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Today’s coronavirus news: Toronto has had 2,432 new cases of COVID-19 in the past five days, prompting Mayor Tory to urge people to stay home; Ontario projects 6,000 daily cases by mid-December

Oct 22, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The latest news from Canada and around the world Thursday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.

3:55 p.m. Yukon is confirming a new case of COVID-19 in Whitehorse, bringing the total number of cases in the territory to 24 since the start of the pandemic.

3:48 p.m. Ontario’s new modelling for COVID-19 shows that at 3.5 per cent growth, the province could top 2,000 new cases daily and at 5 per cent growth the province could top 6,000 new infections daily by December. That would be four times today’s record level of 1,575 new COVID-19 cases.

3 p.m. Toronto has had 2,432 new cases of COVID-19 in the past five days, said Eileen de Villa, medical officer of health for the City of Toronto. “The medical community knows this is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

Toronto is reporting 500 cases in the past 24 hours, and there are 164 people in hospital, 36 of which are in the ICU, de Villa said.

“Please stay home!” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “Don’t socialize with people outside your home!

“If everyone stays home, less people will get COVID-19,” Tory said.

“I’m asking you to stay home,” said Tory, speaking of this weekend’s Diwali festival celebration in the South Asian community, and of weddings.

Tory suggested people not focus on the complicated system of colour codes, stages and different categories of tests that make up the Ford government’s framework for determining whether communities could remain open or be subject to lockdown restrictions.

He said the thing to do is to focus on just staying home.

“Assume COVID-19 is everywhere,” said de Villa, who spoke of the City’s efforts to boost its contact-tracing system. It’s a team of 900 people and has been able to contact 90 per cent of new cases. It’s been enhanced to use automation to reach people more quickly and now has a system to notify people if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. It has reached 600 people for a success rate of 97 per cent.

Tory dismissed the idea the City was singling our restaurants and the prohibition of indoor dining to set an example to other businesses, and mentioned that the experience of other jurisdictions showed this was essential to stop the spread of the virus.

“We’re preventing something much, much worse from happening to avoid a long, long, long lockdown.”

2:23 p.m.: Manitoba’s top doctor is clarifying a public health order as the province enters a self-imposed economic and social hibernation to try to bring surging COVID-19 numbers back under control.

“The current restriction on the Pandemic Reponse System is critical,” Dr. Brent Roussin said in a statement Thursday. “It says stay home. I say stay home.”

The province has been struggling to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus since it started spiking in recent weeks after a summer lull.

Roussin, chief public health officer, announced earlier in the week that enhanced restrictions which came into effect Thursdaywould ban social gatherings.

The public health order, however, was written with a limit of five people on gatherings to accommodate caregivers and others who may have to enter a household

2:15 p.m. (updated): Toronto is reporting 500 new cases, the city’s medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa said Thursday. She said there are 164 people in hospital and 36 of them are in intensive care.

In last five days, there have been 2,432 new cases of COVID in Toronto.

Medical community agrees what’s reported is “just the tip of the iceberg” so more virus is out there.

“You should assume COVID-19 is everywhere” and without proper precautions you are at risk, de Villa says.

1:40 p.m.: Manitoba has matched its deadliest day as the province enters a second lockdown period in an effort to get surging infections under control.

Health officials say there have been nine more deaths — matching the record set the day before — and 474 new cases of COVID-19.

There are 227 people in hospital with 34 people in intensive care.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief public health officer, says restrictions that came into effect today are the strictest public health orders yet.

Private gatherings are limited to five people, and everyone is asked not to socialize outside their households.

Churches can’t hold in-person services and non-essential stores and restaurants are limited to curbside pickup and delivery.

1:30 p.m.: Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he is to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

The premier says the province had to close 324 schools in the past two days following COVID-19 outbreaks.

He says closing schools is a last resort but his government is considering either advancing or prolonging the winter break to keep children home.

Legault says Quebec is suffering through a strong second wave of COVID-19 and that the next few weeks are going to be tough.

1:30 p.m.: The Opposition wants the Saskatchewan government to make it mandatory provincewide to wear a mask in public to try to stem rising COVID-19 infections.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili says Premier Scott Moe has yet to present a plan on how to deal with the spread of the novel coronavirus.

More than 400 doctors signed a letter calling for more action from the provincial after a month of rising infections and hospitalizations.

Health officials reported 112 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and said 48 people were in hospital, 11 of them receiving intensive care.

Meili suggests Saskatchewan talk to other provinces where cases of COVID-19 are higher to get advice on what should be done to avoid ending up in the same situation.

Moe said earlier this week that no added public health measures were under consideration to deal with the caseload.

“Let’s expand that mask mandate to the whole province and let’s be looking at what could prevent us (from) getting into a situation like Manitoba, Alberta, North Dakota are in,” Meili said Thursday.

Masks have been made mandatory in indoor public spaces in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert for about a week.

Private indoor gatherings are restricted to no more than 10 people, and nightclubs in Saskatoon must close at 11 p.m.

1:16 p.m. Nova Scotia’s premier says the next two weeks with be “absolutely critical” for the province as health officials deal with a small but sudden spike in COVID-19 cases.

Stephen McNeil says he’s concerned that Nova Scotians are becoming complacent about health protocols, given that the province has only 19 active cases among the 1,134 positive cases recorded since the pandemic was declared in March.

No new cases were reported today, but the premier has said he is concerned by the fact that more than a dozen cases have been reported since Nov. 3.

The province has recorded 65 deaths since April, though 1,050 people infected with the virus have recovered.

1:15 p.m.: Nunavut has shut down two communities after announcing its first cases of COVID-19.

The territory’s chief public health officer says all schools and non-essential services in Rankin Inlet and Sanikiluaq are closed.

Officials say travel to and from Rankin Inlet is not recommended after a positive case was announced in the community Wednesday.

Officials also say all contacts with two positive cases in Sanikiluaq have tested negative and an additional 27 residents in the community of 880 have also tested negative.

There are currently three active cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut.

1:15 p.m. New Brunswick says a COVID-19 outbreak tied to a special care home in Moncton is over.

Health officials say it’s been 28 days since the last person connected to the outbreak at Notre-Dame Manor tested positive.

Officials say the outbreak involved a total of 44 cases, including 22 residents and six staff members.

Public health is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today in the Saint John region and a total of 13 actives cases in the province.

1:07 p.m. A group representing tens of thousands of Ontario physicians for imposing stricter COVID-19 measures, as the province reports another record tally of new daily infections.

The Ontario Medical Association says the tiered and colour-coded framework that determines when regions across the province can loosen or tighten restrictions is too lax, particularly at a time when case counts are surging.

It says the criteria to move from one alert level to the other should be much lower — as much as 50 per cent lower in some cases — and the higher levels should include a ban on indoor dining in restaurants and bars.

The group’s comments come on the heels of a Toronto Star report that said the provincial government ignored the advice of its own public health agency in designing the system introduced last week.

12:47 p.m. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will face questions from senators Thursday afternoon as they scrutinize the government’s latest bid to provide pandemic aid to hard-hit businesses.

Freeland is scheduled to testify to the Senate’s national finance committee that is reviewing the aid bill, known as C-9.

The House of Commons agreed last week to pass the proposed package of measures quickly, but none can be enacted until the Senate passes it as well.

Bill C-9 would extend the federal wage subsidy until next summer, cancelling a previously planned decline in its value, as well as expanding a popular business loan program.

The legislation would also redo a program for commercial rent relief that was widely criticized because its original design needed buy-in from landlords, many of whom did not participate.

And it would provide more top-up help for businesses whose revenues crash because of local lockdowns, similar to those being imposed in parts of the country right now as COVID-19 case numbers rise.

More than one-third of small businesses are still seeing revenue declines of 50 per cent or more, Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly told the Senate finance committee Thursday.

The second wave of COVID-19 has prompted a further sales drop at more than half of the country’s 110,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, he said.

“That’s deeply worrisome to us.”

11:35 a.m.: Manitoba is entering the first day of a partial lockdown meant to stem a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Manitoba has the biggest per-capita caseload of active infections in Canada and reported its deadliest day Wednesday with nine new fatalities.

Social gatherings in the province are limited to five people, in-person religious services are cancelled and non-essential stores and restaurants can only offer curbside pickup or delivery.

Bars, museums and theatres are closed and recreational activities suspended. Schools remain open.

11:33 a.m.: Quebec is reporting 1,365 new COVID-19 infections and 42 more deaths linked to the novel coronavirus, including nine that occurred in the past 24 hours.

Authorities say hospitalizations increased by ten, to 583, and 86 people were in intensive care, a rise of two.

Health Minister Christian Dube said today the virus is claiming too many victims.

Dube is scheduled to join Premier Francois Legault and the province’s director of public health for a news conference about the pandemic later in the day.

Officials say 843 more people recovered from the disease, for a total of 101,407.

The province has reported 119,894 COVID-19 infections and 6,557 deaths linked to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

10:50 a.m.: Ontario is reporting an additional 103 new cases in public schools across the province, bringing the total in the last two weeks to 1,046 and 3,166 overall since school began.

, the province reported 51 more students were infected for a total of 619 in the last two weeks; since school began there have been an overall total of 1,794.

The data shows there are 14 more staff members infected for a total of 110 in the last two weeks — and an overall total of 397.

The latest report also shows 38 more infected individuals who weren’t identified for a total of 317 in that category in the last two weeks — and an overall total of 975.

There are 653 schools with a reported case, which the province notes is 13.5 per cent of the 4,828 public schools in Ontario.

One school is closed because of an outbreak. The data doesn’t identify that school or where it is.

There is a lag between the daily provincial data at 10:30 a.m. and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data on Thursday is current as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. It doesn’t indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

The Toronto District School Board updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day . As of 10:30 a.m. Thursday, there were 219 TDSB schools with at least one active and/or resolved case — 282 students and 71 staff.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board also updates its information . As of Thursday at 10:20 a.m., there were 122 schools with at least one active/resolved case — 113 students and 15 staff.

Epidemiologists have that the rising numbers in the schools aren’t a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID that is in the community.

10:20 a.m. (updated): Ontario is again reporting a daily record of COVID-19 cases, with 1,575 new infections recorded. The province is also reporting 18 new deaths related to the coronavirus.

Just last Thursday, there were 998 infections in Ontario.

Ontario’s seven-day average increased by 83 to 1,299 cases per day — or about 63 cases a week per 100,000, the Star’s Ed Tubb reports.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 472 new cases in Toronto, 448 in Peel Region, 155 in York Region and 91 in Ottawa.

The province says 917 more cases are considered resolved, and the nearly 39,600 tests have been completed since the last daily report.

In total, 431 people are hospitalized in Ontario due to COVID-19, including 98 in intensive care.

Ninety-four long-term-care homes are currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19, with 695 active cases among residents and 435 among staff.

The latest figures bring the total of COVID-19 cases in Ontario to 89,784, with 3,293 deaths, and 75,228 cases resolved.

Meanwhile, Ontario is set to release new COVID-19 projections later today.

10:11 a.m.: To ensure the merriment of millions of children, the government of Belgium is offering a special exemption from the country’s strict coronavirus measures to beloved St. Nicholas, who always delivers bountiful presents on the morning of Dec. 6.

In a tongue-in-cheek letter Thursday, the Belgian health and interior ministers soothed the worries of children fearing they might go without presents this year. The officials said Nicholas wouldn’t have to quarantine after arriving in Belgium from Spain, where he lives, and would be able to walk rooftops to drop gifts into chimneys even during curfew hours.

“Dear Saint, do what you do best: make every child happy. We are counting on you,” Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden and Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said in the joint letter.

For generations, the visit of St. Nicholas at the onset of winter has been a holiday highlight for Belgian kids, much like the work of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is in so many other nations.

With Belgium one of the European countries hit worst by the coronavirus, the government is enforcing a nightly curfew, tough quarantine rules and other measures to curb infections. The resurgence of the virus has started to show signs of abating in the past few days.

10:08 a.m. British Columbia’s children’s representative says the as experts brace for rising rates of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress in children and young people.

“Going forward, we would be very wise to invest significantly more in mental health,” given the pre-pandemic shortfalls and the benefits over time, said Jennifer Charlesworth in an interview.

Her office released a review Thursday of previous studies focused on kids’ mental health after infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

The review was led by Dr. Charlotte Waddell, the director of the children’s health policy centre at Simon Fraser University.

Long-term studies and data are needed to assess exactly how the pandemic is affecting kids’ development and mental health in B.C. and beyond, said Waddell, but she’s concerned.

“The studies that we examined really strongly predict that we’re going to see significant increases in the number of kids with anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression and behaviour challenges,” said Waddell, who’s a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry.

9:11 a.m. Dr. Adalsteinn Brown and other top provincial health officials are expected to provide new modelling this afternoon.

The new projections for how the virus might spread in Ontario come as the province has reported daily case increases above 1,000 for the past week.

The province reported 1,426 more COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

According to provincial data, the seven-day average for daily case increases is now 1,217.

Some hot spots such as Toronto and Peel Region have introduced local COVID restrictions in addition to provincial government measures.

9 a.m. The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to 709,000, a still-high level but the lowest figure since March and a sign that the job market might be slowly healing.

The figures coincide with a sharp resurgence in confirmed viral infections to an all-time high above 120,000 a day. Cases are rising in 49 states, and deaths are increasing in 39. The nation has now recorded 240,000 virus-related deaths and 10.3 million confirmed infections.

As colder weather sets in and fear of the virus escalates, consumers may turn more cautious about travelling, shopping, dining out and visiting gyms, barber shops and retailers. Companies in many sectors could cut jobs or workers’ hours. In recent days, the virus’ resurgence has triggered tighter restrictions on businesses, mostly restaurants and bars, in a range of states, including Texas, New York, Maryland, and Oregon.

Last week’s new applications for unemployment benefits was down from 757,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The still-elevated figure shows that eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs.

8:30 a.m. In an effort to revive its tourism industry, South Africa has opened up international travel to visitors from all countries, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced.

South Africa will now admit foreign visitors providing they produce negative COVID-19 test results, Ramaphosa said in a broadcast address Wednesday night.

This step, making South Africa one of the world’s countries most open to international travel, comes as cases of the disease are slowly increasing in the country. Ramaphosa said his government will closely monitor any signs that international visitors increase transmission rates.

“By using rapid tests and strict monitoring we intend to limit the spread of the infection through importation,” said Ramaphosa. “We expect that these measures will greatly assist businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors.”

After closing its borders as part of one of the world’s strictest lockdowns imposed at the end of March, South Africa has gradually reopened, resuming international flights on Oct. 1 but not admitting travellers from countries with high infection levels. Now that restriction has been removed, Ramaphosa said.

8:28 a.m. German soccer club Hoffenheim says a sixth player has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Hoffenheim says defender Kevin Vogt was found to be positive in a test taken Wednesday after an earlier sample gave an inconclusive result.

The whole team was placed in isolation on Wednesday.

Five other Hoffenheim players and two staff members have tested positive for the virus in the last week. Two of those players were only found to be positive after they had joined up with their national teams.

Two more Hoffenheim players were withdrawn from their national teams as a precaution despite testing negative.

8:11 a.m. Taking care of an infant while juggling work as a freelance writer would be stressful enough in a normal year. Add in the additional stress of the , and 39-year-old Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey feels much older.

“I feel old physically — backaches and stuff. And by the time my baby is in bed at 7:30 pm, I feel ready to go to bed myself!” she said.

Although Dempsey feels lucky to live in northwestern Ontario, where cases are relatively low, her extended family lives elsewhere and COVID-19 restrictions mean she hasn’t received the kind of support she would have normally.

People as young as in their twenties have told the Star they were initially shocked to discover streaks of grey in their hair, but once they thought more about it, they weren’t surprised.

8:06 a.m. Two weddings in late October and related events have been linked to at least 17 confirmed positive tests for COVID-19, according to York Region Public Health.

The weddings occurred Oct. 28 and 30 at venues in Vaughan. Related activities occurred in other municipalities in private residences. The case total was based on reports until Nov. 10.

Of the confirmed cases, York Region residents account for 12, and five are Toronto residents. Between the two weddings, 12 cases attended a pre-event for the Oct. 28 wedding and 16 attended the ceremony for the Oct. 30 wedding. Nine of the cases attended both wedding ceremonies, according to public health.

In the case of the Oct. 28 wedding, a pre-wedding event attended by approximately 14 people was held at a private household in Markham. Public health says attendees did not observe sufficient physical distancing and masking protocols.

Attendees are considered at high risk of exposure.

Additionally, a post-wedding event attended by 10 people at a Markham residence is considered high risk.

The wedding ceremony was held at the Chateau le Jardin, 8440 York Regional Road 27, Vaughan, and attended by between 130 and 140 people. The risk of exposure there is considered low.

A pre-wedding event for the Oct. 30 wedding was attended by an unknown number of participants at a household in Ajax in which physical distancing and masking protocols were not observed. The event is considered a high risk for exposure.

The wedding ceremony was held at Paradise Banquet Hall, 7601 Jane St. Approximately 130 attendees are considered at low risk of exposure.

There was no post-wedding event.

York Region residents in attendance will be contacted by York Region Public Health.

Individuals who attended only the ceremony for either or both weddings are considered to have a low risk exposure to COVID-19.

7:52 a.m. A Norfolk county farm fired a migrant worker and tried to send him back to Mexico as reprisal for raising concerns about a massive COVID-19 outbreak, the provincial labour board has found — a historic ruling highlighting the power imbalance between seasonal labourers and their employers.

In a decision issued earlier this week, the Ontario Labour Relations Board said Scotlynn Growers broke the law when it terminated Gabriel Flores Flores shortly after he spoke out about poor living and working conditions at the farm. Some 199 migrant workers at the multimillion-dollar operation tested positive for , including Flores himself. His bunkmate died from the virus.

It is illegal to terminate or discipline any worker for raising health and safety issues. But advocates have long argued that it is difficult for temporary foreign workers to enforce this protection because they do not have permanent residency and can be sent back to their home countries for almost any reason. Flores’s lawyer John No said he believes this week’s ruling is a first for the province’s migrant farm workers.

7:48 a.m. India reported 47,905 new cases of coronavirus infection, with New Delhi setting another daily record Thursday.

The surge of 8,593 cases in the nation’s capital is the highest for any major Indian city and comes as people crowd shopping areas ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Saturday.

Deaths, too, are climbing again, with 85 in New Delhi in the past 24 hours. Deaths are a lagging indicator of the virus due to long periods of illness and medical treatment.

Overall, India’s new cases held steady. The Health Ministry reported 550 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities to 128,121.

7:46 a.m. The Serbian soccer federation says defender Luka Milivojevic has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the European Championship playoff match against Scotland.

The federation says the 29-year-old Crystal Palace defender left the squad’s training ground near Belgrade and put himself in isolation.

7:44 a.m. Loblaw Companies Ltd. raised its dividend as its third-quarter profit and sales climbed higher compared with a year ago and topped expectations.

The grocery and drug store retailer says it will now pay a quarterly dividend of 33.5 cents per share, up from 31.5 cents per share.

The increased payment came as Loblaw reported a profit attributable to common shareholders of $342 million or 96 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 3, up from $331 million or 90 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

Revenue for what was a 16-week period totalled $15.67 billion, up from nearly $14.66 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. Food retail same-store sales gained 6.9 per cent in the quarter, while drug retail same-store sales climbed 6.1 per cent.

On an adjusted basis, Loblaw says it earned $464 million or $1.30 per diluted share, up from an adjusted profit of $458 million or $1.25 per diluted share a year ago.

Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of $1.26 per share and $15.6 billion in revenue, according financial data firm Refinitiv.

6:10 a.m.: Dozens of hospital workers have , demanding more medical staff be hired as the country struggles to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus that has led to a new lockdown being imposed.

An increase in the number of people seriously ill with COVID-19 has led the country’s health system to come under increasing pressure. As of Wednesday night, Greece had a total of 1,104 intensive care unit beds, of which 496 were set aside for COVID-19 patients. Of those, 335 are already occupied.

The government has stressed it has massively increased the country’s intensive care capacity, noting there were a total of just over 500 ICU beds in Greece when it came to power after elections in mid-2019.

6:02 a.m.: The majority of Canadians are aware of the public health risk of COVID-19, but 15 per cent say they don’t believe the virus poses a big health risk to the population or are undecided, according to a new survey by Morneau Shepell.

The findings have raised questions among public health experts about how to address those who don’t believe in the seriousness of a virus that has killed more than 10,000 Canadians, and whether their skepticism poses a risk as COVID-19 cases rise at an unprecedented rate.

In a survey of 3,000 workers across Canada conducted Sept. 28 to Oct. 19, focused on COVID and its mental health impacts, 86 per cent of respondents agreed the virus is a serious public health risk. Six per cent said they do not, and eight per cent said they were undecided.

6:01 a.m.: Taking care of an infant while juggling work as a freelance writer would be stressful enough in a normal year. Add in the additional stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 39-year-old Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey feels much older.

“I feel old physically — backaches and stuff. And by the time my baby is in bed at 7:30 pm, I feel ready to go to bed myself!” she said.

Although Dempsey feels lucky to live in northwestern Ontario, where cases are relatively low, her extended family lives elsewhere and COVID-19 restrictions mean she hasn’t received the kind of support she would have normally.

People as young as in their twenties have told the Star they were initially shocked to discover streaks of grey in their hair, but once they thought more about it, they weren’t surprised.

6 a.m.: Texas on Wednesday became the first state with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and as a surge of coronavirus infections engulfs the country.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said all restaurants, bars and gyms statewide will have to close at 10 p.m. starting Friday, a major retreat in a corner of the U.S. that had seemingly brought the virus largely under control months ago. He also barred private gatherings of more than 10 people.

Texas, the second-most populous state, has recorded 1.02 million coronavirus cases and over 19,000 deaths since the outbreak began in early March, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. California, the most populous state, has logged more than 995,000 cases.

The U.S. has recorded over 240,000 deaths and more than 10.3 million confirmed infections, with new cases soaring to all-time highs of well over 120,000 per day over the past week. Health experts have blamed the increase in part on the onset of cold weather and growing frustration with mask-wearing and other precautions.

5:43 a.m.: Africa’s top public health official says as infections creep up again in parts of the continent of 1.3 billion people.

John Nkengasong says “we expected it to happen” and warns that when the virus comes back for a second wave, “it seems to come back with a lot of full force.”

The African continent is approaching 2 million confirmed cases, with just over 1.9 million now including more than 45,000 deaths.

5 a.m.: Italy, which shocked the world and itself when hospitals in the wealthy north were overwhelmed with coronavirus cases last spring,

The Italian doctors federation called this week for a nationwide lockdown to forestall a collapse of the medical system, marked by the closure of non-emergency procedures. The government is facing tougher criticism than in the spring, when the health crisis was met with an outpouring of solidarity.

As of Wednesday, 52 per cent of Italy’s hospital beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, above the 40 per cent warning threshold set by the Health Ministry. Nine of Italy’s 21 regions and autonomous provinces are already securely in the red-alert zone, above 50 per cent virus occupancy, with Lombardy at 75 per cent, Piedmont at 92 per cent and South Tyrol at an astonishing 99 per cent.

4:17 a.m.: Germany’s health minister is cautioning that restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus are likely to last through the winter as numbers of new infections remain high.

Health Minister Jens Spahn told RBB radio on Thursday that large Christmas parties or other social gatherings of more than 10 to 15 people are not likely to be feasible.

“We have to manage together to get through this winter overall with lower numbers,” he said.

The country’s disease control centre, the Robert Koch Institute, reported 21,866 new infections overnight, down about 1,500 from a record set on the weekend but still stubbornly high.

4:35 a.m.: The British economy remained nearly 10% smaller at the end of the third quarter despite posting a record bounceback in the summer, when many of the restrictions that had been placed on businesses to control the pandemic were lifted. The imposition of new limits on public life in the autumn means the economy will likely end the year even smaller.

The Office for National Statistics said Thursday that the economy grew by 15.5% in the July to September period. Though that was in line with market expectations, the data shows that the recovery was already running out of steam in September, before a resurgence of the coronavirus led to the economically damaging reimposition of new restrictions.

4:02 a.m.: Today is the day to try to bring surging COVID-19 numbers back under control.

The province has been struggling to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus since it started spiking in recent weeks after a summer lull.

Gatherings are limited to five people, but the restriction does not apply to those who live in the same household.

Churches can’t hold in-person services and non-essential stores and restaurants are limited to curbside pickup and delivery.

Bars, museums and theatres are closed and recreational activities suspended, although schools remain open.

The province reported 5,676 active cases on Wednesday, the deadliest day of the pandemic for Manitoba, with nine new deaths for a total of 123.

4:01 a.m.: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will face questions today from senators scrutinizing the government’s latest bid to provide pandemic aid to hard-hit businesses.

Freeland is scheduled to testify early this afternoon to the Senate’s national finance committee that is reviewing the aid bill, known as C-9.

The House of Commons agreed last week to pass the proposed package of measures quickly, but none can be enacted until the Senate passes it as well.

4 a.m.: The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 7:01 p.m. EST on Nov. 11, 2020:

There are 277,061 confirmed cases in Canada.

_ Quebec: 118,529 confirmed (including 6,515 deaths, 100,564 resolved)

_ Ontario: 88,209 confirmed (including 3,275 deaths, 74,303 resolved)

_ Alberta: 35,545 confirmed (including 383 deaths, 26,407 resolved)

_ British Columbia: 19,239 confirmed (including 284 deaths, 13,704 resolved)

_ Manitoba: 9,308 confirmed (including 123 deaths, 3,509 resolved)

_ Saskatchewan: 4,326 confirmed (including 29 deaths, 2,934 resolved)

_ Nova Scotia: 1,134 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,049 resolved)

_ New Brunswick: 355 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 332 resolved)

_ Newfoundland and Labrador: 298 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 287 resolved)

_ Prince Edward Island: 68 confirmed (including 64 resolved)

_ Yukon: 23 confirmed (including 1 death, 22 resolved)

_ Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

_ Northwest Territories: 11 confirmed (including 10 resolved)

_ Nunavut: 3 confirmed

_ Total: 277,061 (0 presumptive, 277,061 confirmed including 10,685 deaths, 223,199 resolved)

2:21 a.m.: Turkey’s interior ministry has across the country to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement late Wednesday, the ministry said smoking would be banned in busy streets, bus stops and public squares when necessary. It said the nationwide mask mandate in public spaces, which has been in effect for several months, must be followed at all times and smokers were routinely violating the mask rule.

The ministry also said provinces can decide to impose curfews on senior citizens above the age of 65 if they are seeing increases in the number of critical patients. The governors of Istanbul and Ankara have already reintroduced measures this week, allowing senior citizens to leave their homes only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

qzyczew

Today’s coronavirus news: Ontario reports 998 COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths, 68 new cases in schools; Ontario budget lays out next stage of COVID-19 response

Oct 7, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The latest news from Canada and around the world Thursday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.

7 p.m.: Alberta is announcing another record-breaking day of new COVID-19 cases, according to The Canadian Press.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the Province’s chief medical health officer, says there are about 800 new infections, CP reports.

However, because of technical problems, she doesn’t have an exact number, Hinshaw said.

The previous one-day record of 622 cases was reported last Friday.

Hinshaw said she will be able to provide detailed figures tomorrow, and the rise in cases is “extremely concerning.”

6:19 p.m.: There have been 251,334 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 10,381 deaths, and 207,996 that have been resolved, according to The Canadian Press.

This breaks down as follows (NOTE: The Star does its own count for Ontario; see elsewhere this file.):

  • Quebec: 111,056 confirmed (including 6,378 deaths, 94,884 resolved)
  • Ontario: 80,690 confirmed (including 3,195 deaths, 69,137 resolved)
  • Alberta: 30,447 confirmed (including 343 deaths, 23,874 resolved)
  • British Columbia: 16,560 confirmed (including 273 deaths, 12,806 resolved)
  • Manitoba: 7,177 confirmed (including 91 deaths, 2,920 resolved)
  • Saskatchewan: 3,536 confirmed (including 25 deaths, 2,634 resolved)
  • Nova Scotia: 1,119 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,036 resolved)
  • New Brunswick: 347 confirmed (including six deaths, 313 resolved)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: 292 confirmed (including four deaths, 285 resolved)
  • Prince Edward Island: 64 confirmed, all of which have been resolved
  • Yukon: 23 confirmed (including one death, 20 resolved)
  • Repatriated Canadians account for 13 confirmed cases, all of which have been resolved
  • Northwest Territories: 10 confirmed, all of which have been resolved
  • Nunavut reports no confirmed cases.

3 p.m.: A British Columbia man has been charged with three counts of violating the Quarantine Act, The Canadian Press reports.

Police in New Westminster say the man repeatedly left his home after returning from a trip to the United States late last month, according to CP.

Police say the man had been advised of the mandatory requirement to isolate for 14 days and was issued a ticket for defying the provision, but was arrested Monday for continued violations of the act.

Makhan Singh Parhar, 47, is being held in custody and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 16.

2:45 p.m.: Jury trials are set to resume in several Ontario cities.

The Superior Court of Justice says selection of jurors and jury hearings will start Monday in Ottawa.

The same will happen a week later in Toronto, Brampton and Newmarket.

The chief justice of the court cites Ontario’s new COVID-19 rules in the affected areas.

Some capacity and social distancing limits will stay in effect.

However, the justice says court staff must be flexible in accommodating those who may not be comfortable attending in-person.

2:30 p.m.: The Quebec government that have closed gyms, restaurants and other businesses in much of the province, Premier Francois Legault said Thursday.

The comments came after the province’s opposition parties demanded the government release a document from Montreal’s health authority that is calling for gyms, museums and libraries to reopen.

“The risk of gatherings is too great at this moment,” Legault said told a news conference in Quebec City.

With 261 new COVID-19 cases reported in Montreal on Thursday, Legault said “the battle” has not yet been won in the city. However, the premier said the government will be reviewing its restrictions to allow more people to meet one-on-one.

Currently, only people who live alone are allowed to have guests, and they can only host one person at a time.

1:50 p.m. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is dropping the idea of a curfew to limit late-night socializing and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Instead, the provincial government is adding enforcement officers to enforce public health orders, running new advertisements and urging people to call a government tip line to report violators.

The province is reporting 426 new cases and four additional deaths.

1:30 p.m. The Manitoba government is adding to its list of people who are enforcing public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Brian Pallister says fire safety inspectors, motor carrier enforcement officers and municipal bylaw officers will help apply the rules.

He says that will raise the total number of enforcers to more than 3,200.

The province has cracked down following a spike in COVID-19 cases with rules that include a limit of five people for public gatherings.

Winnipeg police said this week they are prepared to start going to people’s homes to enforce that measure if they receive a complaint.

1:05 p.m. New Brunswick is easing restrictions in the Campbellton region due to what public health officials describe as a downward trend in the number of cases.

The region in the north of the province will be downgraded from orange to yellow level at midnight tonight.

The measure allows residents to meet in person with close friends and extended family, eases visitor restrictions for vulnerable settings and raises gathering limits, as long as distancing is maintained and masks are worn in indoor public places.

The New Brunswick government is reporting two new cases today in the Fredericton region, both among people aged 30 to 39 who are self-isolating.

12:40 p.m. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting two new cases of COVID-19.

Health officials say both are travel-related, and both are residents of the province who returned home from work in Alberta, though the cases are unrelated.

One case is a man between 20 and 39 years old, and the other is a man in his 50s.

The province has had 294 confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic, with five cases active today.

12:05 p.m. Nova Scotia is reporting one new case of COVID-19, bringing the province’s total number of active cases to 18. Health officials say the new case was recorded in the province’s central zone and is under investigation. As of today, Nova Scotia has recorded 1,119 positive cases, 65 deaths and 1,036 cases that are considered recovered.

11:15 a.m. Quebec is reporting 1,138 new cases of COVID-19 and 28 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, 10 of which occurred in the past 24 hours. Health authorities say hospitalizations decreased by one compared with the prior day, to 538, and 82 people were in intensive care, a rise of one. The province conducted 27,326 COVID-19 tests Nov. 3, the last day for which testing data is available. Quebec has reported a total of 111,056 COVID-19 infections and 6,378 deaths linked to the virus.

11:09 a.m. Ontario is reporting an additional 68 new cases in public schools across the province, bringing the total in the last two weeks to 897 and 2,543 overall since school began.

, the province reported 37 more students were infected for a total of 512 in the last two weeks; since school began there have been an overall total of 1,435.

The data shows there are seven more staff members infected for a total of 78 in the last two weeks — and an overall total of 320.

The latest report also shows 24 more infected individuals who weren’t identified for a total of 307 in that category in the last two weeks.

There are 580 schools with a reported case, which the province notes is 12 per cent of the 4,828 public schools in Ontario.

One school is closed because of an outbreak. Elder’s Mills Public School, a French-immersion elementary school in Woodbridge, of COVID-19. The school is set to reopen on Nov. 11.

There is a lag between the daily provincial data at 10:30 a.m. and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data on Thursday is current as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. It also doesn’t indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

The Toronto District School Board updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day . As of 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, there were 189 TDSB schools with at least one active case — 263 students and 66 staff.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board also updates its information . As of Wednesday at 2:55 p.m., there were 110 schools with at least one confirmed case — 88 students and 17 staff.

Epidemiologists have that the rising numbers in the schools aren’t a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID that is in the community.

10:40 a.m. Quebec’s opposition parties are demanding the government release a document from Montreal’s health authority that is calling for gyms, museums and libraries to reopen.

The document, obtained by Radio-Canada, says maintaining the partial lockdown in the city risks causing serious health issues for the population.

Quebec solidaire today called on the government to release the brief while the Parti Quebecois said the province should act on the recommendations contained in it.

The Official Opposition Liberals say the government should take a decision on the document’s recommendations and explain itself clearly to the public.

Most of Quebec has been moved to the highest pandemic-alert level, under which gyms, bars and entertainment venues are closed and gatherings are banned.

Montreal’s public health authority is suggesting gyms, libraries and museums be reopened and that restrictions on outdoor and indoor gatherings be eased.

(UPDATED) 10:10 a.m. Ontario is reporting another 998 cases and 13 deaths in its morning update, with 35,754 completed tests. The seven-day case average is up to a new high of 982 cases/day. The seven-day average for deaths is up to a second-wave high of 11.0 deaths/day. Ontario is reporting 998 new cases of COVID-19 today and 13 more deaths related to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 350 new cases in Toronto, 269 in Peel Region and 71 in York Region.

She says 948 cases were reported as resolved since the last daily report.

Ontario is reporting 381 patients in hospital due to COVID-19, 86 in intensive care, and 48 on a ventilator.

The province says that there were 68 new cases in publicly funded schools — 37 of those were among students, seven in staff, and 24 unspecified.

8:50 a.m. A version of influenza that’s only had 27 confirmed human cases worldwide since 2005 has appeared in Alberta — prompting an investigation by health officials.

The case of H1N2, which is a first for Canada, was detected in mid-October after a patient sought medical care while experiencing flu-like symptoms, according to a statement from officials Wednesday.

The person had mild symptoms, was tested and has recovered.

Although the case was detected at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has global health anxieties at a fever pitch — timing one observer Wednesday called “pretty unlucky” — experts say the appearance of the rare virus in Alberta does not signal a new public health threat.

8:47 a.m. With Torontonians poised to resume mingling in reopened bars, restaurants and gyms, public health officials are returning to full tracing of all contacts of everyone infected with in the city.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s public health chief, told reporters Wednesday the “scaling up” of efforts to identify everyone with the virus, and get them to isolate, is vital as the provincial order halting indoor dining and gym visits expires Nov. 14.

The order expires Nov. 7 for the other hot spots, Peel and York regions and Ottawa. Facing rising daily infection numbers that hit a record 427 on Tuesday, Toronto asked Premier Doug Ford’s government before reopening.

Lifting restrictions will increase mingling and infections, de Villa said, and her goal is to have as many safeguards as possible to prevent a disastrous increase in spread.

8:46 a.m. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 751,000, a still-historically high level that shows that many employers keep cutting jobs in the face of the accelerating pandemic.

A surge in viral cases and Congress’ failure so far to provide more aid for struggling individuals and businesses are threatening to deepen Americans’ economic pain. Eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, weekly jobless claims still point to a stream of layoffs. Before the virus struck in March, the weekly figure had remained below 300,000 for more than five straight years.

Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive traditional unemployment benefits declined to 7.3 million. That figure shows that some of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs or are finding new ones. But it also indicates that many jobless Americans have used up their state unemployment aid — which typically expires after six months — and have transitioned to a federal extended benefits program that lasts an additional 13 weeks.

8:21 a.m. Only nine intensive care beds were available at one point in the Twin Cities Wednesday morning amid a surge in the COVID-19 pandemic that is sending more Minnesotans into hospitals.

Metro ICU bed space grew scarce Tuesday due to the number of nurses and other caregivers who were unavailable because of their own infections or viral exposures that required quarantines. Episodic shortages have occurred in central Minnesota and other parts of the state.

“We’re at a red alert for ICU beds,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. “It’s bad.”

A record 908 inpatient hospital beds in Minnesota were filled with COVID-19 patients, according to Wednesday’s update of the state pandemic response dashboard. That includes 203 patients requiring intensive care due to breathing problems or complications from infections with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

While COVID-19 ICU admissions have nearly doubled since early October, patients with the infectious disease make up only 18% of total ICU usage. Among all 1,140 patients in Minnesota ICU beds, the majority are recovering from surgeries or being treated for unrelated issues such as strokes and traumatic injuries.

The dashboard shows that Minnesota has a capacity of roughly 1,500 immediately available ICU beds — with another 400 or so that could be readied within 72 hours — but one Twin Cities hospital physician said that overstates availability because open beds are useless without nursing staff to treat patients.

6:08 a.m.: Indonesia’s economy has fallen into recession for the first time since the Asian financial crisis more than two decades ago as the country struggles to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Statistics Indonesia, the central statistics agency, said Thursday that Southeast Asia’s largest economy contracted at a 3.5% annual pace in July-September, the second consecutive quarterly contraction.

The economy shrank at a 5.32% pace in the previous quarter and grew 2.9% in January-March, its slowest rate in almost two decades.

Indonesia has reported more than 425,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the largest in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to India’s 8.3 million confirmed cases.

4:15 a.m.: Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is set to unveil its first pandemic-era budget today.

The province has said the budget will lay out the details of the

That includes the new standard for long-term care announced earlier this week, which would see nursing home residents receive an average of four hours of direct care every day.

The Tories put off delivering a full fiscal plan earlier this year, citing the economic uncertainty caused by the global health crisis.

The fiscal update it gave in March instead initially included $17 billion in COVID-19 relief, though that projection was updated to $30 billion by the end of 2020-21.

The province also originally predicted a deficit of $20.5 billion, which was later raised to $38.5 billion because of the added spending.

4 a.m.: The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4 a.m. EST on Nov. 5, 2020:

There are 248,218 confirmed cases in Canada.

_ Quebec: 109,918 confirmed (including 6,350 deaths, 94,101 resolved)

_ Ontario: 79,692 confirmed (including 3,182 deaths, 68,189 resolved)

_ Alberta: 30,447 confirmed (including 343 deaths, 23,874 resolved)

_ British Columbia: 16,135 confirmed (including 273 deaths, 12,659 resolved)

_ Manitoba: 6,751 confirmed (including 87 deaths, 2,892 resolved)

_ Saskatchewan: 3,408 confirmed (including 25 deaths, 2,584 resolved)

_ Nova Scotia: 1,118 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,034 resolved)

_ New Brunswick: 347 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 313 resolved)

_ Newfoundland and Labrador: 292 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 285 resolved)

_ Prince Edward Island: 64 confirmed (including 64 resolved)

_ Yukon: 23 confirmed (including 1 death, 20 resolved)

_ Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

_ Northwest Territories: 10 confirmed (including 9 resolved)

_ Nunavut: No confirmed cases

_ Total: 248,218 (0 presumptive, 248,218 confirmed including 10,336 deaths, 206,037 resolved)

2 a.m.: India’s coronavirus outbreak rose by more than 50,000 cases Thursday amid a surging third wave of infections in the capital.

The Health Ministry also reported another 704 fatalities in the past 24 hours across the country, raising India’s overall death toll to 124,315.

Nerves are frayed in New Delhi after it reported a record 6,842 new cases in the past 24 hours. Its Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, had admitted Wednesday that the city was going through a third wave of infections. It has more than 37,000 active cases.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

— Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen and four Cabinet ministers were in quarantine Thursday after they met with Hungary’s foreign minister the same day he tested positive for the coronavirus.

— China is suspending entry for most foreign passport holders resident in Britain in response to rising COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom. The suspension covers those holding visas or residence permits issued prior to Nov. 3, with exceptions for diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas.

Previously: for daily confirmed coronavirus cases as several states posted all-time highs.

Daily new confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surged 45% over the past two weeks, to a record seven-day average of 86,352, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths are also on the rise, up 15% to an average of 846 deaths every day.

The total U.S. death toll is already more than 232,000, and total confirmed U.S. cases have surpassed 9 million. Those are the highest totals in the world, and new infections are increasing in nearly every state.

qzyczew

COVID-19 vaccines pose new transportation challenges. Canadian innovators are stepping up

Oct 6, 2021 , , , , by shlf

OTTAWA —One week. Two vaccines heralding promise. Maybe three more months before COVID-19 vaccine jabs could start being delivered to somewhere in Canada.

Canada took another step toward that milestone Monday when the federal government announced the names of four main bidders who have been selected to compete for the contracts to deliver a vaccine or vaccines — once approved by Health Canada — to Canadians.

On Monday, the Canadian military also flagged that it is now on standby to help.

And meanwhile, just as happened in the spring, Canadian companies and innovators with outside-the-box solutions are stepping up to offer to help in Ottawa’s looming dilemma of how to store, transport and distribute potentially more than 70 million vaccine doses that have unique cold storage requirements.

The two front-runner vaccine candidates that have reported promising early results are developed by Pfizer and Moderna.

Pfizer’s potential vaccine needs “ultracold” storage at -80C. Moderna’s requires -20 C for long-term shipping and storage but remains stable at 2 C to 8 C, the temperature of a standard home or medical refrigerator, for up to 30 days. Moderna says that allows for storage at most pharmacies, hospitals or physicians’ offices. Once the vaccine is removed from the refrigerator for administration, the company says it can be kept at room temperature conditions for up to 12 hours.

Flavio Volpe, head of Canada’s auto supply manufacturers association, quietly cast around last week for creative solutions to the “ultracold” freezer puzzle. Then he went public, posting on Twitter that he was trying to crowdsource ideas for Ottawa’s decision-makers. He’d done the same thing last spring when a shortage of personal protective equipment and ventilators became apparent in the first wave.

“In the end, we may not be able to help here, but if we can help people get a vaccine within a month, two months, 10 months or more before things would happen naturally, why wouldn’t we?” Volpe said in an interview. “We all have a stake in getting things back to normal.”

Almost immediately, his call was answered.

Texts and emails landed from a range of companies: auto suppliers that make specialized Styrofoam that could be used for dry-ice containers; companies that already make high-grade Styrofoam containers for the delicate shipping of organs for transplant; companies that manage the shipping and transport of frozen agricultural products like bull semen; and companies that make compressors and condensers, and are investigating whether they can be upgraded and adapted.

Jim Estill of Danby Appliances tweeted back his company is making -80 C freezers. “How many do you want?” he asked.

Reached Monday, Estill said his company is about to roll out a new ultracold freezer, developed in the past 90 days, that will cost an estimated $10,000 apiece.

Estill is talking to the companies aiming to lead the distribution effort. “None of them make freezers. We make freezers. So they need freezers — that’s the bottom line.

“What we don’t know yet is how they’re planning on distributing it,” said Estill. “Are they going to put everything in Toronto and then shoot it out to London from there or are they going to put one in every hospital, one in every pharmacy?

“The logistics of getting everything around, this is going to be the next crisis, to get this done.”

In Victoria, Peter Evans heads up CryoLogistics Refrigeration Technologies Ltd. which has developed a large vacuum-insulated freezer container that runs on liquid carbon dioxide, can hold a pallet-full of product, and keep it frozen or chilled without having to be plugged in to a power supply or generator. His company is also in the running to subcontract as a supplier to the companies seeking to distribute the vaccine.

The technology for the “SnowShip Sytem” has been in development for about four years, and the company is about to begin commercial production. Evans believes it can provide a solution for some of the delivery challenges COVID-19 vaccines pose.

The container operates by converting liquid carbon dioxide to a solid within the container, generating dry ice. It can do the conversion at a steady, predictable rate, and can be programmed to reach the temperature required by whatever product is stored inside, temperatures from the 2 C to 8 C degree range down to -70 C or -80 C. “We were not thinking COVID when we developed our product,” he said. Now they are.

Evans said the federal and provincial governments and the companies vying to provide the logistics for the operation are looking to scale quickly.

“Nobody really knows what this is going to look like,” he said. “We’re looking to scale the production of these things rapidly if the need arises, and if there’s contracts, obviously we’re going to make it work.”

“We’ve got a few weeks to map this out.”

With files from Kieran Leavitt

Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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Ontario won’t extend Christmas break for schools despite COVID-19 surge

Oct 4, 2021 , , , , by shlf

A day after for Ontario’s schools because of COVID-19, Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the government doesn’t see the need for such a move.

The decision follows consultations with chief medical officer Dr. David Williams and the province’s table of experts on public health measures, Lecce said Wednesday.

He noted 84 per cent of schools have no cases of the virus despite rising levels of COVID-19 across Ontario, which prompted Premier Doug Ford to repeat a warning that lockdowns could be coming to the hot spots of Toronto, Peel and York.

“An extended winter holiday is not necessary at this time, given Ontario’s strong safety protocols, low levels of transmission and safety within our schools,” Lecce said in a statement.

“Our schools have been remarkably successful at minimizing outbreaks to ensure that our kids stay safe and learning in their classrooms.”

A pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa said Lecce made the right call but warned high levels of community spread remain a threat.

“Most of the transmission events are outside of the school setting so shutting down schools wouldn’t address those areas of concern,” Dr. Nisha Thampi told the Star, crediting the screening process for students and teachers for keeping case levels down.

Schools only need to be closed if they are experiencing “uncontrolled transmission,” Thampi added. “It really depends on the dynamics of the community.”

Lecce’s announcement came, however, as it was revealed that a child and youth worker at the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s St. Frances de Sales school in North York died from COVID-19.

New Democrat MPP Marit Stiles (Davenport) said families feel whipsawed by the mixed messages from the government in the space of 24 hours.

“What changed from yesterday to today?” the education critic asked. “This is exhausting for parents.”

Stiles added there remains a risk to schools as new infections of COVID-19 increase by more than 1,000 a day, increasing the odds infections will infiltrate deeper into schools.

“We have cases in this province skyrocketing,” she said, calling for a cap of 15 students per class and less crowding on school buses.

Shortly after Lecce floated the idea of a longer Christmas break on Tuesday, Ford poured cold water on it, saying, “I don’t want to jump the gun here … it may not happen.”

Stiles said that raises the question of whether Ford is overriding scientific advice from Williams.

The premier denied that.

“What’s changed? He (Lecce) put his plan in front of the health (advisory) table. Dr. Williams said no,” Ford told his daily news conference Wednesday.

“The safest place … is in the schools,” he added, crediting the government’s system of cohorting students and requiring masks is keeping infections at bay.

“So far, knock wood, it’s working fairly well.”

Lecce said officials will keep close watch on cases in schools, which reported 109 new infections in students and staff, and cases now in 670 of 4,828 schools. Three were closed because of outbreaks, an increase of two from the previous day.

To date, there have been 3,626 cases in students and staff in schools.

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter:

qzyczew

Provincewide Alert Ready test scheduled for Nov. 25

Oct 1, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Mobile phones, radios and televisions across Ontario will ring out with the Alert Ready alarm at 12:55 p.m. on Nov. 25 as Canada’s public alerting system undergoes a nation-wide routine test.

Pelmorex — the company that developed Alert Ready in collaboration with federal, provincial and territorial government agencies, broadcasters and wireless service providers — said tests are an opportunity to improve the performance and reliability of the system and ensure it operates the way it should in the event of a real, life-threatening emergency. 

Alert Ready was launched in 2015 to deliver urgent and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians about emergencies such as tornadoes, flooding, fires and child abductions. So far in 2020, Ontario has received 78 alerts, including nine for civil emergencies, two for radiological hazards, five Amber alerts, 60 tornado warnings and two wildfire warnings.

“Pelmorex receives alerts from authorized alert issuers who consist of provincial, territorial and federal authorities, and makes those alerts available to alert distributors, which include television, radio, satellite, cable and wireless service providers,” Martin Belanger, director of public alerting at Pelmorex, said in a media release.

Because it is considered an essential and life-saving service, Ontarians, like everyone else in Canada, do not have the ability to opt-out of Alert Ready.

For more information, visit . To fill out a survey on Nov. 25 to indicate whether or not you received the alert, visit .

qzyczew

ATV driver faces fine for riding on Springwater road with 2-year-old passenger

Oct 1, 2021 , , , , by shlf

An ATV driver riding along a Springwater road faces a fine after police stopped an adult with a two-year-old passenger on the back on Oct. 25.

The ATV driver was pulled over during a patrol of Simcoe County Forest trails by OPP officers and Central Ontario ATV club trail wardens.

Riding an ATV on a highway with a child under age eight as a passenger carries a $325 fine under the Highway Traffic Act.

Police and trail wardens were also able to help a 33-year-old woman who had injured her arm when she crashed her dirt bike on one of the trails. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Four ATV drivers were fined $215 each for not having the required $103 permits to use trails designated for off-road use. Riding in undesignated areas also carries a $215 fine.

Trail permits can be purchased from OFATV and OFTR. For details, refer to or call .

 

qzyczew

City council approves new COVID-19 limits on bars, restaurants amid pandemic’s second wave

Sep 29, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Council has unanimously passed new rules for Toronto during theas a second wave continues to concern officials.

The rules include reducing the number of people allowed in restaurants and bars at one time from 100 to 75 and requiring everyone visiting those places to provide contact information instead of just one person in the party as was previously the case. Table sizes both indoors and outdoors will also be reduced from 10 to six people.

The changes further limit eating and drinking establishments that are subject to provincial emergency orders, with Toronto cases making up more than half of the new daily cases in the province this week.

The vote, which saw little debate among members, follows as the number of new cases in the city neared 400 on Monday.

Restaurants and bars should also limit background music and TVs to no louder than normal conversations to avoid people having to shout to be heard, increasing the risk of virus transmission.

Other existing measures, including requirements for apartments and condos to provide hand sanitizer in building common areas, were extended to 2021.

Mayor John Tory also introduced additional measures ahead of the meeting that were approved by council.

Those included asking staff to “explore” how to support the restaurant industry with winter patios and asking the province to extend rules for liquor sales with takeout and delivery and to pause commercial evictions.

“I am committed to doing everything possible as a city government to help restaurants and other businesses that are hard hit by the public health measures, whatever they might be,” Tory said at a press conference ahead of the council meeting, adding he expected council to be united on new measures recommended by de Villa.

Coun. Joe Cressy, chair of the board of health, also had a successful motion to ask the medical officer of health to consider “any additional measures” required to prevent virus spread, including but not limited to restricting businesses, social gatherings and enhancing screening.

And Coun. Frances Nunziata, council’s speaker, asked staff responsible for enforcement to review existing resources and opportunities for reallocation and report to executive committee.

Meanwhile, the city announced Tuesday it would extend road closures under its popular into October to allow for social distancing for pedestrians and cyclists. That includes upcoming closures this weekend on Lake Shore Boulevard and Bayview Avenue.

The city also announced in a press release it would make changes to access to its 10 long-term-care homes, restricting outside visitors to those deemed “essential” — those visiting a person who is very ill or palliative — and essential caregivers who provide direct support to residents. Virtual visits will continue.

Earlier on Wednesday, council also endorsed an action plan and shelter strategy, asking the provincial and federal government to contribute to the building of 3,000 affordable rental and supportive homes in the next 24 months to address the housing crisis in the midst of the pandemic.

Jennifer Pagliaro is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

qzyczew

Loaded rifle seized after Orillia gun sightings

Sep 28, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Police seized a loaded rifle and charged a Scarborough teen with firearms offenses after responding to a gun sighting in the city’s north end.

Shortly after 11 p.m. on Oct. 23, Orillia OPP received a report that one of several males walking together in the area of Victoria Park was carrying a long gun.

It was then reported that the male may have thrown away the gun and fled the area, police said.

A second caller reported that four males had run out of a residence on Coldwater Road and that one was carrying a rifle.

Officers responded immediately, locating and seizing a .22-calibre rifle.

“It was loaded,” Const. Ted Dongelmans told Simcoe.com.  

A male who matched a detailed description of the suspect was located a short distance away, OPP said.

A 19-year-old Scarborough man was arrested and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm and possession of weapon for dangerous purpose.

The investigation is continuing.

“The circumstances surrounding why he (allegedly) had a gun or what may have transpired prior to that are not known,” Dongelmans said


qzyczew

Today’s coronavirus news: U.S. sets another record for daily COVID-19 cases; Toronto to resume contact tracing; Ford defends new COVID-19 restrictions system

Sep 28, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The latest news from Canada and around the world Wednesday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.

8:04 p.m.: The United States set another record for daily confirmed coronavirus cases as several states posted all-time highs, underscoring the vexing issue confronting the winner of the presidential race.

The surging cases and hospitalizations happening around the country reflect the challenge either President Donald Trump or former Vice-President Joe Biden will face in the coming months.

Public health experts fear potentially dire consequences, at least in the short term.

Daily new confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surged 45% over the past two weeks, to a record seven-day average of 86,352, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths are also on the rise, up 15% to an average of 846 deaths every day.

The total U.S. death toll is already more than 232,000, and total confirmed U.S. cases have surpassed 9 million. Those are the highest totals in the world, and new infections are increasing in nearly every state.

7:30 p.m.: B.C.’s COVID-19 death toll has gone up again while the provincial health officer announces three new outbreaks at care facilities for seniors.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says 29 long-term or assisted-living facilities now have outbreaks, while people at two acute-care sites have also tested positive for COVID-19.

There have been 335 new cases diagnosed for a total of 16,135 and one more death.

Henry says in a statement that there’s a new community outbreak at La Casa resort in West Kelowna, while the outbreak at the Tim Hortons in Merritt has been declared over.

4:24 p.m. Four Italian regions are being , with severe limits imposed on the circumstances under which people can leave home, Premier Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday night.

What he called “very stringent” restrictions begin on Friday for Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta in the north, and for Calabria, which forms the southern toe of the Italian peninsula.

The lockdown is aimed at tamping down a surge in COVID-19 infections and preventing hospitals from being overwhelmed with cases. Lasting at least two weeks, it will involve some 16.5 million of Italy’s 60 million residents and include the country’s financial capital, Milan.

Barring very few exceptions, no one will be able to leave or enter the “red zone” regions. People there must stay home, except to go to work or shop for essentials. They can also exercise near their homes and while wearing masks.

After days of consultations with regional governors, Health Minister Roberto Speranza decided which regions received the “red-zone” designation.

“I know that these choices will mean sacrifices and difficulties, but they are the only way to bend the (contagion) curve,” he said in a statement. “United, we can do it.”

Barber shops and hair salons can stay open, although other non-essential shops in the “red zone” must close.

Less severe restrictions on movement were decided for southern Sicily and Puglia, where people will be able to leave their homes, but can’t travel between towns or regions, and cafes and restaurants can only do takeout and delivery.

While classrooms are open in the rest of Italy except for high schools, which must do remote instructions, in the “red zone,” only nursery, elementary and the first year of middle-school will still have in-class instruction.

The latest crackdown was supposed to start on Thursday, but Conte said it will begin instead on Friday to allow time to organize. Designations will be reviewed every two weeks.

He added that previously announced nationwide measures, like museum closures and an overnight curfew, would also start a day later, on Friday, and last until Dec. 3.

Conte promised that later this week his centre-left government would approve more funds to aid businesses crippled by the latest closures.

3:33 p.m.: Toronto’s medical officer of health says the city is resuming its full contact tracing program.

Dr. Eileen de Villa said Toronto’s public health unit is scaling up all of its COVID-19 infrastructure in an effort to have the city ready for the easing of restrictions on Nov. 14.

Toronto is one of four hot spots — along with Ottawa, Peel Region and York Region — currently under tighter restrictions that closed gyms, cinemas and indoor restaurant dining.

Those restrictions will lift in Peel Region and Ottawa on Saturday, but Mayor John Tory asked the province to keep Toronto’s restrictions in place for an additional week as the city works to curb cases.

Toronto scaled back its contract tracing efforts in early October to focus on high-risk cases.

Read the full story here:

3:05 p.m.: Yukon’s chief medical health officer says the territory is investigating the source of a COVID-19 outbreak in the small community of Watson Lake.

Dr. Brendan Hanley says the overall number from that outbreak remains at five, including one person who died.

He says results from tests conducted on at least 53 people in the community of 800 have come back negative.

He says officials are confident that the outbreak is contained and that there’s no further evidence of transmission of COVID-19 in the community.

The number of confirmed cases in Yukon remains at 23, while 20 people have recovered from the infection.

2:37 p.m. Premier Doug Ford is defending Ontario’s new COVID-19 restrictions system, saying it will help the province respond early to flare ups of the virus.

The province introduced the new colour-coded system yesterday and said it would help fight the pandemic at a regional level.

Health care experts say the new system is too lenient and will lead to further community spread of the virus.

Ford dismissed the criticism today and questioned whether those observers have looked closely at the details of the new system.

He says the new system is about striking a balance between the needs of communities to reopen and protecting people from the virus.

2:05 p.m. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to three.

Officials say the newest confirmed case is a man in his 50s in the Central Health region.

The individual is a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador and tested positive for the disease after returning from work in Alberta.

The province says the man has been in self-isolation since his arrival and contract tracing is underway.

2 p.m. Manitoba is reporting 374 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths — a woman in her 80s at a Winnipeg personal care home and a woman in her 90s connected to a outbreak at St. Boniface Hospital.

Health officials say the growing numbers are putting some strain on the health-care system and a plan to expand hospital capacity will be revealed Friday.

1:05 p.m.: Provincial police say a man from French River, Ont., is facing charges after allegedly failing to quarantine after returning from a trip.

They say the 67-year-old, who lives in the community of Alban, didn’t abide by the mandatory two-week quarantine period after returning from Jamaica.

He was fined $1,255 under the Quarantine Act.

The act requires anyone entering Canada “by air, land or sea” to isolate for two weeks if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or to quarantine for the same period if they’re asymptomatic.

12:50 p.m.: Winnipeg police say they are issuing fines to people who violate indoor gathering limits.

The Manitoba government recently moved the greater Winnipeg region into a Red, or restricted, pandemic-alert category and capped gatherings at members of a household plus five people.

Const. Rob Carver says officers are prepared to penalize people who exceed the limit with $1,296 fines.

He says officers will also break up the gatherings and record names for public health contact tracing.

12:45 p.m.: Health officials in Nova Scotia have identified four new cases of COVID-19, bringing the province’s total to 1,118.

Two of the new cases involve people who travelled together outside Atlantic Canada and the other two involve household contacts of a previously reported case.

Nova Scotia is reporting 19 active cases and zero patients in hospital with the disease.

The province has reported 65 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus and 1,034 cases that are considered recovered

12:18 p.m.: New Brunswick is reporting three new cases of COVID-19.

Health officials said today all three cases are related to travel outside the Atlantic region.

The new cases involve a person in their 20s in the Saint John area, a person in their 50s in the Bathurst region, and a person in their 30s in the Miramichi region.

New Brunswick is reporting 28 active cases of COVID-19.

12:05 p.m.: Dr. Theresa Tam says severe cases of COVID-19 are likely still catching up to the recent spread of the illness.

Canada’s chief public health officer says the daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations last week across the country was about 1,200 — including 226 patients in intensive care.

She says the country’s average daily death rate over the same period was 40.

Tam said today that hospitalizations and deaths usually lag behind new diagnoses, so there’s a good chance more severe cases are on the way.

12 p.m.: A new report by researchers at the University of Toronto and Carleton University says there’s little evidence indicating the threat of fines is encouraging Canadians to follow COVID-19 rules.

Researchers Alex Luscombe and Alexander McClelland say despite the lack of evidence, provincial governments across Canada are increasingly using fines as a tool to ensure compliance.

Earlier Wednesday, Quebec Deputy Premier Genevieve Guilbault threatened to fine restaurant owners who defy the province’s partial lockdown orders that shut dining areas.

She says the government adopted a decree last week allowing police to fine customers found in businesses that had been ordered closed.

12 p.m.: Quebec reported 1,029 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and 33 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.

The province has reported a total of 109,918 cases of COVID-19 and 6,350 deaths linked to the virus.

11:50 a.m.: Public health officials say 16 cases of COVID-19 have been held at a facility in Waterloo Region.

The Region of Waterloo Public Health unit says most of the people who have tested positive are not local residents.

The health unit did not say when the event was held, or name the facility that hosted it.

Dr. Ryan Van Meer, the region’s associate medical officer of health, says the health unit is currently getting in touch with high-risk contacts of those who tested positive.

Van Meer also says the health unit is working with the facility to conduct an investigation into the outbreak.

11:18 a.m.: Denmark’s prime minister said Wednesday that the government wants to cull all minks in Danish farms, to minimize the risk of them re-transmitting the new coronavirus to humans.

Mette Frederiksen said a report from a government agency that maps the coronavirus in Denmark has shown a mutation in the virus found in 12 people in the northern part of the country who got infected by minks. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said half the 783 human COVID-19 cases in northern Denmark ”are related” to mink.

The country has registered 50,530 confirmed COVID-19 infections and 729 deaths.

11 a.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19.

Health officials said today the new case involves a man in his 50s who had travelled to Alberta.

Officials say the man has been self-isolating since his return to the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador has reported 292 total cases of COVID-19, three of which are considered active.

10:50 a.m.: Ontario is reporting an additional 116 new cases in public schools across the province, bringing the total in the last two weeks to 907 and 2,476 overall since school began.

, the province reported 81 more students were infected for a total of 527 in the last two weeks; since school began there have been an overall total of 1,399.

The data shows there are seven more staff members infected for a total of 76 in the last two weeks — and an overall total of 313.

The latest report also shows 28 more infected individuals who weren’t identified for a total of 304 in that category in the last two weeks — and an overall total of 764.

There are 581 schools with a reported case, which the province notes is 12 per cent of the 4,828 public schools in Ontario.

One school is closed because of an outbreak. Elder’s Mills Public School, a French-immersion elementary school in Woodbridge, closed Monday after seven confirmed cases of COVID-19. The school is set to reopen on Nov. 11.

There is a lag between the daily provincial data at 10:30 a.m. and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data on Wednesday is current as of 2 p.m. Tuesday. It also doesn’t indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

The Toronto District School Board updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day . As of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, there were 183 TDSB schools with at least one active case — 270 students and 60 staff.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board also updates its information . As of Wednesday at 8:40 a.m., there were 107 schools with at least one confirmed case — 86 students and 17 staff.

Epidemiologists have told the Star that the rising numbers in the schools aren’t a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID that is in the community.

10:20 a.m. (updated): Ontario is reporting another 987 COVID-19 cases Wednesday morning, up from 834 last Wednesday.

That brings the seven-day average to 972 daily, the Star’s Ed Tubb reports.

There are also 16 deaths reported, bringing the seven-day average to 10.6.

Both are new highs for the second wave.

There are 319 new cases in Toronto, 299 in Peel, 85 in York Region and 62 in Durham.

There are 945 more resolved cases and nearly 28,600 tests completed.

10:15 a.m.: With one in 10 Ontarians lacking access to high-speed internet, Finance Minister Rod Phillips’ budget will give a boost to broadband, the Star has learned.

Phillips will be in bucolic Minden with Premier Doug Ford, Infrastructure Minister Laurie Scott, and Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy on Wednesday to tout a new $680 million investment on broadband and cellular service.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing millions of people to work remotely from home, Phillips said Queen’s Park has to step up to help rural residents.

10 a.m.: Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Thailand for an official visit, Thai and Hungarian officials said Wednesday.

Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Peter Szijjarto and his 12-member delegation were tested after their arrival Tuesday from Cambodia, but only the foreign minister was found to be infected.

He said Szijjarto, who was tested twice, was sent to Thailand’s Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute for treatment pending his planned evacuation later Wednesday by plane back to his homeland. The 42-year-old foreign minister will return on one plane and the other members of his party in a separate aircraft, Anutin said.

9:22 a.m.: A decision by Canadian officials to relax border restrictions will benefit residents of a small Alaska town where the only road out of the community runs through British Columbia.

The Canadian government on Oct. 30 announced a number of exceptions to 14-day quarantine rules for some border towns including Hyder, Alaska, CoastAlaska reported Tuesday.

The town, which is separated from the rest of Alaska by mountain peaks and open water, has been restricted since March by coronavirus regulations that kept its population of about 60 residents largely cut off from their Canadian neighbours.

9:15 a.m.: The number of coronavirus cases among children in the U.S. has soared to unprecedented levels, with unknown implications, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced Monday.

By Oct. 29, more than 853,000 children had tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, the academy said. This included nearly 200,000 new cases in children during October alone — 61,000 of them during the last week of that month, larger than any previous week during the eight-month pandemic.

“This is a stark reminder of the impact this pandemic is having on everyone — including our children and adolescents,” said AAP President Dr. Sally Goza in a statement. “This virus is highly contagious, and as we see spikes in many communities, children are more likely to be infected, too.”

Children on the whole don’t seem to be affected as much as more vulnerable populations, but they can be vectors of infection to their elders and those with underlying conditions who may get more severely ill.

8:55 a.m.: Russian officials on Wednesday reported 19,768 new coronavirus infections and 389 new deaths, both the highest since the beginning of the pandemic.

Russia’s tally of confirmed coronavirus cases — currently the fourth largest in the world — is nearing 1.7 million amid a rapid resurgence of the outbreak that has been sweeping the vast country since September. The government’s coronavirus task force has also reported over 29,000 deaths since March.

Despite the number of daily new infections in Russia hitting new records every week this month, authorities have so far shunned imposing a second lockdown or shutting down businesses nationwide, insisting that the health care system is able to cope with the surge.

However, in recent weeks alarming reports have surfaced about overwhelmed hospitals, drug shortages and inundated medical workers, in a sign that Russia’s health system is under a significant strain.

8:55 a.m.: The Vatican is following Italy’s lead and will re-close the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel to the public in a bid to contain surging coronavirus infections in Europe.

The Holy See press office said the Museums, as well as the papal villa south of Rome in Castel Gandolfo and the excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica, which are usually open to the public for touring, will close Thursday through Dec. 3.

The decision follows the latest decree approved by the Italian government to shutter museums as part of broader restrictions on movement to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

The Vatican Museums, which provide a major source of revenue for the Holy See, had reopened to the public June 1 after a nearly three-month coronavirus lockdown.

8:22 a.m.: Thirsty drinkers in Englandin a pub for a month Wednesday while shoppers will get one last dose of retail therapy as the country prepares to join large swathes of Europe in lockdown as part of intensified efforts to contain the resurgent coronavirus.

Pubs, along with restaurants, hairdressers and other retailing outlets deemed to be selling non-essential items, such as books and sneakers, will have to close their doors Thursday until at least Dec. 2 following a sudden change of course last weekend by the British government. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had for weeks argued in favour of more regional strategies to contain the virus, but said he had to be “humble in the face of nature.”

British lawmakers are set to approve the latest lockdown measures later so they can take effect at midnight.

8:10 a.m.: Manitoba’s health minister after questioning a letter written by doctors about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cameron Friesen told a legislature committee he wonders about the motivation behind the letter, which he says was issued at a time when the doctors knew it would cause chaos.

The letter, signed by 200 medical doctors and scientists, said the pandemic is spiralling out of control in Manitoba because case numbers have been rising and outbreaks have been occurring at long-term care homes.

The letter also said Manitoba is in “grave peril,” based on international modelling that forecasts how high case numbers could rise.

7:40 a.m. Algeria’s secretive presidency confirmed Wednesday that the mysterious illness that caused President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to be hospitalized in Germany last month was the coronavirus.

The presidency said that the state of 74-year-old Tebboune’s health is “gradually improving” and he “continues to receive treatment in a specialized German hospital after contracting COVID-19.”

It was the first time that officials explicitly mentioned COVID-19 in connection with the Oct. 28 hospitalization. They previously referred to it as being “care in a specialized structure,” without identifying the ailment.

7:30 a.m.: The Ontario government is expected to lay out the next phase of its COVID-19 response as it presents its first budget since the start of the pandemic on Thursday.

The Progressive Conservative government postponed delivering a full fiscal plan earlier this year, citing the economic uncertainty caused by the global health crisis.

The fiscal update it gave instead in March included $17 billion in COVID-19 relief, a projection that was later revised to $30 billion by the end of 2020-2021.

The province also initially predicted a deficit of $20.5 billion, which was later raised to $38.5 billion in light of the additional spending.

The province has already said Thursday’s budget will include details of the new standard for long-term care announced earlier this week, which would see nursing home residents receive an average of four hours of daily direct care.

Finance Minister Rod Phillips has said the fiscal blueprint will provide a multi-year outlook that will build on the measures presented in the spring.

6:42 a.m.: Doctors in England have been put on standby for the possible roll-out of a coronavirus vaccine before Christmas, which would potentially turn the tide in the fight against the pandemic.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of the National Health Service in England, told the BBC on Wednesday that with more than 200 Covid-19 vaccines in development, one will “hopefully” be available in the first part of next year, but doctors will be “gearing up” in case it is ready sooner.

The U.K.’s drug regulator has started accelerated reviews of vaccines under development by Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc, as Britain gets ready to approve the first successful shot as quickly as possible.

5:55 a.m.: Pope Francis is urging people follow recommendations from government and public health authorities to prevent coronavirus infections as he held his weekly general audience in private amid a surge of infections in Europe.

The Vatican announced last week that Francis was suspending public audiences and would celebrate all upcoming liturgies without throngs of faithful present, after someone who attended his Oct. 21 audience tested positive.

Francis held his audience Wednesday in his private library with around 10 priests on hand to translate summaries of his catechism lesson. The livestreamed audience is the same setup Francis used during the Vatican’s nearly three-month COVID-19 lockdown in the spring and summer.

In his opening remarks, Francis said “unfortunately” it was necessary to return to the library for the audience to prevent infections.

5:52 a.m.: The World Health Organization says there has been a “further acceleration” in the speed of COVID-19’s spread in Europe, which was responsible for about half of the globe’s new cases reported last week.

The U.N. health agency said in a weekly report published late Tuesday that European countries also recorded a 46% increase in deaths compared with the previous week. Although deaths also rose in the Americas, the rate of increase there was only 2%.

In Europe, France, Italy and the U.K. reported the highest numbers of new cases while Andorra, the Czech Republic and Belgium reported the highest rate per capita.

5:50 a.m.: Santa Claus is coming to town, but this year, Elliot Lake residents will be the ones driving through the streets.

On Nov. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m., a static display of floats will be placed at various locations throughout the city and residents will be able to view the floats along a mapped route from the comfort of their own vehicles.

Elliot Lake’s 41st annual Santa Claus Parade will be entirely static – and with no pedestrian traffic, it will also be COVID-safe.

“This summer, for Canada Day, we didn’t have a parade, either. Instead, we sent out requests for families to decorate their lawns,” said events coordinator Darla Hennessey.

“People got to go around and take a look at all the displays that were put up. Judges drove around and chose the winners. I thought, well, let’s do something like that again for the Santa Claus Parade.”

5:45 a.m.: Health officials in South Korea have approved a new test that’s designed to detect both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza from the same samples, which would help prevent disruption at hospitals as the pandemic stretches into the flu season.

The country has struggled to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which some experts say could spread more broadly during cold weather when people spend more time indoors.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday reported 118 new cases of COVID-19, most of them in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area. The national caseload is now at 26,925, including 474 deaths.

People have been increasingly venturing out in public after the government eased social distancing restrictions last month to support a weak economy.

5:20 a.m.: Toronto area home prices and sales rose for the fourth consecutive month in October with the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board forecasting record or near-record sales to continue through the balance of the year.

But as detached house values have soared, a surge in condo supply has rendered prices in that category relatively flat, said the TRREB on Wednesday.

There were 7,441 detached houses listed last month, a year-over-year increase of 6.9 per cent. Condo listings more than doubled to 6,193, compared to October 2019.

5:15 a.m.: The U.S. presidential election remained unresolved Tuesday night, offering no certainty over who would occupy the foreign office most important to Canadian interests.

Critical battleground states including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania remained without declared winners, leaving both President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden short of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.

Tuesday 8:05 p.m.: Health officials are reminding everyone to keep social circles small, particularly in the Fraser Health region, which remains the epicentre of rising case counts in British Columbia.

The province says in a release much of the recent transmission is connected to social gatherings and Fraser Health officials are asking residents to avoid hosting anyone from outside their household.

B.C. reports 299 new cases of COVID-19 and three more deaths on Tuesday, bringing the death toll from the illness to 272.

The province says 3,017 cases are currently active, including 92 people who are in hospital, while 12,430 people who tested positive have recovered.

6:35 p.m.: The active number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta’s two largest cities sits at more than 2,500 each and the province’s top doctor says that’s a problem.

Chief medical health officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw says she’s particularly concerned about Calgary, where the infection rate has grown to 1.2 in the last five days.

That means every person who contracts the illness is infecting 1.2 other people.

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‘Frustrating and demoralizing’: Education groups launch public survey on Ontario school plan

Sep 27, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Ontario Families for Public Education and the Ontario Parent Action Network have announced they will be launching a public consultation process regarding the province’s pandemic education plan.

In a virtual meeting on Oct. 29, members of the action groups from across the province outlined their continued concerns with the public school year so far – namely, that families were not consulted from the beginning and that the plan continues to negatively impact the safety and mental health of educators, students and families, specifically racialized families and those in low-income neighbourhoods.

“Let me be clear: the Ford government never consulted families on the school reopening plan,” said Fernanda Yanchapaxi, a Toronto District School Board parent and member of the Ontario Parent Action Network. She added that she was surprised from the beginning of the school year to learn that the government would not be following the Sick Kids report recommendation of having smaller elementary class sizes where possible.

“As a racialized parent, I know this: low-income communities and racialized families have not only been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, but our kids have been mostly affected by the lack of support, resources and a plan that provides quality education for our children,” she said.

She added that in her Toronto community, children are having to complete and submit homework on their parents’ cellphones, and that many families chose not to send their children to school at all.

“I continue to feel stressed (and) frustrated while worrying about not doing right by my children or by other family members,” said Peel District School Board parent Romana Siddiqui, a member of Peel Families for Public Education, adding that the reorganizing, collapsing and combining of classrooms has created added stress for students and teachers, negatively impacting mental health and causing burnout.

Siddiqui stated that in the Peel school board, approximately half of the student population opted for online learning, which she said demonstrates families’ lack of confidence in the safety of the provincial plans.

She added that the , first adopted by the Upper Canada District School Board and then by the York Catholic, Dufferin-Peel Catholic and Peel district school boards this month, has been cause for recent concern, as it combines in-person and remote learners into the same class under the direction of one classroom teacher.

“Moving to this model requires yet another disruption in reorganization of classes as teachers and students are reassigned back to their home schools,” she said. “A well-designed, adequately funded school plan could have been developed and rolled out. It’s been frustrating and demoralizing to feel ignored, to feel like we don’t have a voice or a choice.”

In a previous statement about the hybrid learning model, Caitlin Clark, spokesperson for education minister Stephen Lecce, said the Ontario government believes in providing and supporting parental choice to decide what type of learning is best for their children.

“School boards decide how they deliver quality learning for students in class and online,” Clark said. “We have set the highest standards in Canada for remote learning.”

The action groups have launched the public consultation survey on , which will be open until Nov. 20, after which the groups plan to submit the results to the Ford government.

“Our plan to safely reopen schools, fully endorsed by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, has been informed by the best medical and scientific minds in the country,” Clark said, adding that the Ontario government is proud to be leading the country in COVID-19 school reopening funding.

“Our plan was informed by the voices of parents, educators and the medical community, and was designed to reduce the risk and keep students safe. We will never hesitate from taking further action to protect the health and safety of Ontario’s students and education staff,” she added.