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Acadia Thunder Bay (CJUK)

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Ontario Getting Plant To Manufacture Vaccines

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A new vaccine manufacturing facility is coming to Toronto.

Officials unveiled the details Wednesday morning, which will include a $415 million investment from the federal government and $55 million from the province.

Sanofi Pasteur Limited will be the company behind the facility, which will focus on drug product formulation, fill and finish and inspection of flu vaccines.

The company will contribute more than $455 million as well as create 1,225 jobs.

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Pfizer Vaccine Shows Promise For Kids

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Pfizer-Biontech is reporting positive results in its testing of the COVID-19 vaccine in kids between the ages of 12 and 15.

A recent preliminary study of over 2,200 youth found the shots had 100% effectiveness, and were well tolerated.

The companies plan to submit this new data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency as soon as possible.

It says the study will continue to track participants for two years.

Studies are also underway for children aged 6 months to 11 years.

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NWHU Reports Five New COVID Cases

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The Northwestern Health Unit has received reports of five new positive test results for COVID-19.

Three of the five are in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub region, there’s one new case in the Dryden Health Hub region and one in the Kenora Health Hub region

Follow up with the persons involved and their contacts has started and anyone who is identified as a contact for these cases will be notified directly.

This brings the total active cases in the NWHU region to 35, with 16 in the Sioux Lookout hub, 10 in the Kenora region and 9 in the Dryden area.

To date, the health unit has administered 9,402 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The Thunder Bay District reports 25 new cases Tuesday, 4 more coronavirus related deaths and 199 active cases.

Officials say 51 individuals have lost their lives since the start of the pandemic.

As for the province, Ontario confirms 2,336 new cases and 14 deaths.

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NWHU Reports 2 New COVID Cases

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The Northwestern Health Unit reports two new positive COVID-19 test results in the Dryden Health Hub area.

Follow up with the persons involved and their contacts has started and anyone who is identified as a contact for these cases will be notified directly.

However, the active case count continues to decline in the region, with 46 active cases compared to 54 on Tuesday.

The Sioux Lookout Health Hub still leads the way in active cases with 26, 16 in the Kenora hub and with the new cases announced today, 4 in the Dryden hub.

The Health Unit also confirms that two people in the catchment area are in hospital with the virus.

There are now 601 resolved cases.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reports five deaths related to coronavirus.

Wednesday’s somber number means 45 people have lost their lives to the virus since the start of the pandemic.

There are 25 new positive test results and 39 resolved, putting the district at 286 active cases.

Ontario reports 15 hundred new cases and 10 deaths.

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NWHU Adds Case In Kenora Area

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The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting one new confirmed case of COVID-19 Monday morning within their catchment area.

The new positive test result, which is from the Kenora region, comes after a weekend that saw 20 new cases within the health unit’s catchment area.

Even though the number of confirmed cases for the NWHU did go up and now sits at 579 there is some good news as the total number of active cases is down to 75 (it was as high as 88 over the weekend).

The number of recovered cases within the Northwestern Health Unit now sits at 504.

Meanwhile another person has died from the coronavirus in the Thunder Bay District.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reports 51 new COVID-19 cases today bringing the active case count to 446.

Thirty-eight people have now died from the virus in the district since the pandemic began one year ago.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is reporting 44 patients have been admitted who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Of those, 11 are in the Intensive Care Unit.

(With Files From Vic Krasowski/Thunder Bay)

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March Break Postponed Until April

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If you had March Break plans, you will have to put them on hold.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce has delayed the break until the week of April 12.

“Postponing March Break, not cancelling it, is an important way that schools can help to limit community transmission. We recognize that congregation is a key driver of the spread of COVID-19 and we will not take that risk again with your child, with our staff, with Ontario families.”

Lecce stresses the move will help ensure classrooms stay open and they don’t take a step back to school closures.

He says the decision was made on the advice of public health officials including the province’s chief medical officer of health and many local medical officers of health as well.

Lecce adds they consulted with all teacher’s unions, trustee associations and principal councils ahead of the decision, both English and French, Public and Catholic, ahead of the decision and they recognize and appreciate their input.

The break was scheduled for March 15-19.

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More Workers Eligible For Child-Care During Lockdown

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The province will expand eligibility for emergency childcare during the lockdown.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the expansion aims to help parents of school-aged children who cannot support their children’s at home learning or care because they are performing front-line work.

The announcement comes on the heels of provincial news that students in northern Ontario will resume in-person learning on Monday while those in southern Ontario will continue to learn from home until at least January 25th.

Are You Eligible?

  • Front-line staff in Children’s Aid Societies and residential services
  • Individuals working in developmental services, violence against women services, and antihuman trafficking
  • Individuals working in victims’ services
  • Individuals engaged in interpreting or intervener services for persons who are deaf or deafblind
  • Individuals working in a homeless shelter or providing services to people who are homeless
  • Food safety inspectors and individuals working in the processing, manufacturing or distribution of food and beverages
  • Provincial court services personnel, including Indigenous court workers
  • OPS staff employed in radiation protection services
  • RCMP and Canada Border Services
  • Canada Post workers
  • Pharma and medical device manufacturing and distribution workers
  • Power workers
  • Non-municipal water and wastewater workers
  • Education staff who are required to attend schools to provide in-person instruction and support to students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning
  • Employees of a hotel or motel that is acting as an isolation centre, health care centre, vaccine clinic or housing essential workers
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NWHU With A New Case Of COVID-19

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A staff member with the Rainy River District School Board has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The Board states the employee was not in the region during their infectious period so the case wouldn’t immediately show up on the Northwestern Health Unit’s stats.

The employee is now working from home and has been doing so since first learning they may have been exposed.

The Board states the Northwestern Health Unit doesn’t see there being any risk to staff or students.

The Health Unit now has eight active cases.

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Evacuees Out, Work Continues On Neskantaga First Nation

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There will be an inspection of the water treatment plant on Neskantaga First Nation.

While evacuees are in Thunder Bay, officials are trying to figure out what caused an oily sheen, which was discovered last week in the community’s water supply.

The initial results revealed high levels of hydrocarbons.

Indigenous Services Canada has indicated it will provide funding for evacuation efforts, however, Minister Marc Miller hasn’t put a specific number on it.

The minister notes the federal government is funding $16.44 million for a new water treatment plant and upgrades to the water distribution and wastewater collection systems.

It’s not clear how long evacuees will remain in Thunder Bay.

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Seniors Facility Set To Be Erected In Atikokan

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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:

  • 38 single and double occupancy units
  • Community kitchen and lounge
  • Treatment room for visiting physicians and health practitioners
  • Outdoor walking paths

“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

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