Lygentzia *480 (Rain, rain, go away) Sunday May 17, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 4,776,409. (233,349 new+) (Deaths: 3015,576 and Recovered: 1,846,249) I emphasize reported because there is a wide variance in testing and manner of reporting from country to country and place to place. If I had to guess, i'd say the actual number of cases is 10 times that which is being reported.

As of 3:41 p.m. ET on Sunday May 17, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 76,932 confirmed cases (2,324 new+) of COVID-19.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 21,494 total confirmed cases (258 new-) and 1,798 total deaths. Currently, there are 1,026 people are in hospital with 184 in ICU. Yesterday was a great day for Ontario, with the lowest reported cases in six weeks.

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 42,920. (1566 new+)

The Region of Durham reported 1,245 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (44 new+) The site also reports 16 (none new) current outbreaks at Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes with 11 of the outbreaks having been "concluded." Currently, there are 74 (1 new+) cases in Clarington.

In international news,
Health officials double down on the dangers of mass gatherings as states reopen more venues. Texas, the Lone Star State, one of the first to start reopening, reported an increase of 1,801 coronavirus cases on Saturday which was the highest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases, according to numbers from the Department of State Health Services.

The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home today.

In national news,
Canada's 'inevitable' second wave of COVID-19 will expose surveillance blindspots: say the experts. So, a second wave is now "inevitable"....No one knows when a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases will emerge in Canada, but experts agree numbers are poised to rise and could very well explode in surveillance blindspots.

One of the CAF Snowbirds plane crashed near Kamloops, B.C. right in someones front yard. A witness from the scene says the crash happened on Glenview Road and a home nearby was engulfed in flames. There is no official word on the condition of the pilot.

Health Canada approved the first clinical trial for potential COVID-19 vaccine. Health Canada has authorized 33 clinical trials for supportive care or treatments for COVID-19 to date. The vaccine trial announced Saturday, however, marks the first approved Canadian endeavour at finding a vaccine for the disease.

In Ontario,
The Ontario premier says an announcement is coming Tuesday on schools, child care.

The Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF) announced on Saturday that its members have accepted the agreements that were reached back in April. This caps off a contentious dispute between the two sides. For weeks, the union held rotating strikes, ultimately stopping in March due to the start of the pandemic.

Locally,
Major rain storm expected to hit tonight, up to 70mm of rain. Other than that nothing, really. But if you are looking for a job, read on:

Lowe's and RONA are looking to fill over 110 positions in Durham. There are about 60 positions available at Lowe's Whitby, 25 at Lowe's Oshawa, 15 at Lowe's Pickering, 10 at RONA Port Perry and five at RONA Uxbridge. Available positions include sales associates, receiving clerks, stockers, customer service associates, cashiers, merchandising service associates, lumber yard clerks and Class 1 and 3 drivers. Recruitment is largely being done online, visit www.lowescanada.ca/careers for more information.



Wait times in grocery (and other) stores can be found here.
Hunting/fishing related closures in Ontario can be found here.
Town of Clarington COVID-19 updates can be found here.
Province of Ontario COVID-19 updates can be found here.
Government of Canada COVID-19 updates can be found here.

1hr/espanol