Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 3,836,819 (92,054 new). (Deaths: 265,366 and Recovered: 1,308,201) I emphasize reported because there is a wide variance in testing and manner of reporting from country to country and place to place. I'm guessing the world will hit 4 million cases, by weeks end.
As of 6:31 a.m. ET on Thursday May 7, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 63,485 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (1,450 new)
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 18,722 total confirmed cases (412 new) and 1,429 deaths. (63 new) Currently, 1,032 people are in hospital with 219 in ICU.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 34,327 (901 new).
The Region of Durham reported 1,111 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (25 new) The site also reports 14 current outbreaks at Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes with 6 of the outbreaks having been resolved. Currently, there are 71 (3 new) cases in Clarington.
In international news,
The U.K. has reported the highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe and there are calls for an inquiry as the government’s handling of pandemic is under scrutiny. They are currently the hardest hit country in Europe.
COVID-19 numbers in Russia and Brasil are exploding. Tens of thousands of new cases, everyday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has given the Bundesliga (whatever that is) the go-ahead.
From the "You don't say" file, China (with a population of approximately 1.4 billion give or take a few) reported they have no COVID-19 cases. Further, they are back to work and "normal". China's exports INCREASED in April. yes, you read that correctly. That's a fact. They hid this from the world, killing millions. Then, they sent us faulty PPE, after we initially sent them our supply. Now, they are crushing the world economically. Oh, i'm sure it's all just a coincidence.
In national news,
I just wish it was not so sad today.
Another shooting, this time in Alberta. A 27-year-old man was killed in a confrontation with police after a rampage that saw a bystander shot in Blackfalds and a police officer seriously injured on the QEII Highway south of Leduc on Wednesday.
Canadian Forces members killed in the helicopter crash were honoured in emotional ramp ceremony and a Highway of Heroes procession. Canadians from coast to coast to coast watched as the six Armed Forces members killed in last week's helicopter crash off the coast of Greece were welcomed home in a special ramp ceremony at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario. The crash, whose cause remains under investigation, represents the largest loss of life in one day for the Canadian Armed Forces since six Canadian soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan on Easter Sunday 2007.
From the "So, Quebec is set to open" file, 16 people have been infected north of Montreal in Quebec's first COVID-19 outbreak in a daycare. An investigation by public health officials found that 12 out of 27 children at the daycare had contracted COVID-19, as well as four employees. The first case was identified on April 30.
The kerfuffle over the rumour of shotguns being banned has largely subsided. Many firearms owners were enraged the government was rumoured to have banned 12 gauge and 10 gauge shotguns with removable chokes. They are not banning shotguns, these long-arms remain legal...for now. Per the OFAH website, "Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, clarified that 10- and 12-gauge shotguns (even with removable choke tubes) are not captured in the new prohibitions. The OFAH continues to seek clarity on the wording used in the amended regulations and how it may impact different firearms not included on the list."
The novel coronavirus pandemic is hitting long-term care homes in Canada disproportionately harder than in other countries that make such data readily available, according to new research.
In Ontario,
Life is starting to open up gradually in Ontario. Premier Ford announced a new list of businesses that can re-open. Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday garden centres and nurseries will be allowed to reopen as of Friday at 12:01 a.m. On Saturday, hardware stores and safety supply stores will also be allowed to reopen. On May 11, retail stores with a street entrance will be allowed to reopen for curbside pickup. (Which means, no malls.)
Locally,
Durham police are ask for help identifying a man found dead in Frenchman’s Bay. According to police, there were no obvious signs of trauma and the body was sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences for a post mortem exam. That exam didn’t reveal the man’s identity and investigators still haven’t been able to identify him. He’s described as: white, around 70 to 80-years-old, about 5’10” tall, between 160 and 180 lbs. with a slim build.
From the "Say what?" file, students are 'Very much overwhelmed:' Durham board clarifies at-home workload for high school students. I have spoken to parents that have High School age and Elementary age children. All told me their kids have their work done in 20-30 minutes. That's an entire day's school work folks; done in..... 20-30 minutes? I think distance education is going to be the way of the future, but it sure will need some refining once things become the "new normal."
Finally, I want to re-iterate that I am not a COVID-19 denier. I believe that COVID-19 is very real and very dangerous. That said, from the "I just don't get it" file, The U.K. is being widely criticized for a delayed and tepid response to COVID-19. Ontario acted quickly and decisively and with the exception of testing, Ontario was a model for the rest of the world. So, what gives? Follow the bouncing ball my friends:
Worldometers puts the current population of the U.K. at 67,833,477(67 million) and they have approximately 32,000 cases. Using a Percentage Calculator website, that means 0.05% of the U.K. population was/is infected.
The Statistics Canada website sets the Ontario population at 14,441,694 (14.5 million). Total reported COVID-19 cases = 18,722. Using that same percentage calculator website, the Ontario population affected by percentage is 1.3%
Can somebody please explain to me how a jurisdiction that took extensive steps to protect citizens has a much higher infection rate (per capita) than a jurisdiction that is widely reported to have taken little, or late action? I just don't get it, but I am wide open to a logical explanation.
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.
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