Ontario Releases Guidelines For Businesses
The provincial government is giving more information to businesses on what they should be doing to ensure they will be ready to open once it’s deemed safe to do so.
These new sector-specific guidelines feature recommended actions employers can begin to plan for as they prepare to adapt to the new reality during COVID-19, including:
- Ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing, like eliminating pay-at-the-door options, holding team meetings outdoors, staggering shift times and using ground markings and barriers to manage traffic flow.
- Changes to the workplace, like installing plexiglass barriers, increasing the air intake on building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to increase airflow, and using boot sanitizing trays.
- Promoting proper workplace sanitation, providing personal protective equipment, substituting dry dusting with vacuuming, ensuring customer-facing staff are given hand sanitizer, providing a place to dispose of sanitizing wipes, and enforcing handwashing before and after breaks.
Starting this week, 58 new inspectors will join the hundreds of existing provincial labour inspectors on the ground.
PM Vows To Get Answers In Helicopter Crash
The Prime Minister is assuring Canadians they will get answers into how a Canadian Armed Forces CH-148 Cyclone helicopter went down Wednesday off the coast of Greece.
The aircraft had been deployed on HMCS Fredericton as part of Operation Reassurance, a NATO mission in central and eastern Europe.
Five members of the Canadian Armed Forces are missing and one member of the crew is dead. Sub-lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough has been identified as the deceased.
“There are no words that can relieve your pain, just know that all of Canada and the Armed Forces are behind you,” said General Jonathan Vance.
General Vance stressed it is a time of agony for members of the armed forces saying there’s nothing worse than sending your fellow members off into the horizon and not having them return.
Justin Trudeau shared his condolences with those impacted by the tragedy as well.
“In this time of grief, Canadian Armed Forces members keep their heads held high and they step towards danger ensuring we remain safe. They never say no, they are always ready,” Trudeau said.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says they are in contact with nearby countries who are helping them look for the members of the helicopter.
“The cause of the crash is unknown at this time and search efforts are ongoing for the remaining members of the helicopter,” Sajan said.
Both the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister said this tragedy is having a big impact on families in Nova Scotia.
The voice recorder and the flight data recorder have been recovered and officials are continuing an investigation into the circumstances into the accident.
Mine Worker Was Area’s First COVID-19 Death
The owners of the Lac des Illes mine confirm a man who recently died from COVID-19 complications was one of their workers.
Impala Canada says they are deeply saddened by his death, which was announced by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit on Friday.
The mine has had 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but the company says 13 of those people now test negative for the virus.
They add that it has been two weeks since group of employees were sent home on April 13, after one of their team members tested positive. Those workers will be allowed to stop self-isolating if they haven’t developed any symptoms.
Lac des Illes has been in “care and maintenance mode” since April 13th, and Impala Canada says that will be the case for the time being. A “deep and comprehensive sanitization” of the mine camp was completed.
Health Canada Warning About Chloroquine
A warning from Health Canada about using a certain drug which it says many may use to try treating COVID-19.
The federal agency is advising against the use of chloroquine, a drug approved to treat malaria, and other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatiod arthritis.
Health Canada says chloroquine can have side effects, such as serious heart rhythm problems, liver and kidney problems, fainting, or low blood sugar.
Problems can increase when taken with other drugs.
The advisory states this should not be taken without doctor approval. Health Canada adds it is monitoring certain drugs as means to potentially treat COVID-19, including chloroquine, but hasn’t approved anything yet.
For more details on this advisory, click here.
COVID-19 Could Cost Schools: Report
The Northern Policy Institute says the region could lose millions of dollars if COVID-19 leads to fewer international students coming to Northern Ontario.
In a new report, NPI claims international student enrolment may drop for the 2020-2021 school year. It estimates that with 20% fewer international students, Thunder Bay would lose over $30-million. That could rise to $80-million if post-secondary schools get only half as many students as expected.
Confederation College says it appreciates the report but can’t comment on the findings because it was not consulted.
Province Surpasses 14,000 COVID-19 Cases
There are over 400 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario as of this morning.
The province now has over 14,400, with 8,000 already resolved.
There are now 835 deaths from COVID-19 in the province, and 2,489 in Canada.
Nationwide, the Public Health Agency of Canada says there are 45,791 cases, out of more than 691,000 total tests.
Ford Announces Temporary Wage Hike
More money is coming for essential workers like healthcare, food service, and shelter staff.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says they are getting $4 more per hour until August 13.
Ford says it’s in recognition of the long hours and increased risk certain fields are facing during the pandemic.
The Premier adds the temporary wage hike will give eligible full-time workers around $3,560 in extra pay.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says this move shows “the Premier is providing the leadership Ontario needs.”
Community Garden Closure Lifted
Local gardeners will be allowed to grow food in community gardens, which were previously shuttered along with public parks and green spaces.
On Saturday, Ontario officials changed their stance, saying these gardens are essential sources of fresh food for some.
The province says the gardens must meet certain recommendations like physical distancing, along with cleaning and disinfecting equipment and surfaces.
It’s not clear yet if community gardens in local municipalities will reopen with the announcement
Ontario Nears 14,000 COVID-19 Cases
Ontario reported over 470 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of just under 14,000.
7,500 of those are resolved as of Friday.
The province now has 811 deaths due to complications from the virus, including one in Thunder Bay confirmed yesterday.
As of this morning, Canada has a total of 44,353 cases and 2,350 deaths.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit confirmed its 61st and 62nd cases on Friday, 46 of whom have recovered. Meanwhile 15 out of the 16 cases in the Northwestern Health Unit’s catchment area are resolved.
Feds Working On Exit Plan For COVID-19
Canada’s health minister is working on coming up with an exit plan for when things can return to normal, but Patty Hajdu isn’t sure when that will be.
Hajdu told Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro, that’s what her ministry is now focusing on.
“A sort of health safety net, what needs to be in place as we try and live and adapt to this new normal of having a virus on the scene where there is no vaccine. It’s still a major health risk to Canadians and all around the world,” Hajdu said.
Hajdu stressed if people want things to return to normal now is not the time to stop following COVID-19 rules.
Earlier this week the federal government announced $115 million for research into vaccines and treatments, $350 million is going towards national testing and modelling and $662 million will be used for clinical trials.