Emergency in Ottawa over Covid-19 protests

People protest against COVID-19 mandates and in support of a protest against COVID-19 restrictions taking place in Ottawa, in Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday. Pic/AP

The mayor of Canada's capital declared a state of emergency Sunday and a former US ambassador to Canada said groups in the US must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of America's neighbour as protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions continued to paralyse Ottawa's downtown.

Mayor Jim Watson said the declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders. Thousands of protesters descended on Ottawa again on the weekend, joining those who remained since last weekend. Residents are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a "siege" that he could not manage. The "freedom truck convoy" has attracted support from many US Republicans including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "far left lunatic" who has "destroyed Canada with insane COVID mandates."

"Under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop," Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador tweeted. After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent US Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained and vowed investigations. But GoFundMe said it would issue refunds to all because it had determined the effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.

‘Australia to reopen borders to the double-vaccinated'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced the country's international borders will reopen to tourists starting February 21, provided that the arriving individuals are double vaccinated. "I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that and over the next two weeks they'll get the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia," Morrison said. He said people entering Australia from February 21 will need to be double vaccinated.

88,29,402 No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours
39,53,78,364 Total no. of cases worldwide
57,41,360 Total no. of deaths worldwide

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