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Yukon for a total of 14,400 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 35 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 25.9 per cent of its available vaccine supply. The Northwest Territories are reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 1,893 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 41.956 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to the Northwest Territories for a total of 14,400 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 32 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 13.15 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Nunavut is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 3,822 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 98.693 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Nunavut for a total of 12,000 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 31 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 31.85 per cent of its available vaccine supply. *Notes on data: The figures are compiled by the COVID-19 Open Data Working Group based on the latest publicly available data and are subject to change. Note that some provinces report weekly, while others report same-day or figures from the previous day. Vaccine doses administered is not equivalent to the number of people inoculated as the approved vaccines require two doses per person. The vaccines are currently not being administered to children under 18 and those with certain health conditions. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published Jan. 24, 2021. The Canadian Press
Une étude de l’Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal (ICM) lancée au début de la pandémie semble avoir trouvé une importante solution à un grand problème, le traitement de la COVID-19 auprès de patients non hospitalisés. Ses résultats montrent que la colchicine, un anti-inflammatoire, est efficace pour prévenir les complications liées au virus. Selon le docteur Jean-Claude Tardif, principal chercheur de l’étude, ceci serait une « découverte scientifique majeure », car la colchicine est le premier médicament oral au monde qui pourrait traiter les patients et prévenir les hospitalisations, les intubations et les décès. En effet, les conclusions de l’étude, nommée COLCORONA, ont établi que la colchicine a pu réduire de 21 % le risque de décès ou d’hospitalisation pour 4488 patients atteints du virus. « Nous sommes heureux de [présenter] le premier médicament oral dont l’utilisation pourrait avoir une incidence importante sur la santé publique et potentiellement prévenir les complications de la COVID-19 chez des millions de patients », a lancé Tardif, aussi directeur du Centre de recherche de l’ICM et professeur de médecine à l’Université de Montréal. Chez 4159 patients de la même étude, mais pour lesquels le diagnostic de COVID-19 avait été prouvé par un test naso-pharyngé (PCR), la colchicine a entraîné « des réductions des hospitalisations de 25 %, du besoin de ventilation mécanique de 50 %, et des décès de 44 %. » D’après le professeur et chercheur, la prescription de la colchicine aux patients pourrait rapidement contribuer à atténuer les problèmes d’engorgement des hôpitaux et de réduire les coûts liés aux systèmes de santé des gouvernements, ici comme ailleurs. « Notre étude a montré l’efficacité du traitement utilisant la colchicine pour prévenir le phénomène de “tempête inflammatoire majeure” et réduire les complications liées à la COVID-19 », a indiqué le Dr Jean-Claude Tardif. Cette « percée scientifique » telle que décrite par l’ICM offre donc une option accessible et économiquement viable pour les patients, comme ce médicament est déjà vendu en pharmacie. Le colchicine est extraite du colchique d’automne, une plante se trouvant partout en Europe et découverte au XIXe siècle dans le traitement de la goutte et des péricardites. « C’est donc un puissant anti-inflammatoire avec un bon profil de sécurité », a ajouté le Dr Guy Boivin, microbiologiste-infectiologue et chercheur pour l’étude COLCORONA. Il devrait être leur premier espoir pour ceux ayant contracté la maladie et qui anticipent des complications. Ce sera désormais la responsabilité du gouvernement du Québec, des autorités de santé publique et du corps médical de décider de la suite des choses pour le traitement de la COVID-19 par la colchicine, a pointé le Dr Jean-Claude Tardif. COLCORONA est une étude clinique « sans contact » qui se déroulait à la maison, randomisée, à double insu et contrôlée par placebo. Elle a été déployée au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Europe, en Amérique du Sud ainsi qu’en Afrique du Sud. Sur près de 4500 participants, 3000 étaient au Québec, et ils devaient répondre à des critères précis dans un souci d’homogénéité. Il s’agit de la plus grande étude à l’échelle mondiale testant un médicament administré oralement chez les patients non-hospitalisés avec la COVID-19. Au coût d’environ 14 millions de dollars, elle a été financée et coordonnée par le gouvernement du Québec et différents organismes et entreprises internationaux.Claudie Arseneault, Initiative de journalisme local, Mon Matane
Yassin Dabeh, 19, who worked as a cleaner at a long-term care home in Ontario, died after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The Middlesex-London Health Unit said the teen is the youngest person in the region diagnosed with the virus to die.
MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and that the symptoms are mild. Mexico's president, who has been criticized for his handling of his country's pandemic and for not setting an example of prevention in public, said on his official Twitter account that he is under medical treatment. “I regret to inform you that I am infected with COVID-19,” he tweeted. “The symptoms are mild but I am already under medical treatment. As always, I am optimistic. We will all move forward.” José Luis Alomía Zegarra, Mexico’s director of epidemiology, said López Obrador had a “light” case of COVID-19 and was “isolating at home.” Mexico's president wrote that while he recovered Interior Secretary Olga Sánchez Cordero would be taking over for him in his daily news conferences, at which he usually speaks for two hours without breaks each weekday. López Obrador, 67, has rarely been seen wearing a mask and continued to keep up a busy travel schedule taking commercial flights. He has also resisted locking down the economy, noting the devastating effect it would have on so many Mexicans who live day to day, despite that the country has registered nearly 150,000 COVID-19 deaths and more than 1.7 million infections. Last week, the country registered its highest levels of infections and deaths to date. Early in the pandemic, asked how he was protecting Mexico, López Obrador removed two religious amulets from his wallet and proudly showed them off. “The protective shield is the ‘Get thee behind me, Satan,’” López Obrador said, reading off the inscription on the amulet, “Stop, enemy, for the Heart of Jesus is with me. In November, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, urged Mexico's leaders be serious about the coronavirus and set examples for its citizens, saying that “Mexico is in bad shape” with the pandemic. He didn’t name López Obrador, but said: “We would like to ask Mexico to be very serious.” “We have said it in general, wearing a mask is important, hygiene is important and physical distancing is important and we expect leaders to be examples,” he added. At the start of the pandemic López Obrador was criticized for still leaning into crowds and giving hugs. The eternal campaigner, López Obrador’s style of politics has always been very hands on and personal. As the pandemic grew he began limiting attendance to his events and maintaining his distance from supporters. But on Friday, López Obrador posted a photo of him, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, a translator and former chief of staff Alfonso Romo, all gathered around a table for a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. None were wearing masks; the foreign relations department has not answered questions about whether Ebrard has been tested. Despite his age and high blood pressure, as well as undergoing surgery after a heart attack, López Obrador has said he won’t jump the line for a vaccination. But he was getting tested for the coronavirus once a week. At his age and with his existing health conditions López Obrador’s turn for a vaccine could still be weeks away as the country still works to vaccinate front line health workers. As of Sunday night, Mexico had given nearly 630,000 doses of vaccine. López Obrador's announcement came shortly after news emerged that he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about obtaining doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said via Twitter the two leaders would speak about the bilateral relationship and supplying doses of the vaccine. The vaccine has not been approved for use in Mexico, but the government is desperate to fill supply gaps for the Pfizer vaccine. Besides López Obrador, other Latin American leaders who have tested positive for the coronavirus are Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, Guatemala’s Alejandro Giammattei, Honduras’ Juan Orlando Hernández and Bolivia’s then-interim President Jeanine Ánéz. All have recovered. Christopher Sherman, The Associated Press
Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winning goal with less than a second left to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kyle Turris, and Kailer Yamamoto also scored for Edmonton. Adam Lowry, Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler scored for the Jets. The game saw both starting goalies make over 30 saves. Mikko Koskinen made 35 saves in a winning effort for the Oilers (3-4-0), while Laurent Brossoit made 34 saves. Winnipeg's loss snaps a three-game winning streak. All three victories came against the Ottawa Senators. For the third consecutive game, the Winnipeg Jets scored first. Adam Lowry scored after taking a pass from Mathieu Perreault while in the slot. He wasted no time to fire on net, beating Koskinen. Lowry's goal was his third of the season. The referees overturned a would-be Jets goal nearly three minutes later. Andrew Copp deflected a puck above Koskinen and into the back of the net. But the referees determined there was interference after Copp's stick kept Koskinen's glove from making the save. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tied the game fewer than 30 seconds into the second period. Later in the period, Kyle Turris scored his first as an Oiler. As the Oilers forwards entered the zone, James Neal passed the puck to Zack Kassian, before he fed the puck to Turris. Turris unloaded a shot into the top-right corner of the net to give Edmonton its first lead of the night with 5:42 left to play in the period. One minute and 18 seconds later, Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor was injured. He was defending a shot from Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear. The puck ricocheted off Connor's stick and into his face, causing him to fall to his knees onto the ice. He would leave the game and would sit out the remainder of the period, only to return in time for the third. Ehlers tied the game at two goals apiece with 6:04 left to go in the third period. His game-tying goal was his fourth in four games. The Danish forward has six points in that span of games. Wheeler later gave the Jets the lead once more with a power play goal, thanks to a tripping infraction taken by Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. Wheeler took a pass along the goal line and banked the puck off Oilers defenceman Kris Russell and past Koskinen into the goal. Winnipeg's lead wouldn't last that long, however. Yamamato tied the game one minute and 48 seconds later. The game would eventually end on Draisaitl's late winner, giving the Jets no time to respond. Edmonton and Winnipeg will renew hostilities at the Bell MTS Place Tuesday night. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2021. The Canadian Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sarah Sanders, Donald Trump’s former chief spokeswoman and one of his closest aides, is running for Arkansas governor, a senior campaign official told The Associated Press on Sunday night. Sanders, who left the White House in 2019 to return to her home state, planned to announce her bid on Monday, according to the campaign official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the formal announcement The former White House press secretary is launching her bid less than a week after the end of Trump’s presidency and as the ex-president faces an impeachment trial. But Sanders is also running in a solidly red state where Republicans tend to embrace the former president. The daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sanders had been widely expected to run for the office after leaving the White House — and Trump publicly encouraged her to make a go. She’s been laying the groundwork for a candidacy, speaking to GOP groups around the state. Sanders joins an expensive Republican primary that already includes two statewide elected leaders, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. The three are running to succeed current Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who is unable to run next year due to term limits. No Democrats have announced a bid to run for the seat. Sanders launched her bid weeks after a riot by Trump’s supporters at the U.S. Capitol left five people dead. More than 130 people have been charged in the insurrection, which was aimed at halting the certification of President Joe Biden’s win over Trump. Sanders was the first working mother and only the third woman to serve as White House press secretary. But she also faced questions about her credibility during her time as Trump’s chief spokesperson. During her nearly two-year tenure as Trump’s chief spokeswoman, daily televised briefings led by the press secretary ended after Sanders repeatedly sparred with reporters who aggressively questioned her about administration policy and the investigation into possible co-ordination between Trump’s campaign and Russia. But Sanders earned reporters’ respect working behind the scenes to develop relationships with the media. Trump’s tumultuous exit from the presidency may do little damage to Sanders in Arkansas. Republicans hold all of Arkansas’ statewide and federal seats, as well as a solid majority in both chambers of the Legislature. Griffin and Rutledge have combined raised more than $2.8 million in the race, which could get even more crowded. Republican state Sen. Jim Hendren, who is also a nephew of Hutchinson's, is considering a run. Sanders, who published a book last year and joined Fox News as a contributor after leaving the White House, enters the race with a much higher profile than any of the candidates. But she remains an unknown on many of the state’s biggest issues and has said she doesn't want to distract from Hutchinson's agenda. Andrew Demillo, The Associated Press
David Huet, sa conjointe Marie, ainsi que les enfants ne manquent pas de surface glacée en temps de confinement. David a décidé de créer une super patinoire, faisant partie à présent des coups de cœur sur le site des Canadiens de Montréal, après avoir pris l’initiative de eur faire parvenir une photo. David et son frère ont toujours eu des patins aux pieds. Il était évident que la progéniture allait suivre les traces! Le jeune Huet fait, depuis quelques années déjà, une patinoire derrière chez lui. Mais, en temps de COVID, disons qu’il s’est gâté un peu plus, permettant ainsi aux enfants de pouvoir pratiquer un sport qu’ils adorent, tout en occupant l’esprit et profitant de l’air pur. Le Huet Center se retrouve actuellement dans les plus belles patinoires sur la page officielle des Canadiens de Montréal. David a pris soin de mettre sur ses bandes les logos de commerçants locaux, un beau clin d’oeil pour ceux-ci. Et qui sait, David méritera peut-être une carte cadeau s’il remporte le concours, mais peu importe, les enfants auront eu des heures de plaisir.Karine Lachance, Initiative de journalisme local, Ma Côte-Nord
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) will prioritise production of auto chips if it is able to further increase capacity, Taiwan's Economics Ministry told Reuters, amid a global shortage that has hampered car production. A ministry official said Minister Wang Mei-hua spoke to senior company executives on Sunday about the issue. TSMC had told the ministry it will "optimise" the production process of chips to make it more efficient and prioritise auto chip production if it is able to further increase capacity, the ministry said.
Reena Jani rose early, finished her chores in the crisp January cold and walked uphill to the road skirting her remote tribal hamlet of Pendajam in eastern India. Jani's name was on a list of 100 health workers at the centre, making her one of the first Indians to be inoculated against COVID-19 earlier this month, as the country rolls out a vaccination programme the government calls the world's biggest. It was taken by plane, truck and van some 1,700 km from the factory to the clinic where Jani waited, and it had to be kept cold the whole way.
American central defender Mark McKenzie made his debut for Belgium’s Genk on Sunday in a 3-2 loss at first-place Club Brugge in Belgium's first division. McKenzie transferred on Jan. 7 from Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. Genk is second to Club Brugge after 23 league matches. The 21-year-old made his Union debut in 2018 and his U.S. national team debut last Feb. 1 against Panama. He has two appearances for the national team. Born in New York City, McKenzie moved at age 5 to Bear, Delaware. He spent one season at Wake Forest, then signed with Philadelphia in January 2018. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government on Monday morning ended an unprecedented lockdown after testing thousands of residents living in an area that had reported an increasing number of coronavirus cases, authorities said. The lockdown, which was implemented in the early hours of Saturday, covered 16 buildings in Kowloon’s Yau Tsim Mong district, known as a working-class neighbourhood with many subdivided apartment units. During the lockdown, residents were not allowed to leave their premises until they had tested negative for the coronavirus. The district has been at the centre of a worsening coronavirus outbreak, with over 160 cases reported over the first three weeks in January. Higher concentrations of the COVID-19 virus were also found in sewage samples, prompting fears that the virus could be transmitted via poorly installed plumbing systems in subdivided units that lack ventilation. The government said in a statement early Monday that about 7,000 people were tested for the coronavirus during the lockdown, with 13 positive infections found. “The Government hopes this temporary inconvenience will completely cut the local transmission chains in the district and ease residents’ worries and fear, so that they will regain confidence in resuming social and business activities in the area, and return to a normal life,” authorities said in the statement. Health minister Sophia Chan said Sunday that the government would not rule out similar restrictions in the future if there is such a need. As of Sunday, Hong Kong has reported 10,086 cases of the coronavirus, with 169 deaths recorded. ___ THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: — Two in five Americans live where COVID strains hospital ICUs — Pandemic stress puts medical workers at high risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse — UK ramps up vaccination program, gives first shot to 6 million, but health secretary says nation is “long, long, long way” from easing its lockdown — A year after virus lockdown, Wuhan dissident is more isolated than ever — Dutch police clash with lockdown protesters in two cities _ The entire University of Michigan athletic department is pausing after several positive tests for the new COVID-19 variant that transmits at a higher rate. ___ Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: SYDNEY — Australia’s medical regulator has approved use of its first coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for inoculations to begin next month. The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Monday gave provisional approval for people aged 16 and over to use the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The regulator said priority would be given to groups that include aged-care residents and workers, frontline healthcare workers, and quarantine workers. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed the development. He said Australia was among the first countries to complete a comprehensive and thorough process to formally approve a vaccine rather than just grant an emergency approval. Australia is aiming to complete inoculations by October. The nation of 26 million people has reported fewer than 30,000 virus cases and a little over 900 deaths. ___ MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday about obtaining doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, his foreign affairs secretary said Sunday. Marcelo Ebrard said via Twitter the two leaders would speak Monday morning about the bilateral relationship and supplying doses of the vaccine. The vaccine has not been approved for use in Mexico, but the government is desperate to fill supply gaps left by shortages of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Mexico has given more than 618,000 vaccine doses. A week ago, López Obrador said that his government had agreed with a U.N. proposal to delay shipments of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to countries like Mexico that had existing purchase agreements, in order to get more doses to poorer countries quicker. Mexico has registered nearly 150,000 COVID-19 deaths and more than 1.7 million infections. Hospitals in the capital have been near capacity for weeks as a surge of cases followed the holiday season. Earlier this month, Mexico’s assistant health secretary Hugo López-Gatell, visited Argentina in part to learn about its review of the Sputnik V vaccine. Argentina started using the vaccine in late December. ___ OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Sunday reported 48 additional deaths due to COVID-19 and 2,941 more cases of the new coronavirus. There have been 373,090 total virus cases and a death toll of 3,279 since the pandemic began, according to the health department. Oklahoma had the fourth highest rate of new cases per capita in the United States at 1,148.19 per 100,000 population according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The rolling average of deaths in the state has increased from 30.14 to 39.86 per day during the past two weeks. State health officials rising death rates are likely to continue for a week or more, despite a decline in the number of new cases, because it can take several weeks to confirm a death was caused by COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. ___ WASHINGTON -- Dr. Deborah Birx says when she was co-ordinator of President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force, she had to grapple with COVID-19 deniers in the White House and that someone gave the president “parallel” streams of data that conflicted with hers. Defending her tenure, Birx told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that she was at times censored by the Trump administration but denied ever withholding information. Birx said she would see Trump “presenting graphs that I never made” and that “someone out there or someone inside was creating a parallel set of data and graphics that were shown to the president.” She added that in the White House, “There were people who definitely believed that this was a hoax.” Birx did not identify the COVID-19 deniers and said she did not know who was presenting the parallel data to Trump, but said she realizes now that Trump coronavirus adviser Dr. Scott Atlas was providing some of it. Birx said in December that she would retire but was willing to first help President Joe Biden’s team with its coronavirus response as needed. More than 25 million people have been infected with the coronavirus and at least 418,000 people have died in the U.S. since the pandemic began. ___ ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey on Sunday passed 25,000 Covid-19-related deaths since the start of the outbreak in March, the health ministry said. A daily toll of 140 fatalities saw the total figure rise to 25,073. Turkey has recorded more than 2.4 million infections since the first case was recorded on March 11 last year. The government reintroduced restrictions at the start of December, including weekday evening curfews and weekend lockdowns, to stem a second wave of infections. Restaurants and cafes have been restricted to take-away services, weddings and funerals are limited to 30 people and the over-65s and under-20s are banned from using public transport. The number of daily cases has fallen to around 6,000 in recent days from a high of more than 33,000 in December. Turkey began its vaccination program on Jan. 14, initially focusing on health workers and the elderly. More than 1.2 million people had been given the first dose of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine as of Saturday night, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said. ___ JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said Israel will be closing its international airport to nearly flights as the government races to bring a raging coronavirus outbreak under control. The entry of highly contagious variants of the coronavirus, coupled with poor enforcement of safety rules in ultra-Orthodox communities, has contributed to one of the world’s highest rates of infections. It also has threatened to undercut Israel’s highly successful campaign to vaccinate its population against the virus. Late Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet approved what Netanyahu said would be a tight closure on incoming and outgoing air traffic. The government said it would make exceptions for a small number of humanitarian cases, such as funerals and medical patients, and cargo flights. “We are closing the skies hermetically, except for really rare exceptions, to prevent the entry of virus mutations, and also to ensure that we progress quickly with our vaccination campaign,” Netanyahu said. The order is to begin early Tuesday and remain in effect until Jan. 31. Netanyahu’s office said the order still required parliamentary legislation to be finalized. ___ LA PAZ, Bolivia — Former President Evo Morales was released from a hospital on Sunday after almost two weeks of treatment for COVID-19 at a moment the disease has rebounded in Bolivia. Morales told a news conference that he felt “very good, I feel recovered“ as he left the private clinic in the city of Cochabamba. Hospital director Gastón Cornejo recommended that Morales remain in repose, without visitors, for two more weeks. The 61-year-old Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, left the country from 2006 to 2019, when he went into exile after protests over his reelection. He returned home in November after his party won presidential and legislative elections, ousting the interim government that had replaced him. Bolivia has reported about 200,000 cases of the new coronavirus and almost 10,000 deaths. ___ WASHINGTON -- Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that President Joe Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days actually means about 67 million Americans should be protected from COVID-19 during that time. Fauci, the government’s top infectious diseases expert, said the president’s goal refers to 100 million shots, not people. Current vaccines require two shots. Fauci maintained that goal could be difficult to meet even though the U.S. recently has been able to administer shots to about a million people a day. He explained that it will be harder to reach people once shots are given outside hospital and nursing home settings. Fauci also told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he supports a national commission to understand some of the problems in co-ordinating a COVID-19 response on the state and local level because states shouldn’t just be told, “You’re on your own.” Ron Klain, Biden’s chief of staff, called the 100 million shots in 100 days “a very bold and ambitious goal.” He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that it won’t stop the administration from aiming higher if doable. ___ NEW YORK -- The United States has surpassed 25 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The new milestone, reported Sunday by Johns Hopkins University, is a grim reminder of the coronavirus’ wide reach in the U.S., which has seen far more confirmed cases and deaths than any other country in the world. The U.S. accounts for roughly one of every four cases reported worldwide and one of every five deaths. India has recorded the second most cases, with about 10.7 million. The number of new cases in the U.S. has shown signs of slowing recently, with an average of 176,000 reported daily in the past week, down from 244,000 in early January. The country’s first case of the infection was diagnosed almost exactly a year ago. The Associated Press
MONTREAL — Canada's chief public health officer says it's still too soon to know whether the recent downward trend in new COVID-19 cases will continue. Dr. Theresa Tam says there's been an improvement in the COVID-19 numbers in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec but the disease is regaining steam elsewhere. She says it appears local health measures may be starting to pay off, but it's not clear whether they're strong and broad enough to continue to sustain progress. Some long-standing virus hot spots have made headway in lowering the number of new cases in recent weeks, but are still fighting outbreaks and flare-ups as they race to vaccinate vulnerable communities. The federal public safety minister announced today that the Canadian Armed Forces will support vaccine efforts in 32 First Nations communities in northern Ontario. Quebec, meanwhile, reported a fifth straight decline in the number of hospitalizations as the health minister urged citizens to keep following health measures. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan 24, 2021 The Canadian Press
En novembre, les archéologues de la coopérative Artefactuel ont eu l’opportunité unique de faire des fouilles sur un site pour le moins exceptionnel, celui de l’ancien Moulin Brodeur à Varennes. Alors qu’il cherchaient les vestiges enfouis le long du chemin de la Côte-Bissonnette, nos chercheurs de trésors ont en effet pu déterrer des souvenirs du passé dans un secteur ayant subi peu de perturbations au gré des époques. « Ça n’est pas comme travailler dans le Vieux-Montréal par exemple, explique Luce Archambault d’Artefactuel, ou en plein cœur de Varennes. Ce sont des endroits où les perturbations modernes sont venues altérer l’intégrité du contexte archéologique. Alors que sur le chemin de la Côte-Bissonnette, nous nous sommes retrouvés sur un site où il n’y a pas eu de construction, d’ajout de service. Quand on parle d’un lieu qui a conservé son intégrité, c’est en fait comme si les habitants avaient quitté et simplement abandonné leur maison. » Selon l’archéologue, les différents bâtiments répertoriés auraient tout simplement sombré dans la décrépitude, laissant à la nature le loisir de reprendre le dessus. « À peine avons-nous entrepris d’excaver la végétation que nous sommes tombés sur des vestiges des fondations des maisons du moulin en pierre, relate Mme Archambault. Il n'y a presque pas eu d'accumulation de remblais. C'est ce qui a fait vraiment la particularité du site. Ça reste des contextes de découvertes et de recherches qui sont quand même assez rarissimes au Québec. » Si le site de La Saline non loin de là a permis quelques trouvailles, les chercheurs ont plutôt concentré leurs fouilles sur la zone plus riche du Moulin Brodeur et les bâtiments environnants. « Plusieurs familles y ont habité, ajoute Luce Archambault. L'archéologie nous a apporté vraiment des données plus pointues sur le mode de vie des occupants. Par exemple, dans la résidence que nous avons fouillée, nous avons trouvé beaucoup d'artefacts qu'on va appeler "de contexte domestique". On a des objets de la vie de tous les jours. Des fourchettes toujours dans leur bol, des jouets pour enfants et une cinquantaine d’aiguilles à coudre. Dans un endroit que nous supposons être la cuisine, il y avait une concentration de restants de table, de résidus d’objets utilisés au quotidien qui ne sont pas toujours décrits dans les récits historiques et les documents d’archives. L’archéologie nous permet de mettre en couleur ce passé noir et blanc qu’on voit sur papier. » Avec le développement industriel anticipé dans le secteur, ce site qui aurait pu être perdu n’eût été de l’initiative du président de la Société d’histoire de Varennes, Jacques Dalpé. Ce dernier a mis la puce à l’oreille de l’administration municipale à propos du potentiel archéologique du terrain appartenant aux entreprises Greenfield Global et Éthanol Cellulosique Varennes. Selon Mme Archambault, d’autres sites intéressants pourraient par ailleurs se trouver sur le territoire varennois. « Je ne pense pas me tromper en affirmant que Varennes a un fort potentiel de découverte pour son patrimoine archéologique. On parle du chemin de la Côte-Bissonnette, mais il y a plusieurs autres endroits où il y aurait la possibilité de découvrir plein de choses sur l'histoire de la Ville. Il ne faudrait pas perdre les informations avant que tout soit détruit. » Steve Martin, Initiative de journalisme local, La Relève
MONTREAL — A COVID-19 testing operation was underway at a jail north of Montreal on Sunday following an outbreak that has infected more than 60 people. A spokeswoman for the regional health board for the Laurentians said that, as of Saturday, 45 inmates and 17 workers had tested positive at the St-Jerome detention centre. Melanie Laroche said inmates in certain blocks of the provincially run facility were tested in the middle of last week, but officials decided on Friday to expand screening to the entire jail. She said testing of all the inmates wrapped up on Saturday, while employee testing is expected to be complete by Monday. "We are also continuing our investigation and our support in the implementation of health measures," she wrote in an email. The news came as the overall COVID-19 portrait in Quebec continued to trend in a positive direction, according to the province's health minister. Quebec reported 1,457 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 41 additional deaths linked to the virus. Hospitalizations declined for the fifth straight day, down by 56 to 1,327. Of those patients, 219 were in intensive care, an increase of three. Christian Dube said on Twitter that the numbers were "encouraging," but said Quebecers need to maintain their efforts to reduce cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has credited the recent drop in new COVID-19 infections to the nightly curfew which came into effect two weeks ago. The curfew, which is in place between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., was added to a number of other health orders imposed in recent weeks, including asking people to work from home, banning gatherings and shutting non-essential businesses. Montreal police said they'd intervened to break up more than 10 alleged illegal gatherings on Saturday after police heightened their presence in some boroughs to catch those breaking the rules. Patrols were stepped up in the Plateau-Mont-Royal and Outremont boroughs after police had to disperse three large gatherings at places of worship, including synagogues, on Friday night and Saturday morning. Two Jewish organizations, Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), issued a statement condemning the actions of "a small segment in the Hasidic community" involved in the gatherings in Outremont. "An assault on police officers is criminal and inexcusable, as is referring to them as Nazis," read the statement. The groups said the "organized Jewish community" has always supported the health regulations in place to fight COVID-19 and would continue to do so. A total of 253,633 Quebecers have tested positive for COVID-19 and 9,478 have died since the pandemic began. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan 24, 2021 Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
