This weekend’s Juno Awards in Saskatoon have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) made the announcement in a statement released Thursday.
“We are devastated to cancel this national celebration of music, but at this time of global uncertainty, the health, safety and well-being of all Canadians must stand at the forefront of any decisions that impact our communities,” read the statement.
CARAS said it was the right decision based on the rapidly evolving situation around COVID-19.
The academy said it will explore options to coordinate an alternative way to honour this year’s award winners.
First Nations won’t be left out as the provincial government works on a strategy to combat COVID-19.
That’s the reassurance from Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford to a question about the Coronavirus if it reaches the far north.
“It compels us to ensure that their is a strategy in place for Indigenous communities, particularly and notably for isolated and remote Indigenous communities in the wake of conferences that members have traveled back and forth to. We want to make ensure we take appropriate responses.”
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says its hard for aboriginal people to wash their hands and quarantine themselves when they often live in third world conditions.
The NDP member notes how can First Nations people self-isolate when often there could be 10 to 12 people in a home.
Mamakwa says Premier Ford must address the situation regarding Ontario’s Indigenous communities when he meets with the prime minister on Friday.
Infectious diseases can be devastating for First Nations communities. The government tells people to wash their hands, but that’s hard to do when there’s no clean running water.
Our area continues to brace for the arrival of the Coronavirus.
While there are still no cases of the virus in the northwest, the Northwestern Health Unit is establishing a local COVID-19 assessment site.
According to Doctor Clay Hammett, if you think you’re starting to show symptoms of the virus including both a fever and a cough, your first move should be to call the local health unit office.
He says that they will assess you over the phone, and direct you to an in-person assessment if they deem it necessary.
The District of Kenora Home for the Aged is also taking steps to prepare for the arrival of the virus.
District Administrator Kevin Queen says that they will be restricting visiting hours at their long term care homes in Dryden, Red Lake and Kenora from 9:00am until 5:00pm until further notice, and all visitors will be asked a variety of questions upon arrival.
Queen stresses the move is proactive and not reactive, and that none of their facilities have any active cases or dealing with an outbreak.
The World Health Organization has declared the virus a “pandemic”.
The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice” after a player with the Utah Jazz reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday.
The move came after the league’s owners were considering playing games without fans in arenas.
Meantime, Toronto Raptors players have reportedly been told to self-quarantine because they recently played against the Jazz.
Five teams in total have been told to self-quarantine.
The NHL has announced it will not immediately suspend their season right now, saying in a statement they will continue to consult with medical experts and evaluate the options.
The league said it will make a further statement today (Thursday).
The Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks will play in empty arenas.
The Blue Jackets decision impacts all of their remaining home games while the Sharks move impacts only their March home contests.
Other cancellations
-The World Figure Skating Championships scheduled for next week in Montreal.
-Attendance restrictions on large events in Washington State is forcing the Seattle Mariners baseball team to find alternative places to start the season. The ban impacts the Mariners season opener against Texas and a three-game set with the Twins.
-Two Western Hockey League teams are also impacted by the ban and the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds are reviewing their options.
-XFL’s Seattle franchise will play its game this Sunday, but in an empty stadium.
-NCAA will limit attendance to essential staff and family members only to games in this month’s basketball championships.
The 35th Annual Northern Bands Hockey Tournament has been cancelled due to concerns over the Coronavirus.
It was scheduled for next week in the City of Dryden.
The announcement was made last night on the Tournament Facebook page after days of talks between event organizers and participating First Nations communities.
Organizers say it wasn’t an easy decision but after talking with Chiefs and Elders they decided to make the move.
The move follows a call by Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Grand Council Treaty #3 Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh to postpone the tournament which was expected to bring more than 40 teams to the community.
Fiddler says “The threat posed by COVID-19 is causing great concern in our First Nations and there is a growing fear of sending community members to mass gatherings.”
He adds “Our priority is the health and well-being of our members.”
Kavanaugh says “The risks associated with large gatherings like Northern Bands leading to the transmission of infectious diseases to the most remote and vulnerable communities of our regions is simply too great”.
He adds “We acknowledge all of the hard work of the organizers and all of the players’ training and preparation, however the risk of COVID-19 requires all of us to exercise caution and make difficult decisions in the best interests of our most vulnerable citizens.”
Both leaders note prior to the COVID-19 pandemic declaration by the World Health Organization, First Nations from NAN and Grand Council Treaty #3 have taken precautionary measures by not attending mass gatherings.
They are also calling for the postponement of the Little Native Hockey League Hockey Tournament scheduled to start March 15th in Nipissing First Nation.
That event is scheduled to attract some 228 teams from across Canada.
Scheduled trips to Europe for high school students in Dryden and Red Lake have been suspended.
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board made the final decision due to concerns over the Coronavirus.
Director of Education Sheri-Lynn Pharand says “It’s postponed and so the trip will go ahead for the students, just at a different time.
The Dryden High School trip was scheduled for March break, while the Red Lake journey was planned for April.
Pharand says they worked with the company arranging the DHS trip to re-book at a later date, while the Red Lake trip fell under the guidelines to cancel without penalty.
Pharand says the board determined that it was too risky to travel out of concerns of COVID-19 itself but also possible quarantine.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says they are working closely with public health officials to curtail the impact.
“We are implementing an enhanced pandemic response that formally brings together a wide range of service providers. And our goal is to make sure that we have comprehensive response planning that includes effective surveillance.”
Elliott says action being taken include prompt laboratory testing, appropriate care and treatment, transparent communications and evidence based public health measures.
Meantime, NDP leader Andrea Horwath is asking the government to halt any cuts and mergers of public health units in the wake of the Coronavirus.
The COVID-19 virus has claimed its first victim in Canada.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu tweeted she is deeply saddened to learn of the death of a man in British Columbia from complications of the virus.
Hajdu has sent her condolences to the man’s loved ones.
She says the government continues to work closely with B.C. to offer any support and resources they need.
B.C. health officials say the man was a resident of a care home who was diagnosed last week and died on Sunday night.
I am deeply saddened to learn that a Canadian has died of complications related to #COVID19 and my deepest sympathies go to their loved ones. We continue to work closely with BC and offer any support and resources they need.
There is no escaping the COVID-19 virus scare, even in church.
The Catholic Diocese in northwestern Ontario has called for the suspension of a couple of Mass rituals while the virus remains front and centre in the public eye.
Bishop Fred Colli has asked churches to stop the practice of shaking hands during the Sign of Peace and the sharing of chalice wine at communion.
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