How's this for a sweetened deal?

Plus, this winter's triple threat to your health and the worsening children's Tylenol shortage [Get access now!]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Ontario’s new offer for CUPE, how to address cold and flu symptoms, and the worsening children’s Tylenol shortage. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Chris Young provincial politics [Doug Ford has sweetened his offer to CUPE, sources say]( Contract negotiations resumed Tuesday between the Ontario government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and insiders say the premier has made CUPE “an improved offer” compared to the one made before bargaining broke down. It’s around 3.5 per cent for workers earning less than $43,000 a year and almost two per cent for workers earning more — figures the province and the union said were inaccurate but that sources confirmed were in the ballpark. [Here’s what we know about CUPE’s wishes after calling off its strike](. - Meanwhile: School support staff returned to work after Ford promised Monday to repeal Bill 28, which imposed a contract on workers and used the notwithstanding clause to override Charter rights. Ford said the repeal legislation will not be introduced until Monday. - Althia Raj’s take: [Ford let Justin Trudeau off the hook when he backed down on the notwithstanding clause](. - Heather Scoffield’s take: When Ford tried to prevent a strike, [he only made more of them likely](. Canadian Press/Nathan Denette explainer [Not sure if you have COVID, RSV or the flu? Here’s what to do]( We’re facing a triple threat of the pandemic, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza this winter, and experts are underscoring the importance of closely monitoring for COVID-19, since it’s the most contagious of the three. That means ruling it out with a rapid test — administered on Day 5 of symptoms — and making sure to swab the throat, cheeks and nose, even if it’s more than what’s called for on the pre-Omicron-printed instructions. Omar Mosleh has more on the risks posed to children in particular this season and [what to do if you’re feeling sick](. - Now what? Among the steps you can take to prevent getting sick are getting a COVID booster, getting a flu shot, wearing a mask and maintaining social distance in indoor settings, one expert said. - Watch for: Toronto’s top doctor is being urged to look at [mandatory masking in schools as sick kids swamp hospitals](. - In the city: [Here’s a look into Toronto’s decision to end mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for city workers](. - At universities: This is how and why the University of Waterloo is [telling students mask mandates are back](. Rene Johnston/The Star health [Canada’s children’s Tylenol shortage is getting worse — and bilingual labels are part of the problem]( Canada has been facing a shortage of children’s Tylenol and Advil since May, while countries such as the U.S. and Australia receive a steady supply, Ghada Alsharif reports. The shortage of over-the-counter medicine in Canada appears to be, in part, due to the requirement for labels to be in both English and French. Meanwhile, the volume of children in hospitals with respiratory illnesses is surging. [Here’s a closer look at the impact and the steps being taken so far to address the issue](. - More: “The fact that this has been going on for more than six months seems to indicate that the government, at least until now, hasn’t taken shortages seriously in terms of trying to resolve the problem,” one expert said. - Go deeper: An ER physician in Toronto who has been practising for 20 years said he has never seen so many children with respiratory illnesses, the majority of which can be treated with Tylenol and ibuprofen at home. - The aftermath: Ontario is taking an “unprecedented” step of moving critically ill teens into adult ICUs to free up space for the youngest and sickest children in kids’ hospitals. [Here’s how that could impact hospitals’ “ability to care for patients.”]( WHAT ELSE [Justin Trudeau pushed Doug Ford to take action on the Windsor blockade]( the Emergencies Act inquiry heard. The health ministers’ meeting has ended without a funding deal and [Canada’s health minister is blaming premiers](. Here’s how a former Canadian environment minister [called out oil companies’ empty promises on climate](. [Here’s how GO bus riders are making it to school and work]( as a strike leaves 15,000 people without the service. [A Canadian veteran from Saskatchewan has died fighting in Ukraine]( his family says. A Durham region gymnastics coach has been [charged with sexual assault and exploitation](. Here’s what U.S. midterm results mean for [Joe Biden, Donald Trump — and America](. Palestinians say a teen had died after an Israeli raid in the West Bank. [Here’s what we know](. Will Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover have [“big implications” for Canada’s upcoming — and already contentious — online harms bill?]( Who might come back to Twitter? [Here’s a list of some of the people banned from the platform](. [Mattea Roach has won her first match]( the return to “Jeopardy”’ for the Tournament of Champions. Tofu Tikka Masala, a hearty beef and squash dish and [more fall flavours to cook for dinner this week](. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [It’s hard enough living below the poverty line. Ottawa must provide a modified federal disability benefit without delay.]( CLOSE-UP Supplied Photo/Felix Lai TORONTO: The last blood moon until 2025 is seen against the city skyline Tuesday morning in this photo shared with the Star. In case you missed it, [here are more stunning photos of the lunar eclipse](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_153102). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. 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