Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 17,505,005. (Deaths: 677,454 and Recovered: 10,960,318) 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 6:00 a.m. ET on Friday July 31, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 115,758 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 38,075 total confirmed cases and 2,772 total deaths. Currently, there are 84 people are in hospital with 27 of those in ICU. 34,906 cases have been resolved.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 59,131.
The Region of Durham reported 1,803 confirmed cases (up 3) of COVID-19. The site also reports 1 current outbreak (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) at Reachview Village LTCF with 35 outbreaks having been "concluded." Currently, Clarington still sits at 102 total cases. (95 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized currently: "Zero")
In international news,
China-backed hackers 'targeted COVID-19 vaccine firm Moderna'. Chinese government-linked hackers targeted biotech company Moderna Inc, a U.S.-based coronavirus vaccine research developer, this year in a bid to steal data, according to a U.S. security official tracking Chinese hacking. China on Friday rejected the accusation that hackers linked to it had targeted Moderna. Last week, the U.S. Justice Department made public an indictment of two Chinese nationals accused of spying on the United States, including three unnamed U.S.-based targets involved in medical research to fight the novel coronavirus. The indictment said the Chinese hackers “conducted reconnaissance” against the computer network of a Massachusetts biotech firm known to be working on a coronavirus vaccine in January. Moderna, which is based in Massachusetts and announced its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in January, confirmed to Reuters that the company had been in contact with the FBI and was made aware of the suspected “information reconnaissance activities” by the hacking group mentioned in last week’s indictment. Reconnaissance activities can include a range of actions, including probing public websites for vulnerabilities to scouting out important accounts after entering a network, cybersecurity experts say. Keep going to your Dollar Store to save a few pennies, folks. Because, before too long all there will be are Dollar Stores. Welcome to it.....
Second wave? UK tightens lockdown in northern England. Britain imposed tougher lockdowns across swathes of northern England after a rise in the rate of coronavirus transmissions, raising concerns that a second wave could sow yet more turmoil. Britain reported its highest number of infections in more than a month on Thursday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke of a second wave in Europe and put people on alert about more quarantine restrictions. More than 4 million people were ordered not to mix with other households in Greater Manchester, the biggest city in northern England, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire, though they can still go to the pub and to work. “The problem with this virus is that it thrives on the social contact which makes life worth living,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky. “I totally understand the human impact of this but unfortunately that is how the virus passes on.” “We can see that second wave in Europe,” Hancock said.
There is no 'zero risk' in easing travel restrictions, WHO says. There is no “zero risk” strategy for countries easing international travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and essential travel for emergencies should remain the priority, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. In a long-awaited update to its guidance on travel, the United Nations global health agency said cross-border trips for emergencies, humanitarian work, the transfer of essential personnel and repatriation would constitute essential travel. “There is no ‘zero risk’ when considering the potential importation or exportation of cases in the context of international travel,” it said in the updated guidance posted on its website on Thursday. A surge of new infections in many parts of the world has prompted some countries to reintroduce some travel restrictions, including testing and quarantining incoming passengers.
In national news,
Economy grew 4.5 per cent in May after severe lockdowns: Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada says the economy grew by 4.5 per cent in May as businesses began to reopen after severe lockdowns of March and April. The average economist estimate was for a 3.5 per cent increase in gross domestic product for May, according to financial data firm Refinitiv. The national data agency says rebounds in May were seen across multiple industries with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, including retail trade that registered a 16.4 per cent bump to mark its largest monthly increase since comparable readings began in 1961. (To be fair, provincial leaders should shoulder the credit on this one. "Stages", re-openings etc. were dictated by the provinces in consultation with their public health authorities. The provinces have demonstrated they can manage COVID-19 precautions and their economies of scale, quite nicely. Donald, you listening?)
Canada cracking down on Americans entering country to get to Alaska. Canada has announced new restrictions against Americans entering the country in an attempt to crack down on the so-called "Alaska loophole." The Canada-U.S. land border has been closed to non-essential traffic since March 21, but Americans have still been allowed through if they are driving through Canada to get to Alaska for an essential purpose such as working or returning home. This has led to cases where Americans have seemingly told border officers that they will be driving on to Alaska, but then vacationed in Canada instead. Now, I don't know how many of you have ever driven/flown into the U.S.A. but I will tell you this. Just try messing around with their border agents and see what happens. I guarantee, you will not like the outcome. Not so much in Canada, eh?
'Pandemic pods': How some parents plan on educating their kids in September. While Canadian families wait to hear plans on returning to school in all provinces across the country, some parents are looking into the idea of 'pandemic pods' instead of having their children go back to the classroom. Toronto-based educational strategist Dwayne Matthews told CTV's Your Morning that some parents are creating their own private classrooms run by one of the parents, a tutor or a school teacher with a small number of elementary-aged children, establishing their own schooling bubble. Matthews said Thursday that a pandemic pod "could look like a lot of different things" but creating one requires some planning.
In Ontario,
Majority of students in Ontario to be back in school full-time in September.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, along with Education Minister Stephen Lecce, announced Thursday afternoon that students in publicly funded elementary schools will be back in class five days a week as of September 8th. Students will be with one cohort for the full day and enhanced health and safety protocols will be put in place. High school students in 24 school boards in Ontario will be part of an adapted model, with class cohorts of approximately 15 students. The students in those boards will attend class on alternate days or alternate schedules with the mix coming out to be 50 percent in class and 50 percent online learning at home. There are 24 schools boards on the designated list, which include Toronto, Toronto Catholic, Peel, Dufferin-Peel Catholic, York, York Catholic, Durham, Durham Catholic, Halton, Halton Catholic, Waterloo, Waterloo Catholic, Thames Valley, London District Catholic, Ottawa-Carleton, Ottawa Catholic, Hamilton-Wentworth, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic, Niagara, Niagara Catholic, Greater Essex Country, Windsor-Essex Catholic, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est and Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario.
From Vice News, Quarantined Migrant Workers Are Being Fed 'Crappy' Food. A kid’s-sized portion of charred chicken next to steamed vegetables. A droopy piece of pepperoni pizza. Limp lettuce and peppers next to plain rice. The meals provided to hundreds of migrant farm workers in quarantine are insufficient and culturally inappropriate, an advocacy group says. In the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario, considered one of the worst pandemic hotspots in Canada, migrant workers have had to quarantine in at least two local hotels following a spate of outbreaks on their employers’ farms. Because quarantining workers can’t have visitors or shop for groceries, they depend on supplied meals. To balance this out, coincidentally I had a beer last night with a staff member at a local agriculture operation that utilizes migrant workers. Part of her duties are to go shopping for groceries for the workers and she gets the items that are on the list she is provided with by the workers. So, let's not paint all the farmers as "evil", as I suspect the vast majority are fair, honourable and concerned about their workers. Because, without them.....no crops and no money.
In local news,
As the local economy gradually reopens, the Clarington Board of Trade continues to support businesses during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Clarington has begun to cautiously reopen with safety restrictions in place, since the province approved a Stage 3 restart for Durham as of July 24. Local businesses — from dine-in restaurants to the medical and wellness industry — are working toward reopening and offering full services when they are confident they can serve members of the community safely, explained CBOT manager of business development Bonnie Wrightman. The board of trade is working to encourage the community to buy local by producing and sharing several "Shop Clarington with Confidence" videos demonstrating the measures businesses are putting in place to ensure safe visits. Soon the CBOT will also be releasing a "Clarington is Open for Business" video which will carry a message from the business community welcoming back the public and encouraging them to safely enjoy what Clarington has to offer.
Sports, Sports, Sports,
Jays lost another one last night. Their upcoming games against the Phillies have been postponed, due to COVID-19 concerns. Montoyo said the Blue Jays will ask the Nationals if they can continue to work out at Nationals Park until next steps are finalized by Major League Baseball. Toronto has an off-day Monday and a three-game series at Atlanta is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Phillies announced that all activity at Citizens Bank Park has been cancelled until further notice. It's hard to see MLB making it to 60 games, but here's hoping.
Musing,
Enjoy the Long Weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just because you're funny, doesn't mean you're "nice". (Right, Ellen?)
You think things are bad, now? Just wait until November when Trump refuses to leave the White House. Civil War? Probably not, but it will be ugly like we have never seen in our lifetime.
Need work? Every Correctional Institution in Ontario is currently looking for Food Service Helpers and many are also looking for Cleaners.
"The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision." (MAIMONIDES)
On this day in history, in 2007 Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and longest-running British Army operation ever, comes to an end.
Preparations for the Final Solution begin
On July 31, 1941, Hermann Göring, writing under instructions from Hitler, ordered Reinhard Heydrich, SS general and Heinrich Himmler’s number-two man, “to submit to me as soon as possible a general plan of the administrative material and financial measures necessary for carrying out the desired final solution of the Jewish question.” Goering recounted briefly the outline for that “final solution” that had been drawn up on January 24, 1939: “emigration and evacuation in the best possible way.” This program of what would become mass, systematic extermination was to encompass “all the territories of Europe under German occupation.”
Today is – NATIONAL GET GNARLY DAY – NATIONAL AVOCADO DAY – NATIONAL MUTT DAY – NATIONAL TALK IN AN ELEVATOR DAY – NATIONAL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR APPRECIATION DAY – NATIONAL RASPBERRY CAKE DAY
Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.
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