Key US-Canada bridge reopens, Ottawa protest on

Police gather to clear protestors against vaccine mandates who blocked the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, on Sunday. Pic/AFP

The busiest US-Canada border crossing was open Monday after protesters demonstrating against Covid-19 measures blocked it for nearly a week, but a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa, persisted as city residents seethed over authorities' inability to reclaim the streets.

Demonstrations against Covid-19 restrictions and other issues have blocked several crossings along the U.S.-Canada border and hurt the economies of both nations. They also inspired similar convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that truck convoys may be in the works in the United States.

Police in Windsor, Ontario, arrested 25 to 30 protesters and towed several vehicles Sunday near the Ambassador Bridge, which links Windsor - and numerous Canadian automotive plants - with Detroit.

The bridge reopened to traffic late Sunday night, a spokeswoman for bridge owner Detroit International Bridge Co. confirmed. Canada Border Services confirmed that the bridge is open. After protesters began blocking bridge access Feb. 7, automakers began shutting down or reducing production. The crossing sees 25% of all trade between the two countries.

The protest in Ottawa has paralysed downtown, infuriated residents who are fed up with police inaction and turned up pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The city appeared to have reached a deal in which protesters, who have jammed downtown streets for more than two weeks, would move out of residential areas, but those prospects soon faded.

3-year-olds in Hong Kong to get vax

Hong Kong plans to offer Covid-19 vaccines to children as young as 3 as infections rage through the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

Older Swedes to get fourth vaccine dose

Sweden is recommending a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose to people over age 80 and those living in nursing homes or getting home care, authorities said Monday, adding it must be administered no earlier than four months after the previous shot.

New Zealand to crack down on

Covid protestors New Zealand's prime minister on Monday said protesters who oppose coronavirus mandates were using "intimidation and harassment," as authorities appeared to take a harsher stance toward the convoy of demonstrators that has disrupted Wellington for nearly a week.

Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "I very clearly have a view on the protesters and the way that they've conducted their protest because it has moved beyond sharing a view to intimidation and harassment of the people around central Wellington," she said. "That cannot be tolerated."

71,45,789
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

41,20,56,317
Total no. of cases worldwide

58,17,341
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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