Trucks leave border blockade, but vaccine mandate protesters arrive on foot: Latest COVID updates

Trucks cleared out of a pandemic restrictions protest on Saturday that for days has disrupted trade between the U.S. and Canada. But protesters on foot are continuing to demonstrate, despite an increased police presence.

Dozens of police officers moved into position Saturday morning near protesters on the Canadian side of the crossing. For six days, demonstrators have been blocking the crossing at the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor.

Pickup trucks and semis rolled out Saturday morning, leaving a crowd of protesters on foot.

By noon, new protesters began to join. Their numbers grew to several hundred, despite a large police presence pushing them back.

Protesters stayed in or near their pickup trucks overnight Friday, despite warnings and a Friday order from a judge to end the blockade that has paralyzed U.S.-Canada trade through the crossing, triggering the auto industry to scale back production in both countries.

Drivers clogged the bridge since Monday as hundreds more protesters paralyzed downtown Ottawa for two weeks.

Pandemic restriction protests have picked up in other countries as well. New Zealand authorities turned on sprinklers and blasted Barry Manilow songs to drive out vaccine mandate protesters who had been out on Parliament grounds since Tuesday.

In Paris, police fired tear gas Saturday as a handful of demonstrators gathered on the Champs Elysees Avenue to protest pandemic restrictions. Thousands of officers have mobilized, and police stopped at least 500 vehicles trying to enter the city for protests.

MORE UPDATES: Some Ambassador Bridge truck protesters leave as dozens of police take position

Also in the news:

► The NFL hasn't recorded a positive COVID-19 case in a couple weeks and hopes that streak continues through Sunday's Super Bowl.

► More than 800 students and staff at University of Nevada, Reno, have signed a petition urging education officials to reinstate mask mandates on campus one day after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak rescinded the statewide requirement.

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► Immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and then a second shot can now get a third two months later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.