Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 27,771,984. (Deaths: 902,550 and Recovered: 19,853,985) 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 September 9 2020:
Health Canada reported 133,478 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 7,0303 cases are active, there have been 9,153 deaths and 117,565 people have recovered.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 42,554 total confirmed cases and 2,812 total deaths. Currently, there are 60 people are in hospital with 13 of those in ICU. 38,506 cases have been resolved.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 63,876. (1,9,44 are active)
The Region of Durham reported 1,928 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 1 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 38 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington rose to 116 total cases. (4 are in isolation, 105 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized currently: "zero")
In international news,
Positive COVID-19 tests in no-lockdown Sweden hit lowest rate since pandemic started. Sweden avoided a lockdown and instead emphasized personal responsibility, social distancing and good hygiene in a bid to slow rather than eradicate COVID-19. Sweden carried out a record number of new coronavirus tests last week with only 1.2% coming back positive, the health agency said on Tuesday, the lowest rate since the pandemic began at a time when countries across Europe are seeing surges in infections. Sweden avoided a lockdown and instead emphasized personal responsibility, social distancing and good hygiene in a bid to slow rather than eradicate a disease deemed here to stay. Whereas many countries have changing rules and lockdown restrictions, Carlson said the Swedish guidelines were designed to be easy to understand and retain for an extended period. “There are no other tricks before there are available medical measures, primarily vaccines. The Swedish population has taken this to heart,” he said. More than 5,800 people with the disease have died, many times higher per capita than in neighboring Nordic countries but lower than Italy, Spain and the UK. Deaths, hospitalisations and new cases have now dropped to low levels whilst countries such as Spain and France contend with surges in infections after they lifted lockdowns. Sweden carried out over 120,000 tests last week with just over 1,300 coming back positive, far below the 19% positive tests hit during some weeks in the spring, and now has the lowest rate of spread in Scandinavia.
U.S. biker rally may have led to 260,000 new COVID-19 cases: study. A massive motorcycle rally held in South Dakota last month may have been responsible for 260,000 new coronavirus cases, according to an analysis published Tuesday. This figure, which came from a paper that hasn't yet been peer-reviewed, would represent the biggest COVID-19 spreading event documented in the U.S. to date. The study was published by the Institute of Labor Economics and conducted by economists at the University of San Diego who studied the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which drew an estimated 460,000 people from August 7 and August 16. The analysis is a statistical approximation based on anonymized cell phone data that documented the influx in the town from non-residents and showed where they came from. The data also showed a rise in foot traffic at restaurants and bars, retail establishments, entertainment venues, hotels and campgrounds. The bikers generally did not wear masks or practice social distancing, the study said, citing media reports.
I wonder if our teachers would do this? 'A breath of fresh air': Bosnian village builds open-air classroom to protect kids from COVID-19. 'I am so thrilled to be back at school and see my classmates at last, and to have this new summer classroom,' said 14-year-old Anel Hodzic. Teachers at an elementary school in the village of Kacuni in central Bosnia have used their summer holiday to build an open-air classroom outside their school to the joy of their students and local community. “Our model offers a breath of fresh air both for teachers and students. It allows us to breathe, speak and work freely. I am so proud of it,” said Mirza Begovic, a language teacher at the Kacuni school, which has 1,000 students.
In national news,
Nightclubs and banquet halls ordered to close as B.C. announces tough new venue restrictions. B.C.'s nightclubs and stand-alone banquet halls have been ordered to close immediately to help stop the spread of COVID-19, health officials announced Tuesday. The sale of alcohol in all bars, pubs and restaurants must also cease nightly at 10 p.m. Venues must also close at 11 p.m., unless they are providing full meal service, but they must not serve alcohol. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced measures that would make it easier for people to avoid speaking loudly. Music or other background sounds, such as from televisions, must be no louder than the volume of normal conversation.
'I'm exhausted, devastated': More COVID cases in Calgary schools amid fear and frustration from principals. Jana Macdonald, principal at Bowness High School which has at least one case and is quarantining some students, shared an emotional post. Fear and frustration are growing in Calgary schools as parents, students and staff share information about an increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases, while government response remains slow, vague and limited. This weekend, Jana Macdonald, principal at Bowness High School, which has at least one case and is quarantining some students, shared an emotional social media post about her concerns over school safety and pointed the finger straight at the UCP government. “I’m exhausted, devastated, furious, frustrated, scared, anxious, sad and so many, many more things all at once,” Macdonald posted on her Facebook page, with other staff reacting in agreement. Macdonald wrote the school has done its best to follow Alberta Health Services guidelines, but staff and students still feel afraid after the positive COVID case. She specifically blames Premier Jason Kenney and Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange for a lack of support. “I feel a very heavy load and I’ve never been more angry. This could have been avoided with the support of the government . . . this is not my fault. This is your fault Jason (Kenney). This is your fault Adriana (LaGrange).”
In Ontario,
Things in Ontario are not looking good, right now. Public health measures won’t be loosened for at least another month, says minister. As kids across Ontario head back to school for the first time since the spring, the provincial government says they’ll be keeping public health and safety measures the way they are for at least another month. Provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott says the government won’t be making any changes to the measures that are meant to slow the spread of COVID-19, like the restrictions around gatherings and large events. Elliott adds that the pause also means the limits on the number of people allowed in social bubbles will stay in place. She says the pause in necessary to avoid a spike in the number of cases, which would lead to broad closures and more shutdowns. In recent weeks, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported per day in Ontario has been on the rise.
Court rules that Ontario mom can send her son back to class, despite father’s objections. An Ontario court has ruled that a nine-year-old boy should be going back to school in-person, despite his dad’s objections. Superior Court Justice Andrea Himel was asked to weigh in on the case of two divorced parents who butted heads over their son’s education during the pandemic. The boy’s mother argued that it was in their son’s best interest to attend class in-person, since he goes to a French immersion school and neither parent speaks the language fluently enough to help with schoolwork. She added that their son has been struggling with feelings of isolation from being stuck at home. However, the boy’s father said he wasn’t comfortable sending their son back to class at a time when COVID-19 still presents a serious risk. He argued that the risk could be much better managed through at-home, online learning. In her decision, Justice Himel says the case is not unique, adding that there are many similar disputes seeking urgent resolution as schools reopen for the first time since the spring. Although the parents share custody, Justice Himel sided with the mom, saying that the provincial government is better positioned than courts to address the health and safety risks of going to school.
Busloads of students isolating following positive COVID-19 cases at Ottawa schools. Ottawa's top doctor says 190 students and fewer than 10 teachers are self-isolating out of an abundance of caution after COVID-19 cases were found in individuals linked to five schools in Ottawa. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches says these COVID-19 cases did not occur at any of the schools. The reason so many students are isolating is because OPH has chosen to have entire busloads stay home and monitor for symptoms. "We’re just being cautious using the whole bus because we don’t yet have all the confidence that people know how to stay to their assigned seat," Dr. Etches said. "We can avoid having to send so many children home if people really stick to those assigned seats and we have a process to make sure that’s happening." Cases were confirmed in individuals who either attend or work at five schools in the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE). Ottawa Public Health did not identify whether the cases were in staff or students, citing medical privacy.
In local news,
There were 16 new COVID-19 cases in Durham between Friday and Tuesday. The data is not published on the weekend or on holidays. The increase works about to an average of four new cases per day. To date 1,928 cases have been reported in Durham. Of those 1,711 are listed as resolved. There are currently 16 active cases in the region.
Durham District School Board trustees are debating making masks mandatory for students in Grades 1 to 3. Whitby Trustee Scott Templeton moved a motion at a special board meeting on Sept. 8 that would make masks a requirement for those grades, “subject to the duty to accommodate.” The vote was deferred until the Sept. 21 board meeting to allow more information to be gathered. The province currently requires mandatory masks for students in Grades 4 to 12 and the DDSB “strongly” encourages masks for younger students.
4 Durham residents who attended wedding events test positive for COVID-19. The residents are among 23 people who tested positive for the virus after attending a series of events in Markham, Whitchurch-Stouffville and Toronto. The wedding events took place between Aug. 28 and 29, according to York Region Public Health. Of the confirmed cases, 18 are residents of York Region, four are residents of Durham and one is a resident of Peel.
Musing,
Despite COVID-19, summer FLEW by!
Took a quick break from writing...and today, it's not looking as rosy as last week. Cases are going up.....almost everywhere in Canada.
I love how nerds embrace who they are. "Cool" people could take a lesson.
"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained." (C. S. LEWIS)
"Bragging is a fool's method of teaching." (me)
Did you know the first Chiropractor was a Canadian....and he believed in ghosts.
On this day in history, The King of Rock and Roll teams up with TV’s reigning variety program. Elvis Presley appears on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the first time on September 9, 1956. After earning big ratings for “The Steve Allen Show,” the Dorsey Brothers “Stage Show” and “The Milton Berle Show,” Sullivan finally reneged on his Presley ban, signing the controversial singing star to an unprecedented $50,000 contract for three appearances. With 60 million viewers—or 82.6 percent of TV viewers at the time—tuning in, the appearance garnered the show’s best ratings in two years and became the most-watched TV broadcast of the 1950s.
On September 9, 1942, a Japanese floatplane drops incendiary bombs on an Oregon state forest—the first and only air attack on the U.S. mainland in the war. Launching from the Japanese sub I-25, Nobuo Fujita piloted his light aircraft over the state of Oregon and firebombed Mount Emily, alighting a state forest. The president immediately called for a news blackout for the sake of morale. No long-term damage was done, and Fujita eventually went home to train navy pilots for the rest of the war.
Today is - CARE BEARS SHARE YOUR CARE DAY – NATIONAL TEDDY BEAR DAY – NATIONAL WIENER SCHNITZEL 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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