As of 6:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday June 17, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 99,450 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 32,554 total confirmed cases and 2,538 total deaths. Currently, there are 413 people are in hospital with 98 in ICU. 27,431 cases have been resolved. There are some really cool tracking charts in this article. Yesterday, Ontario recorded fewer than 200 new cases of COVID-19 for third straight day. An interesting but morbid comparison; for the last few weeks approximately 10 people per day pass away and approximately 200 cases are resolved per day in Ontario.
++UPDATE++ 11:44 a.m.
The number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ontario remains under 200 for the fourth straight day. Health officials reported 190 new cases Wednesday morning, which represents a 0.6 per cent increase over the day prior when the province recorded 184 new infections.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 54,146. New cases are really slowing down in Quebec, which is awesome considering their aggressive opening strategy.
The Region of Durham reported 1,644 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site also reports 2 current outbreaks at Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes with 31 outbreaks having been "concluded." Currently, Clarington remains at 94 cases. Just to pump their tires once more, the Region of Durham website is the best I have used, to date. Excellent job.
In international news,
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: a steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one-third in severely ill hospitalized patients. Results were announced Tuesday and researchers said they would publish them soon. The study is a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care. The drug was given either orally or through an IV. It reduced deaths by 35 per cent in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20 per cent in those only needing supplemental oxygen. It did not appear to help less ill patients.
From the "COVID-19 related, in a way" file, A historic, physically-distant vote at UN will determine Canada's Security Council bid. Today could be decision day for what could be Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's biggest foreign policy gambit: Canada's bid for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. The voting begins at 9 a.m. eastern time, with the 193 UN ambassadors gaining staggered access to the General Assembly meeting hall to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In national news,
Transport Minister Marc Garneau defends the Liberal government decision not to force airlines to offer Canadians COVID-19 refunds. During a House of Commons committee appearance on Tuesday, Garneau was grilled by opposition MPs about why he hasn’t ordered airlines to offer refunds, as opposed to vouchers or credits for future flights. But Garneau said airlines have been financially devastated by the pandemic and he’s trying to avoid the companies from collapsing.
Canada could be last country to cling to two-metre physical distancing rule. Social distancing “enjoys the least success” among 18 to 24 year olds, a Leger poll found, while Ontario saw the biggest week-to-week “erosion” in social distancing, along with Quebec and Alberta, according to the Association for Canadian Studies – Leger poll.
In Ontario,
The Province says it’s up to retailers whether staff and customers wear masks in Stage 2. Health Minister Christine Elliott says physical distancing is the number one rule and masks only need to be worn if that can’t be achieved. “Physical distancing is still the most important rule to follow,” said Elliott. “We should continue to do that for the foreseeable future and masks should be worn in situations where that is not going to be possible.” This debate was started (in part) by the news that 14 workers at the Richmond Hill Home Depot tested positive for COVID-19.
You have to wonder how soon they can get hospitals "up and running" again? Currently, there are 413 people in hospital with COVID-19 in Ontario and, of course, we all wish them a speedy recovery. Which got me to wondering 'How many beds does Ontario actually have?' The only report on total beds I could find was from 2014, the numbers according to the Ontario Health Coalition are as follows:
Acute Beds: 18,588
Psychiatric Beds: 4,500
Complex continuing care beds: 5,329
Rehabilitation Beds: 2,512
On April 16, 2020 the province announced the addition of 1,035 acute care beds and 1,492 critical care bed were available to deal with any sudden increase in COVID-19 patients. Further, the premier added that he hopes about 4,200 more acute care beds will be available by the end of April. So here is my question, will these resources remain available for all of the Ontario patients that are going to need follow up for non COVID-19 related conditions that were put on hold? I sure hope so.
A new general workplace guide has been released by the province to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as more people return to work. The downloadable toolkit for employers helps them develop a safety plan to better protect workers, customers and clients.
From the "What the F**K is wrong with people?" file, reports from cottage country that people are threatening drivers of vehicles with U.S. license plates. An Ontario cottage country mayor says drivers with American licence plates are being targeted and verbally assaulted by "vigilantes" who don't want them in their region during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Americans are afraid," said Muskoka Lakes Mayor Phil Harding. Here is a message for the slack-jaw, redneck, poorly educated idiots that are doing this. THE BORDER WAS CLOSED TO TRAVELERS BACK IN MARCH, which means (Einstein) they were here prior to the pandemic and they are clear of COVID-19, unless they contracted it from a LOCAL.
The Province extended Emergency Orders until the end of June, which means (Stage 2) 10 person gathering limits will continue until at least the end of the month. Not a bad thing, it gives you an excuse to keep that creepy uncle away from gatherings. "Sorry Uncle Eugene, we already have 10 coming over." Problem solved.
In local happenings,
Clarington Tourism has launched a brand new online Business and Attractions Directory to support local tourism businesses during the pandemic. Mayor Adrian Foster says the new directory will show you which shops are open and what safety precautions they’re taking.
We were out for a walk last night and spoke to the owners of Frosty John's. We (of course) asked about opening Friday and they were eager, but still awaiting direction from Public Health. Good luck FJ's!
Musing,
Travel is still risky, which makes me wonder when travel for leisure/tourism will return. Take New Zealand for example; COVID-19 has reared its ugly head (again). They had been COVID-19 free, but it was brought in by two travellers from the U.K. who were visiting a dying parent. Before they were tested, the women had been given an exemption to leave quarantine on compassionate grounds and had traveled from Auckland to Wellington by car, according to the AP. Until Tuesday, New Zealand had gone more than three weeks without any new cases and had declared that everybody who had contracted the virus had recovered, aside from the 22 people who died.
Got the Tim Horton's app? If you do, they know where you are, all the time. National Post Technology Reporter James McLeod discovered Tim Hortons was keeping tabs on him, even when his app wasn’t on. He also learned how much detail they collected and why consumers should be wary. The podcast can be found here.
Some days, I absolutely hate myself for reading the news and following the issues. I wish, oh how I wish, I could just be oblivious.
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the people of the United States, arrived in New York City's harbor on this day in 1885.
Today, is National Eat Your Vegetables Day.
Clarington Tourism Businesses and Attractions Directory can be found here.
CERB abuse reporting https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/bscs/l3adz/internet/initial.do?target=login&lang=en&program=qa">can be done here.
To book a COVID-19 test in Durham Region, click here.
Lakeridge Health Mental Health Clinic 905-440-7534 or toll free at 1-833-392-7363 (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm)
Live coronavirus map of Canada: Tracking every case of COVID-19 in the country.
Hunting/fishing related updates in Ontario can be found here.
No comments:
Post a Comment