Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 10,463,561. (Deaths: 509,325 and Recovered: 5,709,508) I emphasize reported because there is a wide variance in testing and manner of reporting from country to country and place to place.
As of 11:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday June 30, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 103,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 35,068 total confirmed cases and 2,672 total deaths. Currently, there are 213 people are in hospital with 42 in ICU. 30,344 cases have been resolved. There are some really cool tracking charts in this article.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 55,390.
The Region of Durham reported 1,697 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site also reports 2 current outbreaks at Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes with 32 outbreaks having been "concluded." Currently, Clarington is at 95 cases, which is up 1 from last week.
In international news,
Canadians will be allowed to visit EU countries soon while Americans have to wait. The European Union has formally agreed a set of recommendations that will allow travellers from outside the bloc to visit EU countries, months after it shut its external borders in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. As had been widely expected, the list of 14 countries does not include the United States, whose current infection rate does not meet the criteria set by the EU for it to be considered a "safe country." The criteria requires that confirmed COVID-19 cases in countries on the list are similar or below that of the EU's per 100,000 citizens over the previous 14 days (starting from June 15).
In national news,
In a couple of weeks, a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed in Quebec will become the first Canadian-made vaccine candidate to enter human trials. Nathalie Landry, executive vice president of Scientific and Medical Affairs with Medicago, the biopharmaceutical company behind the vaccine, told CTV News that they “have completed preclinical development for this vaccine,” and are only “a few weeks away [from] initiating our first clinical trials in humans.” Research teams with Laval University worked with the company to develop the vaccine candidate. Both the federal government and the Quebec government have contributed funds towards the vaccine’s development.
Day 20 without any new COVID-19 case in Nova Scotia; and no remaining active cases. Meanwhile, Alberta confirmed 71 new cases of COVID-19, which is their largest single-day increase since May.
From the National Post, Hundreds of thousands of U.S. visitors are still crossing border into Canada each week.
Even with travel fears, economic collapse and government restrictions there were still 201,866 border crossings from the United States into Canada in one week this month, according to the most recent data. For Canadians watching the seemingly uncontrolled rise in COVID-19 cases raging south of the border, that seems alarming..........that said, I am relieved we are not offending anyone.
In Ontario,
Mayors and regional chairs throughout the GTHA are calling on the province to make masks mandatory in large urban municipalities. In the past, the province has said it’s not something they will be doing because local medical officers of health already have the power to do that. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti has been pushing for York Regional Council to make masks mandatory in indoor public spaces and when physical distancing isn’t possible outdoors. “All the mayors and chairs committed to working with their local medical officers of health to explore how they can best advance the universal wearing of non-medical masks and face coverings inside businesses and other indoor places where the public gathers, including transit,” said Scarpitti in a released statement. “This would likely include mandatory face coverings in certain circumstances which some municipalities have already adopted.” Guelph and Kingston are among the areas that already have mandatory mask rules in place.
Do sports leagues have any grasp on reality, or concern about the well being of the population? Money and privilege.....The Blue Jays are hoping the federal government will waive mandatory quarantine so they can start training in Toronto this week. A total of 26 NHL players have now tested positive for COVID-19 since Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol started June 8. The numbers released Monday include four new cases in addition to 11 positive results previously announced June 19. The league added it’s also aware of 11 other players testing positive outside of Phase 2 over the last three weeks. The NHL said it’s conducted in excess of 1,450 tests for COVID-19 on more than 250 players during Phase 2, which has seen practice facilities open for voluntary on- and off-ice workouts in small groups under strict health and safety guidelines. The opening of training camps, which represent Phase 3 of the return-to-play protocol, is scheduled for July 10. You may recall, it took only two out of country travelers to reintroduce COVID-19 to New Zealand. Where do most MLB baseball players come from? Oh yea, the U.S.A.
Meanwhile, in breaking NBA news the Denver Nuggets are reportedly closing their training facility for several days after some members of the club’s travelling party to Orlando tested positive for COVID-19. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the facility has been closed since Saturday. Testing of players and staff over the next few days will determine when it is safe to re-open.
In local happenings,
I wonder what Clarington will look like tomorrow on Canada Day? Despite COVID-19 restrictions, many Canadians say they aren’t changing up their typical Canada Day plans. A new Leger survey shows 42 per cent will do the same thing as previous years on July 1 to celebrate. In fact, despite the true north not being entirely free to do what we want Canada Day, 16 per cent say they’re more likely this year to find a way to celebrate, even if it’s just a small social gathering. Some (38 per cent) do say they are less likely to mark the holiday. Fireworks are cancelled, though.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Blood Services needs more donors and a new blood drive location in Bowmanville. With the physical distancing precautions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Canadian Blood Services can no longer collect blood at Trinity United Church in Bowmanville. “We’re actually in need of a replacement location right in Bowmanville for the summer months of July and August, as well as December,” Canadian Blood Services event co-ordinator Aimee Chada told Clarington council members on Monday, June 22. “That would be really helpful so that we can continue to collect blood in Bowmanville.”
Musing,
Took a bit of a long weekend and just got back at it today. No internet for three days made me notice three things:
1) Campfires are better without cell phones.
2) Very little changes now in the daily news, because of COVID-19.
3) I sometimes get anxious; hoping people don't think I am ignoring them. (no cell signal)
Ironically, today, is National Social Media Day. Celebrate it by buying and reading "The subtle art of not giving a fuck" by Mark Manson.
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.
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