More Canadians getting vaxxed, Cineplex calls for federal aid: In The News for May 20
Albertans line-up for a COVID-19 vaccination at an mass immunization clinic in downtown Calgary, Alta., Monday, May 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh May 20, 2021 - 1:15 AM
In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what s on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 20 .
What we are watching in Canada .
By the end of the day, nearly 49 per cent of all Canadians should have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
With the US at just over 48 per cent, that will put Canada slightly ahead of its southern neighbour in at least one of the markers in the race to herd immunity against COVID-19.
The Associated Press
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., walking without a face mask, left, and Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., head to a House Republican Conference meeting, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. Face masks during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic has become another focal point in the political and cultural divide in the U.S.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) Republicans are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House floor, stoking tensions with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules following updated guidance from federal health officials.
Some GOP lawmakers opted to keep their masks off during votes Tuesday, with a few taking particular care to stand in the well of the chamber to ensure that spectators, colleagues and C-SPAN’s cameras could not miss them.
Republicans are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House of Representatives floor as tensions rise with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules following updated health guidance.
Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy led an effort on Wednesday to convince the Office of the Attending Physician to update its guidance for mask wearing for vaccinated politicians and staff while they are in the House chamber and in committee hearing rooms.
Democrats defeated the move along a party-line vote of 218-210.
Legislators can remove their masks when speaking on the House floor but otherwise must keep it on when in the chamber. There is no requirement for wearing masks in the Senate chamber.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy led an effort Wednesday to get the Office of the Attending Physician to update its guidance for mask-wearing for vaccinated lawmakers and staff.