Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 4,271,688. (74,494 new) (Deaths: 287,613 and Recovered: 1,535,093) 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 5:31 a.m. ET on Tuesday May 12, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 69,970 confirmed cases (1,131 new) of COVID-19. Not at 70,000....yet. We will be by day's end.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 20,546 total confirmed cases (308 new) and 1,669 total deaths. Currently, there are 1,027 people are in hospital with 194 in ICU. Ontario is trending down with daily reported case numbers, but ironically deaths are trending up.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 38,469. (748 new)
The Region of Durham reported 1,167 confirmed cases (5 new) of COVID-19. The site also reports 14 current outbreaks at Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes with 8 of the outbreaks having been "concluded." Currently, there are 71 cases ("none" new) in Clarington.
In international news,
The U.K. did a u-turn on masks as the lock-down-easing steps sparked confusion among citizens. The British government performed an about-face on masks, telling people to cover their mouth and nose in shops, buses and subway trains. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called this the "first careful measures" to lift a nationwide lock-down imposed seven weeks ago.
From the "Oh, so this time you are telling the world the truth?" file, Breitbart reported China admits coronavirus cases are appearing again in Wuhan. AFP reported Chinese officials admitting one positive test from Wuhan on Sunday and five more on Monday, plus 11 “asymptomatic” cases detected in other parts of Hubei province.
Coronavirus patients were being turned away from hospitals in the Mexican capital on Saturday, as both public and private medical facilities quickly fill up and the number of new infections continues to rise. More from Fox news, Hospitals treating coronavirus patients in Mexico City are reaching maximum capacity: report. At least 26 of the 64 public hospitals in the country’s capital city that are receiving COVID-19 patients are full, Reuters reported, citing city government data. Additionally, at least five private hospitals in the city are also full and can treat no more coronavirus patients at this time.
From Vice news, the Coronavirus could finally kill the U.S. Postal Service. Besides the coronavirus hitting its huge workforce — over 2,000 postal workers have tested positive and at least 40 have died — there’s an even bigger, existential crisis: Without a bailout from the government, the USPS could run out of cash as early this summer. The service has said it needs roughly $75 billion to survive.
From the "You have just got to see it to believe it" file, a video clip of Trump's "press conference" yesterday.
In national news,
Looks like Canadian icon Bryan Adams is in some hot water. He blames 'bat eating,' 'virus making greedy bastards' in COVID-19 rant. While comments on Instagram were supportive of Adams or his message, it wasn’t long before Adams’ post was trending on Twitter. Many users there called it “racist.”
From the "But honey, the damn freezer is already full" file, it looks like panic buying in grocery stores has stopped, and buying has evened out. StatCan says grocery spending is slipping back to normal levels. But maybe not for much longer, read on....
From Canada's National Observer, a second Cargill plant has closed after a COVID-19 outbreak. Will the supply chain hold? I sure hope so and experts seem to think it will, with shortages of some meat products.
From Vice News, We Should Have Expected This': Inside Canada's Coronavirus Epicenter. Montreal has been the epicenter of Canada's coronavirus outbreak. The neighborhood with the highest number of cases is Montreal North, one of the poorest urban areas in the country.
Nunavut remains the only place in Canada with no COVID-19 cases. While many parts of Canada are still grappling with newly confirmed cases or deaths from the novel coronavirus, Nunavut remains the only place in the country that has been able to keep its case load at zero.
In Ontario,
Now, more than ever we should be celebrating Nurse's week in Ontario. Nursing Week is celebrated around the time of Florence Nightingale’s birthday every year and this year, it’s her 200th birthday. The World Health Organization is acknowledging nursing by designating the year 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Year of the Midwife.
Thank a nurse this week, folks.
Muskoka area Mayors are starting to soften their stance on cottagers and they are hoping for common sense from cottagers. Huntsville’s Mayor Karin Terziano said looking ahead to the long weekend they are encouraging people to adhere to the province’s advice. “If you have to come up, we understand that,” she said. “Pack your supplies, drive from your door in the city to your door here. Don’t bring friends and extra family. Don’t think about having bonfires and things like that – there is a fire ban. It’s not your typical May 24th party weekend.”
Premier Doug Ford says a state of emergency needs to remain in effect until we start to see a consistent reduction in numbers of COVID-19 cases. He is going to ask legislators tomorrow to extend the declaration to June 2nd. Ford sounded optimistic, “We are starting to see the numbers go in the right direction,” and said hopefully the state of emergency will end “sooner rather than later.” From the "But, here's the problem with that" file, Premier Ford told Ontario residents only to visit with 'immediate family' after spending Mother's Day with his four daughters.
He was questioned about spending Mother's Day this past weekend with his four daughters, two of whom do not reside with him. "The girls came over. There was six of us, direct family. None of the husbands, boyfriends, no one came. Just themselves" he said at a news conference at Queen's Park on Monday afternoon. I still support Ford, but these are the things that make the public very cynical and he must lead by example, as should all politicians.
Locally,
A cold temperature record set in most areas of the GTA this morning, with a frost warning. Yes, it is May 12th, 2020.
The tow truck war continues. Arson was declared in two Ajax tow truck fires as Investigators are now trying to identify suspects in the incidents, which resulted in both trucks being engulfed in flames.
Not really news, but I love this poll from Durhamregion.com which is a fun time-waster. POLL: What's the first thing you'll do when the COVID-19 lockdown ends? The results (after you vote) may surprise you.
Lately, I have started to source my stories from mulitple media outlets; some left, some right and some, just plain off-side. "In the beginning" I sourced mainly CBC for two reasons. One, it was convenient and two, they are the main source of national news in Canada. When you compare Canada to other Western nations, our national news coverage is not nearly as widely reported, with the CBC being "king". But, I quickly came disillusioned with how biased the CBC is, in favour of their un-dying love affair of Justin. I no longer visit their site and I watch CBC news rarely, whereby before it was daily staple. I'm not saying they are lying, but they sure posit Justin and his minority government in a positive light wherever and whenever they can. It's ok to question and to challenge the government, that's called "democracy."
And if you don't agree with the CBC's lofty ideals, "well, you just aren't very smart" ...or are you?
5 things to know for Tuesday, May 12, 2020
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
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