Lygenztia *543 (Oh, you gotta watch this......and 20 million) Monday August 10, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 20,174,683. (Deaths: 736,310 and Recovered: 12,998,428) 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 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday August 10, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 119,736 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 40,161 total confirmed cases and 2,786 total deaths. Currently, there are 49 people are in hospital with 25 of those in ICU. 36,381 cases have been resolved.

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 60,627.

The Region of Durham reported 1,832 confirmed cases 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,
Starting today off with the "What could possibly go wrong?" file, A motorcycle rally that brings tens of thousands of tourists to a small South Dakota city is underway. Despite objections from a majority of its residents, a South Dakota city is preparing to host what some locals say is the largest gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in the world. Visitors have already begun trickling into the city of 7,000 for the 80th Annual City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. They are expected to number in the tens of thousands by the time the event, 10 days of drag racing, music concerts and other festivities, kicks off on Friday. The celebration, which usually draws about 500,000 people, will take place as the coronavirus pandemic remains out of control in cities across the country and health experts warn against large gatherings that help fuel the spread. South Dakota has reported more than 9,000 cases of the virus, among the lowest state tally in the country. And Meade County, home to Sturgis, has recorded about 78 infections, according to state data. Some 60% of Sturgis residents, when surveyed, told the city they'd rather the event not proceed as scheduled this year. Ya, i'm sure it will be fine.

From Fox news, Colorado State football coaches accused of telling players, athletic staff not to reveal COVID-19 symptoms. The team's season is expected to start in September. Players and members of the athletic staff told the Coloradoan that coaches threatened players with reduced playing time should they quarantine. Colorado State president Joyce McConnell said she will launch an investigation into how the athletic department handled the school’s COVID-19 safety protocols. She promised a swift probe and full transparency. “The story raises concerns about whether the health and well-being of our student athletes is truly the top priority of Colorado State University,” she said in a statement. “Let me reiterate: the health and well-being of the CSU community is our top priority.”

In national news,
B.C. woman caught CERB scammer in the act, but getting action from officials is the hardest part. Someone breached a Port Coquitlam resident's online CRA account 2 weeks ago to apply for emergency benefits. It's been more than two weeks since someone hacked into Tara McWilliams's online account with the Canada Revenue Agency, applied for COVID-19 emergency benefits and arranged for the payments to be deposited into a bank account on the other side of the country. Since then, the single mom from Port Coquitlam, B.C., has been working the phones, reporting the fraud to the CRA, police in two provinces, the B.C. government and TD Canada Trust, feeling like she was getting the runaround at every turn.

More than 500 COVID-19 infections in Canada linked to exposures at public places, new data suggests. New data suggests that more than 500 COVID-19 infections in Canada have been linked to public venues including stores, bars, restaurants, daycares and schools since the beginning of July as more businesses continue to reopen and restrictions are eased. New numbers released on Monday by Project Pandemic report that at least 148 different stores, restaurants, bars, schools, daycares, and other public spaces have issued warnings about potential exposure to the virus. Since July 4, the data found that 505 individual coronavirus infections were reported in connection with those public venues in 61 cities across seven provinces.

Passengers with COVID-19 keep arriving on international flights in Toronto. Five flights arriving in Toronto from international destinations since the start of August have had people on board with COVID-19. According to the federal government, there were five flights between Aug. 1 and Aug. 4 with travellers who later tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Canada.

In Ontario,
Ok, but the numbers are still pretty low. Ontario reports highest number of new COVID-19 cases in more than a week. Ontario is reporting an uptick in the number of new COVID-19 cases, recording more than 100 new infections for the first time in a week. Health officials reported 115 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed infections to date to 40,161. There were no new deaths reported in the previous 24-hour period. The total number of resolved cases increased by 102.

Ontario premier says friends in United States 'shocked' by province's COVID-19 success. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his "friends" in the United States tell him they are "shocked" by the low COVID-19 numbers in the province. The premier made the comments at a news conference on Monday, commending the province for its success so far in battling the deadly disease. “I have the opportunity to talk to a lot of friends in the U.S., and they just can't believe it,” Ford told reporters. "It's like we were living on a different planet when I tell them we’re under 100 cases with 14.77 million people. They're shocked.”

nearly 200,000 people sign petition slamming Ontario's 'shameful' back-to-school plan. Look, I don't know much, but here is what I know. The Ford government has done a really good job handling the pandemic and we have trusted them. Ontario has had excellent success battling COVID-19 under his leadership. The other provinces are touting Ontario's plan as the best in the country. The kids have to get back, safely, and that is what everyone is trying to do in these turbulent times.

In local news,
The Durham District School Board says, as part of its return-to-school protocol, “students or staff who develop COVID-19 symptoms will immediately be separated from others.” The board also says “staff and/or students who test positive for COVID-19 may not return to school until they are cleared by the Durham Region Public Health Department. Staff and/or students who test negative can return to school once they are symptom-free for 24 hours.” As part of its return to school plan the board said "DDSB schools will immediately report any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the Durham Region Health Department and the Board. DDSB schools will participate in contact tracing through keeping records of classes, transported students, and visitors to schools." It’s all part of an extensive return-to-school plan released by the DDSB on Aug. 6 for parents and students that otherwise expect things to go back to, well, pretty much normal pre COVID-19. Students will still attend five days a week in regular classes and will get the standard 300 minutes of in-class instruction they did before classes were cancelled last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sports, Sports, Sports,
Will the NCAA cancel or postpone fall champion$hip$? Watch here for more. From the Detroit Free Press, Big Ten expected to cancel football season; no games for Michigan, Michigan State in 2020.

The Jays are off tonight.....returning tomorrow night vs. Miami Marlins. Oh, and they are in last in the AL East.

The Leafs? Hmmmm.......buh bye. I guess, you could get excited about the NHL draft tonight? (The Leafs haven't won a playoff series since 2004, when Matts was the captain.)

Musing,
Want me to ignore you for the remainder of a conversation? Its easy! Just force me to watch some idiotic TikTok (or whatever) video on your damned phone. POOF, Fait accompli! Nothing more annoying than being in a great conversation and someone sticks their phone in your face and says "watch this!" Really? Here's something to watch...Me, throwing your stupid phone over the fence.

"Trees are not known by their leaves, nor even by their blossoms, but by their fruits." (ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE)

It's fascinating how an expert can instantly make others around them "expert(s)". (It's called "piggy-backing".)

On this day in history, Smithsonian Institution created
After a decade of debate about how best to spend a bequest left to America from an obscure English scientist, President James K. Polk signs the Smithsonian Institution Act into law on this day in 1846.

On August 10, 1977, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz is arrested and charged with being the “Son of Sam,” the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than a year, killing six young people and wounding seven others with a .44-caliber revolver. Because Berkowitz generally targeted attractive young women with long brown hair, hundreds of young women had their hair cut short and dyed blonde during the time he terrorized the city. Thousands more simply stayed home at night.

Today is – NATIONAL LAZY DAY – NATIONAL S’MORES DAY – NATIONAL SHAPEWEAR DAY – NATIONAL CONNECTICUT 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.