Another record-breaking day for COVID-19 cases in Ontario.
The province is reporting 1,042 new cases, and seven more deaths, while 736 other cases are now resolved.
There are 309 new cases in Toronto, 289 in Peel, 117 in York Region, 80 in Ottawa and 52 in Durham.
It’s Ontario’s highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day.
The province is reporting 978 people tested positive.
“Locally, there are 348 new cases in Toronto, 170 in Peel, 141 in York Region, 89 in Ottawa and 51 in Durham. There are 625 more resolved cases,” Health Minister Christine Elliott says on Twitter.
In the Northwest, there are five cases in the Thunder Bay district and two in the Northwestern Health Unit catchment area.
One of the potential vaccines under development for COVID-19 could be Canadian made.
The Quebec-based biopharmaceutical Medicago is in the second phase of trials of a plant-derived vaccine.
Testing on people could come by the end of the year.
The federal government is throwing its support behind the work by securing a deal for 76-million doses, worth $173-milliom.
The government also has deals with several other companies for their vaccine when it becomes available.
Ontario will soon be using new rapid COVID-19 tests in select parts of the province.
The tests will provide a result with 5 to 15 minutes.
Dr. Vanessa Allen with Public Health Ontario says they anticipate the first 100,000 being used next month.
They will be used in remote and rural parts of the province where the distance means there’s lengthy turn-around time for results on the standard test.
Allen says to test their accuracy, the standard lab test will also be given along with the rapid one.
Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe says testing is just one part of dealing with the virus.
“It’s also the support that these people need to know what the symptoms are, to be able to take time off of work to go for testing, to be able to–if they’re positive–to isolate appropriately,” Yaffe says.
The province is helping food banks and other groups in the Northwest reduce food waste by accepting more donations.
Environment Minister Jeff Yurek says the $5-million investment will help pay for things like refrigerated trucks and kitchen upgrades.
It’s part of the new Surplus Food Redistribution Infrastructure Program. It’s meant to divert food from places like restaurants that were left with a surplus of food when they had to shut down indoor service.
The money is helping groups like Regional Food Distribution Association, Grand Council Treaty #3, Matawa First Nations Management, and Nokiiwin and Bimose Tribal Councils.
Shovels in the ground as the work continues on a venture that’s being hailed as the ‘largest capital project in decades’ for Atikokan.
Several dignitaries on hand in the town to unveil Aspen Court Seniors Living facility.
Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown
It’ll be 38,000 square feet and will feature:
“I believe 2009 when the town hall was opened was the last time we had a big building like this built in our town. This is just fantastic, especially for the seniors, because this is something we’ve wanted for a long time,” remarks Mayor Dennis Brown.
A few organizations (pictured) helped kick off the Capital Fundraising Campaign as organizers hope to raise $200,000 to help with construction and equipment.
“Every person deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, especially in the later years of life,” notes Jim Turner, Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee. “In the town of Atikokan and surrounding northwest region, seniors are a growing demographic. Most have lived, worked and raised families in our smaller northern communities. In retirement, seniors continue to be essential contributors to our social and economic fabric.”
Officials touting job numbers as well with this project. Once the building is opened six full time and two part-time positions will be created that include personal support workers, community programmers, administration and maintenance staff.
When it comes to fundraising, those on the fundraising committee believe area residents, businesses and organizations will help reach the $200,000 goal by 2021.
If you’d like to donate click here
With the pandemic limiting travel and most events, Lakehead University in Thunder Bay is going online to show off their school to prospective students.
They’re holding a virtual open house this Saturday starting at 9:00am central time.
It’ll include live chats with admissions, support staff, and professors.
Visit this link for more details and to register for the online meeting.
Ontario continues to encourage people to download an app that sends alerts if you’ve been near someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
It was developed in Ontario and is now in place in seven provinces, including Manitoba.
Premier Doug Ford says 26,000 government workers are using it.
“As government employees, we work for you. Those government cell phones, they’re your property. This is a small, very small, but important way that we can lead by example,” Ford says.
Treasury Board president Peter Bethlenfalvy says it is working.
“Over 1,000 one-time keys have been entered by app users in Ontario who have received confirmed positive COVID-19 test results, notifying tens of thousands of Ontarians of a potential exposure, so that they can take the necessary public health precautions,” Bethlenfalvy explains.
Another day with more than 700 new COVID-19 cases across the province.
Today’s update lists 805 new cases, but that includes some from the Toronto area that should have been in yesterday’s count.
The province says that’s because of an error that’s now been fixed.
Most of the cases are in Toronto, Peel, Ottawa, and York, where the province is imposing phase-two restrictions to try to stop the spread of the virus.
Expect the first big snowfall for the region.
Environment Canada is issuing a special weather statement stretching from Ignace east to just outside Thunder Bay, west to Nipigon and Geraldton, and north to Armstrong and Fort Hope.
The snow is expected to start this morning and last into the afternoon, tapering off tomorrow morning.
The forecast calls for ten to 15 centimetres, but areas along Lake Superior could get much less.
