Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 24,091,252. (Deaths: 824,177 and Recovered: 16,633,048) 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 Wednesday August 26, 2020:
From Global News, Canada reported 125,969 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 4,829 of those are currently active. 112,050 have recovered.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 41,607 total confirmed cases and 2,800 total deaths. Currently, there are 39 people are in hospital with 13 of those in ICU. 37,748 cases have been resolved.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 61,803.
The Region of Durham reported 1,868 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site also reports 1 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 37 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington went down to 108 total cases, perhaps a false positive? (4 are in isolation, 97 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized currently: "zero")
In international news,
From Reuters, the city of Berlin has banned demonstrations planned for this weekend to oppose measures imposed to stem the coronavirus pandemic, after organisers of a rally earlier this month failed to ensure marchers wore masks and kept their distance. Andreas Geisel, the Berlin interior senator, said the authorities had to strike a balance between the right to freedom of assembly and the need to protect people against infection. “We are still in the middle of a pandemic with rising infection figures,” he said. Still, to me, this is a little scary....
Myanmar shuts schools after biggest daily climb in coronavirus cases. Myanmar ordered all schools to close after reporting 70 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, its biggest daily rise, as authorities try to tackle a resurgence of the virus following weeks without confirmed domestic transmission. All but one of the new cases announced on Wednesday were in the western state of Rakhine, found in nine different locations, each linked to an outbreak in the state capital Sittwe, where a lockdown and curfew were imposed last week. Myanmar’s outbreaks has been relatively small compared with other countries in the region, with just six deaths and 574 infections in total, but an increase in COVID-19 cases by nearly 35% in just over a week is causing some concern. “We have called all the schools and instructed them to close from tomorrow,”
From the "Are you kidding me?" file, from Vice News the GOP Launched Their Convention by Pretending Trump Kicked Ass on COVID. Republicans cherry picked the few steps Trump did take to create a whole new narrative around the failed response to coronavirus. The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday with a clear aim: To gaslight voters into believing that President Trump moved fast to ward off the coronavirus. “It takes a true leader to solve problems,” the convention’s primetime began, with a video narrated by actor Jon Voight. “COVID-19: While others criticized without solutions, President Trump’s swift action saved lives. While leading Democrats want to keep businesses closed down, our president is leading the way for a full economic recovery.” Wow...........
In national news,
Extension of COVID-19 spending programs until 2021 a 'credibility risk' for Canada, economists say. 'The more we make these programs feel quasi-permanent, the more there will be a harsher, more critical look at this spending ... it suddenly becomes a structural deficit'. A recent move by the federal government to extend its major COVID-19 assistance program well into 2021 risks turning Canada’s deficit into a structural shortfall, several economists and fiscal experts warn. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced last week that Ottawa would be extending its Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by another month, then effectively replacing the CERB with a new program — the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) — until September 2021. The new CRB will give $400 a week for 26 weeks to Canadians who are ineligible for employment insurance, compared with $500 per week under the CERB. Ottawa is also tweaking EI rules to make it available to any workers who can demonstrate at least 120 hours of work. Some economists and fiscal experts say the one-year extension goes against months of warnings that Ottawa risks turning temporary COVID-19 spending measures into permanent fixtures, as the pandemic enters its sixth month.
Canadians' confidence in vaccines a key priority heading into fall: Dr. Tam. Canada’s top doctor says increasing awareness of the reliability of vaccination not only against the fast-approaching seasonal flu but also COVID-19 is a top priority for her team moving forward. Dr. Theresa Tam was responding to a new survey by Statistics Canada that shows about one in seven Canadians are either somewhat unlikely or very unlikely to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s made available. "Every concern is a valid concern and we do need to address them in more detail, especially as we are working very hard in the provision of a safe and effective vaccine or vaccines for Canadians," she told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Following a difficult few months that saw consumer behaviour drastically change during the pandemic, Starbucks is now offering one of its most popular drinks earlier than ever in what may be an attempt to lure customers back. Beginning Tuesday, Starbucks customers across Canada and the U.S. will be able to order the famed Pumpkin Spice Latte and a few other fall-themed drinks and treats, including the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Salted Caramel Mocha, pumpkin scones, and pumpkin cream cheese muffins. It’s the earliest release date for Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, with last year’s launch occurring on Aug. 27.
In Ontario,
A campus coalition at Canada's largest university is urging the school to listen to its own expert research on COVID-19 and roll back its plan to reopen doors to students and staff in the fall. In an online panel held earlier this week, the University of Toronto Faculty Association discussed what it described as the administration's refusal to address health and safety concerns raised by staff and students despite the school's high-profile health-care advocacy work during the global pandemic. Association President Terezia Zoric said she disagrees with the administrations decision to hold in-person classes, arguing the move carries unnecessary risks for the entire university community. “It is a complete lost opportunity for the university's senior administration not to consult with their own in-house experts who are also being consulted by the World Health Organization and federal provincial governments,” Zoric said.
The Ontario government is investing in a number of advertisements they say will help inform parents and members of the public of the health measures that will be in place as kids return to schools in September. The advertisements, which will run on the radio in both English and French as well as in print, don’t tell parents much they don’t already know. In one of them, the province reiterates that elementary students will be in class five days a week while secondary students will start the year in an adaptive model with “part-time classroom attendance.” “To keep everyone safe, steps are being taken to maintain physical distancing through the use of social groupings, lunch in classrooms and limited interaction among students and staff,” the ad reads. “To learn about other health and safety measures in our schools, please visit Ontario.ca/ReopeningSchools.”
In local news,
After months of virtual visits, friends and family members can now visit their loved ones at Lakeridge Health hospitals in person. Lakeridge closed its doors to most visitors in March due to COVID-19 precautions, with the exception of pediatric patients, labouring women and patients who were close to death. Kim Lawn, director of patient experience, explains more exceptions were introduced in June but it wasn’t until mid-August that visits were allowed for most patients admitted to hospital. The new policy impacts hundreds of people with more than 750 in-patient individuals at five Lakeridge hospitals across Durham Region in Ajax, Oshawa, Whitby, Port Perry and Bowmanville.
Durham’s top doctor says he is in “no position” to second guess the province when it comes to back-to-school plans, and he doesn't recommend mandatory masks for students in kindergarten to Grade 3. Dr. Robert Kyle was on hand to answer questions from Durham District School Board trustees at a special board meeting last (Tuesday) night.
Sports, sports, sports,
Blue Jays: Red Sox pile on in 6th to win. The Red Sox rode a six-run 6th inning to get a 9-7 win over the Blue Jays. Probable Jays pitcher tonight is.....they are not saying. For the Sox, Brewer.
Musing,
"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." (MARK TWAIN)
If I consistently agree with you, it just means I don't care about your opinion.
On this day in history, in 1939, the First televised Major League baseball game.
On August 26, 1939, the first televised Major League baseball game is broadcast on station W2XBS, the station that was to become WNBC-TV. Announcer Red Barber called the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1978, "Grease" movie soundtrack earns its second #1 hit.
The 1960s was the final decade in which the musical hits of Broadway were routinely and successfully adapted by Hollywood into big-budget screen versions.
National Dog Day eh? "Hey, what's your name?"
Today is - NATIONAL DOG DAY – NATIONAL WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY – NATIONAL WEBMISTRESS DAY – NATIONAL CHERRY POPSICLE 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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