Lygenztia *590 (A double-double, with a shot of mortality, please..................) Wednesday October 28, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 44,328,799. (Deaths: 1,173,225 and Recovered: 32,493,595)
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 October 28, 2020:
Health Canada reported 222,887 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 26,422 cases are active, there have been 10,001 deaths and 186,464 people have recovered.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 72,051 total confirmed cases and 3,103 total deaths. 7,418 are active. Currently, there are 312 people are in hospital with 75 of those in ICU. 61,530 cases have been resolved. (Hospitalizations in Ontario are steadily rising and of note, the total capacity number for ICU beds is 350. ICU bed utilization is the number to watch, not the total cases.)

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 101,885. (8,927 are active) Quebec case numbers continue to rise at the highest rate in Canada.

The Region of Durham reported 2,906 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 4 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 42 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington rose to 196 cases. (9 are in isolation, 178 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "2") School and Child Care Center outbreaks sit at "6", with 5 having been concluded.

In international news,
(The Lord works in mysterious ways) From Reuters, Pope Francis on Wednesday described the COVID-19 pandemic as a tough “lady” taskmaster who must be obeyed, but he and most close aides did not wear masks at his general audience. At the start of the indoor audience Francis apologised to people for not coming down from the marble stage. “I will stay up here. I would very much like to come down and greet each of you but we have to keep our distances,” he said to the crowd of several hundred, nearly all wearing masks. “If I come down, immediately people will form groups ... and this is against the care, the precautions, we must have in the face of this lady named COVID, who is doing us much harm,” he said.

A weird one from Vice news. How 'Death Cafes' Are Surviving the Pandemic. The places were created as a way to talk about mortality. But with death occupying everyone's thoughts, are they still relevant? When India went into lockdown, the owners of Talking Death, a forum in Mumbai where customers could sip tea, eat cakes and dwell on the briefness of life, was pondering its own demise. Like many other meet-ups affected by stay-at-home rules during the pandemic, it had to go online. But the two counselling psychologists who started it, Devaunshi Mehta and Zena Yarde, worried that with death in the news every day, people might not want to take time out to dwell on it. Yarde also noted that going online has allowed international visitors to take part. "We had someone from Canada who joined us. And the one before that, we had someone from Boston," she said.

From Fox News, Dodgers' Justin Turner seen on field after World Series win without mask after positive COVID-19 test. Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was seen without a face mask after his team's World Series win Tuesday, despite learning he tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to reports. Turner was removed from Game 6 two innings before the team put the game away Tuesday night. It was revealed before the Dodgers’ celebration that Turner had tested positive for COVID-19 and was subsequently removed from the game. He was the first positive test in MLB in six weeks. “After the completion of the game tonight we were informed by Major League Baseball that Justin Turner received a positive COVID test that’s why he was removed from the game. We have no other details at this time,” Fox Sports Kevin Burkhardt said from his studio. Turner returned to Globe Life Field wearing a mask to celebrate with his teammates, but appeared to remove the face-covering during a team photo.

In national news,
(Wonder who got the contract?) Feds launch new ad campaign reminding Canadians of COVID-19 basics. With Canada well into the second wave of COVID-19, the federal government is rolling out a new ad campaign featuring Canada’s top doctors. The 30-second spots, one in English and one in French, are reminding people of the basic health precautions to be taking. “The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada is serious, we must continue to practice all public health measures,” says Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam. “Follow local guidelines for gatherings, maintain physical distancing, wash your hands, wear a mask, and download the COVID Alert app. If you have symptoms, even mild ones, stay home. Protect yourself and others, we've come too far to stop now,” she continues.

Is more testing behind the record numbers of COVID-19 cases in Canada? Your testing questions answered. Many provinces have been breaking daily new case records for COVID-19, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. But these provinces are all running more tests now than they were at the previous peak in the spring when a shortage of tests meant even people with very typical COVID-19 symptoms couldn't get tested. So, are the increased case counts simply due to more testing? For the most part, no. But the amount of testing does make a difference. For Ontario, the new records are partly due to the increase in testing, said Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease specialist with Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ont., in an interview with CBC News Network. Ontario completed over 48,000 tests on Oct. 7 (two days before setting a record of 949 cases in one day) — about quadruple the 12,000 it ran on April 24 when the province hit a spring peak of 640 cases. At that time, Chakrabarti estimates about three-quarters of cases were being missed, and there were likely closer to 2,500 cases a day in late April. However, the real number of cases in Canada is definitely higher than it's been since the spring peak. Full story here.

In Ontario,
(You know you can go for a walk, right?) Fitness industry urging public pressure to reopen shuttered Ontario gyms. The county’s largest chain of fitness clubs is encouraging its members to take part in a letter- writing campaign to urge provincial officials to re-open gyms. In an email blast sent out to members, GoodLife Fitness is encouraging them to write letters to Premier Doug Ford, Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams and Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Lisa MacLeod. “As we all know, the fitness industry in Ontario is currently facing serious challenges as a result of the global pandemic,” the letter to members reads. “Between mandated shutdowns, capacity restrictions, and ongoing questions about the safety of fitness facilities, our industry is facing the most difficult time in its history.” (It's because they care about your health, that's their only motivation, right?)

Health minister says there is a need to increase testing in some GTA neighbourhoods as province reports 827 new cases of COVID-19. Health Minister Christine Elliott says that there are plans to increase pop-up and mobile testing in several Toronto and Peel Region neighbourhoods where there has been a noticeable drop in numbers since the province switched to an appointment-only system earlier this month. Elliott made the comment to reporters during a briefing on Tuesday afternoon, just hours after the province reported another 827 new cases of COVID-19 on just 23,900 tests. The testing number represented roughly half of Ontario’s peak capacity and a reduction of more than 4,000 fewer tests from one day prior. “We know that since we have moved into testing by appointment only there are some people who are not coming in for testing so we need to go to them,” Elliott said. “While we have permanent sites we also have mobile sites as well because we don’t want anybody who needs to be tested to go without a test.” The province reported 851 new cases on Monday, a record-setting 1,042 on Sunday and 978 on Saturday. The latest numbers reported on Tuesday generated a test positivity rate of 3.46 per cent. The positivity rate hovered in the low to mid two per cent range on several previous days.

In local news,
Durham getting more than $3.6-million from province to protect people with housing insecurity. The provincial government has announced that Durham Region is getting more than $3.63-million to protect vulnerable people, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, during the pandemic. Officials say that the new funding will help build modular housing units and expand shelter programs, so that people are able to properly self-isolate and recover from COVID-19. Other funding will also provide targeted rent relief for people and families. “Isolating and recovering from COVID-19 can be particularly challenging when you are struggling to find adequate housing,” said Durham MPP Lindsey Park. According to the province, more than 1,500 housing units will be created or renovated through the program.

For the kiddies, things to do: 7 spooky Halloween events for kids in Durham. Lot's of activities in the article, check it out!

Musing,
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” (unknown)

Signs of the apocalypse? Hang on to your boot-straps, folks! The Prime Minister is now using slang to connect with the common folk. He said this winter is "going to suck". (Thanks for the tip, justin.)

Have you ever....been to a Death Cafe? (Ya, I figured as much.)

Did you know....the Visual Arts Centre is one of the original river mills built in Bowmanville? Vanstones' Mill was reported to be the first.

On this day in history, in 1978, Hockey Legend Bobby Orr scores his last career NHL goal (vs Detroit Red Wings). When I played road hockey as a kid, you either called "ORR" or "SITTLER". And "ROGIE" if you were going in net. GODDAM those frozen orange plastic balls hurt when they hit you. (The above photo is not the final Orr goal, but it is one of the most iconic photos in NHL history.)

In 1919, U.S. Congress enforces Prohibition.
Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment.

Today is - NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY – NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY – NATIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE DAY


The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.

Lygenztia *589 (Open, for now........) Tuesday October 27, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 43,884,197. (Deaths: 1,166,240 and Recovered: 32,243,601)
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 9:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday October 27, 2020:
Health Canada reported 220,213 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 25,934 cases are active, there have been 9,973 deaths and 184,306 people have recovered.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 71,224 total confirmed cases and 3,099 total deaths. 7,286 are active. Currently, there are 295 people are in hospital with 78 of those in ICU. 60,839 cases have been resolved. (Hospitalizations in Ontario are steadily rising and of note, the total capacity number for ICU beds is 350. ICU bed utilization is the number to watch, not the total cases.)

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 100,922. (8,947 are active) Quebec case numbers continue to rise at the highest rate in Canada.

The Region of Durham reported 2,881 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 3 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 42 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington rose to 195 cases. (11 are in isolation, 175 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "2") School and Child Care Center outbreaks sit at "7", with 3 having been concluded.

In international news,
(Eat your vitamins) More than 80 per cent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had vitamin D deficiency: study. More than 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Spain had a vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study. Researchers at the University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla in Santander, Spain looked at the vitamin D levels of 216 patients admitted to hospital for coronavirus treatment between March 10 and March 31. For the study, the 216 hospitalized patients’ vitamin D levels were compared to those of a control group of 197 people of similar age and sex from a population-based cohort in the same geographical area.

Polish PM warns of 'massive' COVID risk from abortion rights protests. (Warsaw) Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called on Tuesday for an end to mass protests over abortion rights, saying those attending were disregarding “massive risks” from the resurgent coronavirus pandemic. Five days of nationwide protests have followed a ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal last week that amounts to a near-total ban on abortion in the predominantly Catholic nation. Once the decision goes into effect, pregnancy termination will only be legal in Poland in the case of incest, rape or a threat to the mother’s health. The court said abortion due to foetal abnormalities, the only other case for legal termination in Poland until now, was unconstitutional. “These outbursts we are seeing in the streets should absolutely not be taking place. We will oppose any acts of aggression decisively,” Morawiecki said.

Belgium is on the brink of a coronavirus disaster as a top health official warned that the country could run out of intensive care beds in as little as two weeks. The country of 11.5 million people has reported on average more than 13,000 cases a day in the past week, according to the national public health institute Sciensano. The COVID-19 outbreak in Belgium is the second worst in Europe in terms of new cases per capita, after only the Czech Republic. Yves Van Laethem, Belgium's spokesperson for the fight against the coronavirus, warned that unless Belgians change their behavior, intensive care units will reach their capacity of 2,000 patients in 15 days. At a news conference Monday, Van Laethem said that 1,000 of the country's intensive beds are already being used, with total of 1,250 set to be occupied by the end of the week. Both hospital and intensive care admissions are doubling every eight days, he added. In an interview with state broadcaster RTBF on Monday, Van Laethem added that a decision would be made on whether to impose a second lockdown "before the end of the week," adding that if Belgium doesn't see "signs of a slowing down of hospital admissions", stricter measures may be necessary.

In national news,
(Don't do what Donny Don't does) An op-ed from the Toronto Sun, Politicians going bare-faced leaves them red-faced. Politicians set the rules but don’t always follow them. This weekend a federal Liberal cabinet minister and Ontario Conservative MPP were called out for failing to wear masks in public. Justin Trudeau’s health minister was essentially telling Canadians “Do as I say, not as Hajdu,” when she was photographed without a mask on over the weekend at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. A photo posted to Twitter on Sunday showed Liberal MP and health minister Patty Hajdu sitting in the Air Canada lounge and having a laugh with an unseen person while not wearing a mask. In Ontario, it was Sam Oosterhoff, the parliamentary assistant to the education minister, who was caught bare-faced in public. Oosterhoff posted photos on Facebook over the weekend with 42 people, none of them wearing masks. Quickly called out online, Oosterhoff deleted the photos and apologized. The MPP from Niagara said that there were fewer than 50 people at the event which took place in a banquet hall and that it followed all local rules and public health measures.

Steroids, inhalers and ventilators: What Quebec doctors are learning about COVID-19. New techniques and treatments are being used to treat COVID-19 patients, but much is still unknown. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic's first wave, Dr. Joseph Dahine and his colleagues could spend over an hour huddled around the bedside of a patient in the ICU in Laval, Que., brainstorming treatment options. There were no textbooks to tell them what to do, so they became medical detectives as Quebec faced a surge of cases, learning everything they could about the physiology and nuances of COVID-19 to save lives. Dahine, an intensive care specialist at Cité de la Santé hospital, said he worked gruelling, 12-hour days through the spring, discussing with his team on breaks. "We experimented a lot," he said. What was clear from the outset was that COVID-19 was no normal respiratory disease. Often, patients would come in with extremely low oxygen saturation levels.

(Contrary to what a Johns Hopkins University study reported a few months ago) Dog tests positive for COVID-19, first in Canada. Health officials have identified a dog in Ontario's Niagara region with COVID-19, making it the first confirmed canine case in Canada, The Toronto Star Reports. Researchers involved in the study say there is no need for pet owners to worry. The dog resides in a household of six, and four have tested positive for COVID-19. The canine showed no symptoms and had a "low viral load," the Star reports, suggesting dogs are unlikely to fall seriously ill or pass the virus on. In an interview with the Star, Scott Weese, a veterinary internal medicine specialist and director of the University of Guelph’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, and a member of the team that documented the Niagara case says self-isolating individuals should limit their pets' contact with others. “This pandemic is clearly driven almost exclusively by people,” said Weese told the publication. “Ultimately, we want to keep this purely a human disease because it’s easier to contain.”

In Ontario,
Toronto wants province to cap commission fees for food delivery services. Toronto’s mayor is supporting a motion that asks the provincial government to cap commission fees for food delivery service companies, adding that it’s “one piece of the puzzle” in keeping restaurants afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking with CP24 Monday evening, John Tory said that following much discussion about the impact of delivery service commission, he had hoped companies would have reduced rates for customers in COVID-19 hot spots. “You got to hope that corporations have the good sense to do something on their own without being forced to do it, but then you realize sometimes they're just not really listening and so you have to do it for them,” Tory said.

Ford not yet ready to place additional restrictions on Halton Region, says local opposition a 'unique situation'. The Ontario government is no longer planning an imminent announcement on whether to move Halton Region into a modified version of Stage 2 with Premier Doug Ford telling reporters that the lack of support among local politicians makes it a “unique situation.” Ford had said on Friday that officials were going to meet this past weekend to discuss the rising case counts in the parts of the GTA that remain in Stage 3 with a decision on whether to impose additional restrictions expected to be announced today. His office, however, confirmed to CP24 that no such announcement was coming.

In local news,
Durham, Halton not going back to Stage 2 just yet. Premier Doug Ford’s office will not announce Monday that Durham and Halton will be sent back to a modified Stage 2. Ford had commented Friday they would be deciding on the fate of the two regions over the weekend. Now the province isn’t ready to scale the two areas back, but will reportedly continue to look at the data. Durham and Halton are the only areas of the GTA that weren’t sent back to a modified Stage 2. Toronto and Peel started Stage 2 October 9 and York moved into modified Stage 2 October 19. Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter doesn’t believe the numbers in Durham are similar to the trends seen in Toronto, Peel and York when they were moved back and doesn’t believe the region is there yet.

'Low risk' respiratory outbreak in diagnostic imaging department at Oshawa hospital. Not COVID-19, but two staff in department have tested positive for it. (WTF??) Lakeridge Health is confirming a respiratory outbreak in the diagnostic imaging department at the Oshawa hospital — the outbreak is not COVID-19. However, the situation is made confusing by the fact that two staff in the department have tested positive for COVID-19. Lakeridge Health spokesperson Sharon Navarro stressed that their cases are unrelated to one another and do not appear to have been acquired in the hospital. “Working together with Durham Region Health Department, this situation has been determined to be low risk and the unit remains open,” Lakeridge Health says in an Oct. 27 statement about the respiratory outbreak. “Lakeridge Health continues to take all necessary steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and all other respiratory illnesses, including universal masking at all sites, enhanced cleaning, hand hygiene and active screening at all hospital entrances.” Any confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks in institutions such as hospitals are listed by the Durham health department on its COVID-19 data tracker.

Musing,
"Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody." (BENJAMIN FRANKLIN)

Are you giving out candy this Halloween?

Have you ever....soaped windows on Halloween?

Did you know....craft beer originated in America in 1981? Ken Grossman, Paul Camusi and Steve Harrison filled ice chests with pale ale samples and sold the first cases to a few bars, restaurants and stores in downtown Chico, California. Today Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the nation’s bestselling pale ale and second bestselling beer from an independent craft brewer.

On this day in history, in 1904, New York City subway opens.
At 2:35 on the afternoon of October 27, 1904, New York City Mayor George McClellan takes the controls on the inaugural run of the city’s innovative new rapid transit system: the subway.

The Red Sox win first championship since 1918.
On October 27, 2004, the Boston Red Sox win the World Series for the first time since 1918, finally vanquishing the so-called “Curse of the Bambino” that had plagued them for 86 years. “This is for anyone who has ever rooted for the Red Sox,” the team’s GM told reporters after the game. “This is for all of Red Sox Nation, past and present.”

Today is - NATIONAL BLACK CAT DAY – NAVY DAY – NATIONAL AMERICAN BEER DAY


The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.

Lygenztia *588 (A grand, you say??.............) Monday October 26, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 43,405,696. (Deaths: 1,159,835 and Recovered: 31,935,211)
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 Monday October 26, 2020:
Health Canada reported 216,104 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 24,729 cases are active, there have been 9,946 deaths and 181,429 people have recovered.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 70,373 total confirmed cases and 3,093 total deaths. 7,120 are active. Currently, there are 278 people are in hospital with 79 of those in ICU. 60,160 cases have been resolved. (Hospitalizations in Ontario are steadily rising and of note, the total capacity number for ICU beds is 350. ICU bed utilization is the number to watch, not the total cases.)

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 100,114. (9,143 are active) Quebec case numbers continue to rise at the highest rate in Canada.

The Region of Durham reported 2,834 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 3 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 42 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington rose to 193 cases. (13 are in isolation, 171 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "2") School and Child Care Center outbreaks sit at "7", with 3 having been concluded.

In international news,
From Reuters, Spain declares coronavirus state of emergency. Spain will impose measures including nighttime curfews and limits on the number of people allowed to meet in a bid to contain a surging second wave of coronavirus infections. David Doyle reports. Full video story here.

Europe prepares for more pain ahead as COVID surges. European leaders warned of difficult months ahead as the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic forced authorities to impose new restrictions to try to curb the spread of the disease. Word that a vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc produced immune responses in both elderly and young people offered some positive news. However, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock cautioned that the vaccine would not be widely available until next year and said “we’re not there yet”. Elsewhere the picture was unrelentingly grim as a string of countries reported record increases, led by France, which posted more than 50,000 daily cases for the first time on Sunday, while the continent passed the threshold of 250,000 deaths.

From PVDN, ECONOMIC CLOSINGS ARE IMMINENT IN JALISCO DUE TO INCREASE OF COVID-9, GOVERNOR. The governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro, said this Sunday that the application of the state mechanism of the “emergency button” is “imminent”, with more restrictions on activities due to the outbreak of COVID that the entity has registered in October. “The downward trend that we had achieved throughout the month of September changed in October, and in recent weeks an upward trend has been sustained ,” Alfaro said in a video. “It seems that we lost our fear of the virus. The shopping malls are full, the restaurants with lines to enter, the bars full, houses became centers of meeting and partying, people walking around as if nothing was happening”, he added. The indicators that the entity defined for the activation of the emergency button, he said, have reached a critical point. He referred that there is a cumulative incidence rate of 396.7 cases, with the limit for the button being 400. (Every now and then I allow myself to think we might be able to get to PV this winter. But, as each day passes, I lose hope.)

In national news,
Sobering milestones: Quebec passes 100,000 COVID-19 mark, Ontario counts highest daily count since pandemic start. Despite registering comparable daily tallies, the two provinces long at the epicentre of Canada's COVID-19 cases appeared to be on opposite trajectories. The Canadian provinces hardest hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic released sobering numbers on Sunday, with Quebec’s overall case count passing the 100,000 mark and Ontario registering more than 1,000 single-day cases for the first time since the start of the worldwide outbreak. Public health experts noted that Quebec’s long-standing high case counts appeared to be levelling off, while stressing the week ahead will be crucial to bring Ontario’s surging numbers back under control. Quebec health officials reported 879 new cases, bringing the province’s total to 100,114 infections. The province also recorded 11 additional deaths attributed to the virus, for a total of 6,143. “Comparing the past two weeks, we see that the number of cases is stable, but remains high,” Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said on Twitter, urging people to make an effort to reduce transmission of the virus.

From the National Post, Vote to review Liberals response to COVID-19 highlights showdown between politics and science. Researchers studying the response of political elites here in the early days of the pandemic found no evidence of MPs casting doubt on the pandemic, or spreading conspiracy theories about it. Monday’s vote on a Conservative motion to launch an in-depth review of the Liberal government’s COVID-19 response highlights a key challenge of pandemic politics: how to hold a government accountable for decisions based on science, when the science itself is changing nearly every day. The opposition wants a committee probe into everything from why regulators are taking so long to approve rapid testing to an early decision not to close the border to international travel, and what concerns the Liberals is how that probe is being framed. “One of the narratives that I find most distressing coming from the opposition, is that somehow because advice changed at some point that the government was hiding information or that the government was giving misinformation,” Health Minister Patty Hajdu said late last week. “And nothing could be further from the truth.” It’s not the science itself that’s up for debate, said Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole.

In Ontario,
Yesterday, Ontario records more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time ever. Ontario is reporting more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time, setting another record for the number of infections in a single day. Health officials confirmed 1,042 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario on Sunday. It comes after the province saw 978 infections on Saturday. According to modelling data released by the provincial government in late September, Ontario was forecast to hit 1,000 new cases per day by mid-October. As usual, the majority of cases were found in Ontario's four COVID-19 hotspots, which are currently in a modified Stage 2. There are 309 new cases in Toronto, 289 in Peel Region, 117 in York Region and 80 in Ottawa. Ontario also reported seven new COVID-19-related deaths in the province, bringing the total number of fatalities to 3,093. The total number of lab-confirmed infections in the province is now 70,373, including deaths and recoveries. There were 736 more cases considered to be resolved by officials on Sunday. The province now has a total of 60,160 recovered patients. The seven-day rolling average of new cases now stands at 857 compared to 747 a week ago.

Business owners in Halton and Durham fear possible Monday lockdown. With Toronto, Peel and York already in a so-called modified Stage 2 lockdown, business owners in Durham and Halton find out Monday whether they, too, will be forced to comply with COVID restrictions. Modified Stage 2 measures have put an end to indoor dining, closed bars and shuttered gyms, and other operations in Toronto, York and Peel. Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter urged the province to examine the data as he doesn’t believe the uptick in COVID-19 cases is the result of culinary or community businesses. “Our restaurants are doing an extraordinary job in tracing and using PPEs. It will be devastating if we take a step back to (Stage 2),” Carter said Sunday. He blamed the rising number of cases on private gatherings and noted there has been some spread of the COVID virus in schools. “Small businesses are just holding on and another shutdown will close them down,” Carter said. The mayors of communities in Halton Region — Burlington’s Marianne Meed Ward, Halton Hills’ Rick Bonnette, Milton’s Gord Krantz, and Oakville’s Rob Burton — sent a letter Premier Doug Ford, urging him to reject a blanket approach that “unfairly punishes” small businesses.

In local news,
Durham Region reported 41 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, following 34 on Saturday and 51 on Friday. There are 235 active cases in Durham as of Oct. 25, with 225 people isolating at home and 10 in hospital. The highest number of active cases can be found in Ajax, which has 80. Here is the regional breakdown as of Sunday:

Pickering — 811 total cases, 46 active (nine new cases)
Ajax — 819 total cases, 82 active (14 new cases)
Whitby — 391 total cases, 34 active (eight new cases)
Oshawa — 458 total cases, 53 active (eight new cases)
Clarington — 193 total cases, 15 active (one new case)
Uxbridge — 118 total cases, four active (no new cases)
Scugog — 26 total cases, zero active (no new cases)
Brock — 18 total cases, one active (one new case)

Musing,
"I no longer listen to what people say, I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies." (WINSTON CHURCHILL)

Halton and Durham going to Stage 2, today? So, people in those regions are just going to go to the neighbouring region to dine/drink/shop/socialize.

Have you ever....been to a fondue dinner party? Groovy, baby!!

Did you know....in the early 1900s one thousand dollars was considered to be a "grand" sum of money, and the criminal underground adopted "grand" as a code word for one thousand dollars.

On this day in history, Shootout at the O.K. Corral.
On October 26, 1881, the Earp brothers face off against the Clanton-McLaury gang in a legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. After silver was discovered nearby in 1877, Tombstone quickly grew into one of the richest mining towns in the Southwest. Wyatt Earp, a former Kansas police officer working as a bank security guard, and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, the town marshal, represented “law and order” in Tombstone, though they also had reputations as being power-hungry and ruthless. The Clantons and McLaurys were cowboys who lived on a ranch outside of town and sidelined as cattle rustlers, thieves and murderers. In October 1881, the struggle between these two groups for control of Tombstone and Cochise County ended in a blaze of gunfire at the OK Corral.

In 1825, the Erie Canal opens.
The Erie Canal opens, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York, the driving force behind the project, led the opening ceremonies and rode the canal boat Seneca Chief from Buffalo to New York City.

Today is - NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY – NATIONAL DAY OF THE DEPLOYED – NATIONAL MULE DAY – NATIONAL FINANCIAL CRIME FIGHTER DAY – NATIONAL MINCEMEAT DAY – NATIONAL TENNESSEE DAY


The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.

Lygenztia *587 (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?...........) Friday October 23, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 42,086,550. (Deaths: 1,144,255 and Recovered: 31,232,416)
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 October 23, 2020:
Health Canada reported 209,148 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 23,481 cases are active, there have been 9,862 deaths and 175,085 people have recovered.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 67,527 total confirmed cases (841 new) and 3,071 total deaths. 6,390 are active. Currently, there are 270 people are in hospital with 74 of those in ICU. 58,066 cases have been resolved. (Hospitalizations in Ontario are steadily rising and of note, the total capacity number for ICU beds is 350. ICU bed utilization is the number to watch, not the total cases.)

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 97,321. (9,194 are active) Quebec case numbers continue to rise at the highest rate in Canada.

The Region of Durham reported 2,708 (44 new) confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 2 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 42 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington rose to 183 cases. (10 are in isolation, 164 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "2") School and Child Care Center outbreaks remain at "8", with 2 having been concluded.

In international news,
From Vice News, Inside the World’s Largest Postal Network That Kept India Running Amid Lockdown. The postal service delivered medicine, fruits, protective gear and ventilators. It even ferried money to locked-down residents. By April, mango farmers in the central Indian state of Maharashtra had started to fret. COVID-19 had struck India, and on March 24 Prime Minister Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown. With railways and private transportation shut down, farmers didn’t know how to sell their produce. The annual mango crop was starting to rot. Then, in the last week of April, India Post stepped in. Although buses, tempos and trucks were in lockdown, a handful of essential services were still being allowed to function. India Post, the world’s largest postal system, was one of them.

From Rebel News, CNN's Chris Cuomo caught not following social distancing regulations. CNN host Chris Cuomo has been shamed and threatened with a fine by his building manager for disobeying social distancing regulations and walking through his residential complex without a mask. Fox News’ Tucker Carlson released a letter Cuomo’s building manager had sent to the CNN host on August 6, showcasing a number of complaints from other residents in the building. Cuomo has allegedly been seen numerous times walking around the premises without a mask, in clear violation of health orders from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and building policy. “Dear Mr. Cuomo, as I’m sure you know, because of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, on April 15, 2020 Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.17 which requires anyone over the age [of] two to wear a face mask or cloth that covers their mouth and nose while in a public space,” the letter stated, according to Carlson.

From PVDN, Active cases of coronavirus, Covid-19, have been on the rise and three hospitals in Jalisco have become saturated with patients. According to the latest report from the Federal Health Secretariat (Ssa), issued on October 20, the General Hospital Regional 45 of the IMSS, the General Hospital of Puerto Vallarta of the ISSSTE, and the Military Nursing of Zapopan de la Sedena are currently at 100% hospital occupation. Although the Ssa does not detail the beds that were enabled in each of the medical units, it explains that the figures correspond to general beds, that is, those that do not have a ventilator. Of the six beds used exclusively for Covid19 patients in the General Hospital of Puerto Vallarta, three are occupied.

In national news,
Alberta pilot project will offer rapid COVID-19 tests to travellers who could then avoid quarantine. The Alberta government is testing a pilot project that could allow travellers to skip the mandatory two-week quarantine, if they agree to a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival. The provincial government has ordered rapid tests, which they say will soon be available at the Calgary airport and a U.S. border crossing. Starting on November 2, travellers can take a test after they arrive in Alberta and will be allowed to leave quarantine if it comes back negative. However, they will have to promise to get a second test on either the sixth or seventh day after their arrival.

New Conservative motion pushing for COVID-19 documents won't be made a confidence vote, Liberals say. The Tories have had a similar motion before the health committee for two weeks, but the Liberals asked for more time to study it and have prevented a vote on it. For the second time this week, the Conservatives are asking Parliament to order an investigation into the Liberal government — this time into how the Liberals have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike with the first Tory motion, there doesn’t appear to be any danger of a snap election call. Two Liberal sources confirmed to the National Post they won’t deem the second motion a confidence matter, making the vote scheduled for Monday a much less dramatic affair. Still, Health Minister Patty Hajdu warned that the motion’s current wording — which calls for a wide variety of COVID-19 documents to be produced within 15 days — is unacceptable for the government.

Canada breaks record for number of new COVID-19 cases in a single day. Canada has reported its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day, breaking a record set in the spring as two provinces announced their worst one-day tallies. According to CTVNews.ca’s coronavirus tracker, Canada recorded 2,786 new cases on Thursday, breaking the previous record of 2,698 cases, which was set on Oct. 17. This is also the first time the country surpassed the May 3 tally of 2,760 cases. This number was only as high as it was because it included 1,317 missing cases in Quebec from earlier in the pandemic. At the time, the province cited a computer error for the discrepancy.

In Ontario,
Chef warns Toronto dying — and not from COVID. Sounding the alarm that Toronto is “dying,” famous chef Mark McEwan wasn’t just cooking with heat Thursday, he was throwing it too. The owner of popular restaurants and upscale grocery stores is clearly frustrated with the latest 28-day COVID-19 lockdown, which forbids indoor dining. McEwan was responding to the Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey’s heart-wrenching column on Elite Martial Arts Toronto owner Dan Novak suffering through the latest shutdown. “Doug Ford needs to lead Ontario back to work safely,” McEwan tweeted in response to Newstalk 1010 host Jerry Agar posting the column. “Shutdowns are a mistake. Do the right thing and lead the economy back! Bold leadership … Be brave Doug Ford.” It’s not the first time the TV star has spoken out. During the original four-month shutdown, McEwan warned on the CBC in June that establishments “can’t sit idle too much longer” or “it’ll be catastrophic for the restaurant business.” The owner of Bymark, One, Fabbrica and Diwan restaurants said it wasn’t being “taken as seriously” as it should be and “prolonged lockdowns “will be catastrophic for Canada and specifically for Ontario.”

Ford says he is 'super concerned' by Toronto's COVID-19 positivity rate as city reports highest number of new cases in weeks. Premier Doug Ford says that he is “super concerned” by a COVID-19 positivity rate in Toronto that is now nearly double the “high alert” threshold set by his government. Toronto’s seven-day positivity rate stood at 3.2 per cent as recently as Monday but it has since increased to 4.4 per cent and the city’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa has said that she is “concerned that the upward climb is not over.” Speaking with reporters during a briefing at Queen’s Park on Thursday afternoon, Premier Doug Ford said that that he is “definitely concerned” by the apparent trend in Toronto but is still hopeful that it can be reversed.

Sunnybrook hospital declares COVID-19 outbreak. Toronto is dealing with yet another COVID-19 outbreak at a hospital. Sunnybrook hospital is reporting five cases of the coronavirus in a surgical unit at the hospital. A spokesperson says all five people are asymptomatic and one has been discharged from Sunnybrook. In Toronto, there are also outbreaks at St. Michael’s Hosptial, Toronto Western, St. Joseph’s, Scarborough General Hospital and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Outbreaks are defined as at least two cases within a 14-day period.

In local news,
Pickering Legion holding virtual Remembrance Day celebrations. With large gatherings still restricted due to COVID-19, the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 606 in Pickering will be hosting virtual ceremonies on November 11. The legion and city are inviting you and your family to join in from the comfort of your own home. Keep in mind that the public isn’t allowed at the Pickering Civic Complex Cenotaph for this year’s event. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, you can tune in on Facebook for a live stream starting at 10:45 a.m. Click here to find out more.

Musing,
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” (ABRAHAM LINCOLN)

Canadian media is in big trouble right now. We cannot rely on Google, facebook and fifth estate bloggers for our news if democracy is to survive. I don't have a solution, but we should not forget that the media (love 'em or hate 'em) keeps our government in check.

Have you ever....lost all the music on your ipod?

Did you know....Sir Wilfred Laurier won 4 elections to become Prime Minister?

On this day in history, in 42 B.C., Brutus dies by suicide.
Marcus Junius Brutus, a leading conspirator in the assassination of Julius Caesar, dies by suicide after his defeat at the second battle of Philippi. Two years before, Brutus had joined Gaius Cassius Longinus in the plot against the Roman dictator Julius Caesar.

In 2001, the Provisional Irish Republican Army of Northern Ireland commences disarmament after peace talks.

Today is - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – NATIONAL MOLE DAY – NATIONAL BOSTON CREAM PIE DAY – IPOD DAY – SWALLOWS DEPART FROM SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO DAY – NATIONAL TV TALK SHOW HOST DAY


The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.

Lygenztia *586 (You can thank me for your refund.........) Thursday October 22, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 41,549,987. (Deaths: 1,137,322 and Recovered: 30,945,745)
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 Thursday October 22, 2020:
Health Canada reported 206,360 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 22,783 cases are active, there have been 9,829 deaths and 173,748 people have recovered.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 66,686 total confirmed cases (790 new) and 3,062 total deaths. 6,299 are active. Currently, there are 260 people are in hospital with 71 of those in ICU. 57,325 cases have been resolved. (Hospitalizations in Ontario are steadily rising and of note, the total capacity number for ICU beds is 350. ICU bed utilization is the number to watch, not the total cases.)

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 96,228. (8,947 are active) Quebec case numbers continue to rise at the highest rate in Canada.

The Region of Durham reported 2,664 (21 new) confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 3 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 41 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington remains at 181 cases. (11 are in isolation, 161 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "2") School and Child Care Center outbreaks rose to "8", with 2 having been concluded.

In international news,
Slovakia's PM to use army to test every citizen over 10 to avoid new COVID-19 lockdown. Anyone who refuses to take part in the free process or get tested on their own must spend 10 days in quarantine or pay a fine. Slovakia’s prime minister threatened to force into quarantine anyone refusing to take part in a plan to test almost all of the country’s 5.4 million people for COVID-19. With the European Union country struggling to control a spike in new cases, Premier Igor Matovic has balked at imposing strict measures embraced by other nations including curfews and shutdowns. Instead, the government has ordered the military to test every citizen over the age of 10 starting on Oct. 30. Anyone who refuses to take part in the free process or get tested on their own must spend 10 days in quarantine or pay a 1,650 euro (US$1,949) fine. The solution “doesn’t violate the freedom of those who are responsible,” Matovic told journalists in Bratislava Tuesday.

From Reuters, the (U.S.) CDC sees virus cases rising, vaccine by year end. The United States is likely to have enough safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to inoculate the most vulnerable Americans by the end of 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Wednesday. This report produced by Chris Dignam. Full video here. (Provided there is not a civil war after the election.)

From the Emerald Isle...Ireland is first European country to reimpose a lockdown amid a coronavirus resurgence. Ireland became the first European country to reimpose a nationwide lockdown following a surge in coronavirus cases, with its government urging everyone who can to "stay at home." At 12:01 Thursday morning, Ireland entered a six-week lockdown that includes a raft of new restrictions. Schools, however, remain open. A number of European countries have experienced a resurgence in coronavirus cases and hospital admissions. On Wednesday alone, at least 10 European nations announced record numbers of daily cases.

In national news,
Gonna be a COVID Christmas! Canada Post urging you to do your holiday shopping early this year. If you want your packages to arrive in time for the holidays, get your online shopping done early. That’s the message from Canada Post, who are urging last-minute shoppers to change their habits. Canada Post normally reports a surge in deliveries over the holiday season, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put even more pressure on them this year. Instead of crowding into busy malls or stores, many families are turning to online shopping for their gifts. The agency says that capacity could be overwhelmed if they see the typical “late holiday” surge in parcels. To gear up for the holidays, Canada Post has added over 4,000 seasonal employees, increased their fleet by 1,000 vehicles, extended hours at many post offices and more. In many areas, carriers will be delivering mail on weekends during the holiday season.

As Alberta breaks single-day COVID-19 records, minister tests positive and premier self-isolates. Premier tested negative but will continue with isolation period. On a day when Alberta reported a record number of 406 new COVID-19 cases, the province also said a government minister has tested positive for the illness and Premier Jason Kenney is in self-isolation. Kenney's office confirmed to CBC News on Wednesday night that the premier tested negative but will continue with the isolation period. In a statement posted to Twitter Wednesday night, Kenney said he will be isolating at his home in Edmonton until the afternoon of Oct. 29. "I am feeling healthy, and am not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms," Kenney said in the statement. Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard tested positive on Wednesday afternoon and was experiencing "mild symptoms," Harrison Fleming, deputy press secretary for the premier's office, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. Allard recently had a close contact who tested positive, the statement said, and has been self-isolating since being told on the weekend.

(Did West Jet read my blog yesterday????) 'Heard loud and clear': WestJet shifts refund policy for pre-COVID-19 flights. WestJet says it will now offer refunds to passengers whose travel plans were cancelled because of COVID-19. The Calgary-based airline announced Wednesday it was changing the method it would use to offer refunds for cancelled flights. It says it will now provide those affected with reimbursements directly to their original form of payment. The company says the move is to reassure its customers in the post-COVID world. "We have heard loud and clear from the travelling public that in this COVID world they are looking for reassurance on two fronts: the safest possible travel environment; and refunds," said Ed Sims, president and CEO of WestJet, in a statement. All customers who had flights cancelled by WestJet and Swoop as a result of the pandemic are eligible. "Through the efforts of thousands of WestJetters, we are confident that we can now begin providing refunds proactively. We are the first national airline in Canada to do so." Starting Nov. 2, the company will be reaching out to affected guests but cautions there is a backlog, so it will take at least six to nine months for all the refunds to be processed.

In Ontario,
Ontario premier denounces reports of violence at Queen’s Park anti-mask rally. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says there were reports of violence at an anti-mask demonstration at Queen's Park on Wednesday. "We live in a democracy. I've told people if you want to protest, come down to Queen's Park, they're welcome to protest. What I do ask is not to be violent and I hear there was a little bit of violence out there and that's unacceptable," the Premier told reporters at Queen's Park. "If they want to go out there and do cartwheels, jump up and down, hold signs up, shout and scream, that's fine. Violence is where we cross the line and we won't tolerate that for a second. If you're violent with the security folks here, or Toronto police or OPP, it's not going to end well for you." The event follows comments from Kingston-area MPP Randy Hillier, who said he would gather a group of supporters without masks at Queen’s Park Wednesday to test what he called the Ford government's "unlawful orders." In a video statement, the independent MPP said "I will not be protesting, I will be gathering with friends." More on the story here.

Ontario Premier Ford says families can still sue long-term care homes that are “reckless and careless”. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says families can still sue long-term care homes that are reckless and careless. Ford faced several questions on the liability bill introduced by his government during his media briefing Wednesday afternoon. He says the new bill, which many claim will make it tougher for families to sue the homes in the event of a death from improper care, doesn’t protect the long-term care facilities and he adds the legislation is intended to protect those including small business owners and workers who have acted in good faith. The bill was introduced on Tuesday with officials saying it aims to limit COVID-19 liability and protect those who take “honest measures” to follow public health guidelines.

Yet, critics say...Ontario law would make it harder to sue over COVID-19. Families and lawyers of seniors who died of COVID-19 in long-term care are outraged at proposed Ontario legislation that would make it harder to sue nursing homes for damages. “It’s another kick-them-when-they’re down moment,” said Cathy Parkes, who filed a $1.6-million lawsuit after her father, Paul, passed away during a COVID-19 outbreak at Orchard Villa nursing home in Pickering last April. “I’m not backing down,” Parkes said. “We are all riled up, all of us.” Civil suits that don’t meet the threshold of gross negligence and intentional misconduct will likely be dismissed by the courts without costs, according to the bill introduced Tuesday by Attorney General Doug Downey. Downey said the legislation was designed to provide liability protection for health-care institutions, businesses, charities, non-profit organizations, front-line workers and coaches and volunteers if they are blamed for “inadvertent” spread of the virus but made good-faith efforts to follow public health guidelines. It comes as some nursing homes — which have been seeking a level of immunity from claims — are having trouble getting liability insurance after the virus spread like wildfire through the close confines of long-term care. “We’re very worried because everyone has so much exposure right now,” said Donna Duncan of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, which represents about 70 per cent of the province’s 626 nursing homes.

From Peterborough, Public Health says no Halloween masks for trick-or-treaters this year. Kids must wear COVID-19 face coverings only and people urged against hosting Halloween parties. Our first pandemic Halloween need not be scarier than it normally is, according to Peterborough Public Health — as long as young trick-or-treaters and those handing out treats follow strongly recommended COVID-related protocols. During her weekly media briefing held Wednesday (October 21), Peterborough’s medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said that, because the Peterborough region remains in Stage Three of the pandemic recovery process, trick-or-treating can occur but only with a series of safety measures front of mind. “Everyone on both sides of the treats must wear a face covering,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “That means no Halloween masks for children. Stick to face coverings only. We don’t want children wearing both a face covering and a mask. Store-bought masks have holes for the nose and mouth and those are the places face coverings cover.” For those trick-or-treating and those handing out treats, Dr. Salvaterra also strongly recommends following the measures announced earlier this week by Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health. (I've been to Peterborough, on any given day it's scary enough even without costumes. Great souvlaki, though!)

In local news,
Nothing.......calm before the storm? Or, all quiet on the western front?

Musing,
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” (ABRAHAM LINCOLN)

As we gradually give up our Constitutional and civil rights, "all in the name of COVID", I wonder if we will ever get them back?

Could you tolerate another prolonged lock-down?

National Nut day, today. Appropriate, because right now everything is nuts.

WTF is QAnon?

Have you ever....read anything by Mitch Albom?

Did you know....Kinmount (Ontario) is notable for being one of the first sites of an Icelandic settlement in Canada.

On this day in history, Cyclist Lance Armstrong is stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. On October 22, 2012, Lance Armstrong is formally stripped of the seven Tour de France titles he won from 1999 to 2005 and banned for life from competitive cycling after being charged with systematically using illicit performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions as well as demanding that some of his Tour teammates dope in order to help him win races. It was a dramatic fall from grace for the onetime global cycling icon, who inspired millions of people after surviving cancer then going on to become one of the most dominant riders in the history of the grueling French race, which attracts the planet’s top cyclists.

In 1934, FBI agents kill fugitive “Pretty Boy” Floyd.
Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd is shot by FBI agents in a cornfield in East Liverpool, Ohio. Floyd, who had been a hotly pursued fugitive for four years, used his last breath to deny his involvement in the infamous Kansas City Massacre, in which four officers were shot to death at a train station. He died shortly thereafter.

Today is - NATIONAL NUT DAY – NATIONAL COLOR DAY – NATIONAL MAKE A DOG’S DAY


The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.

Lygenztia *585 (Test 1-2-3, Test 1-2-3, Test 1-2-3............) Wednesday October 21, 2020

Worldwide stats provided by worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 41,093,940. (Deaths: 1,130,531 and Recovered: 30,655,537)
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 October 21, 2020:
Health Canada reported 203,688 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 22,151 cases are active, there have been 9,778 deaths and 169,671 people have recovered.

The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 65,896 total confirmed cases (821 new) and 3,053 total deaths. 6,237 are active. Currently, there are 274 people are in hospital with 72 of those in ICU. 56,606 cases have been resolved. (Hospitalizations in Ontario are steadily rising and of note, the total capacity number for ICU beds is 350. ICU bed utilization is the number to watch, not the total cases.)

Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 95,216. (8,693 are active) Quebec case numbers continue to rise at the highest rate in Canada.

The Region of Durham reported 2,643 (41 new) confirmed cases of COVID-19. The site reports 3 current outbreaks (Hospitals, LTCF's and Retirement Homes) with 41 outbreaks having been "concluded." Clarington rose to 181 cases. (15 are in isolation, 157 are resolved and 7 people have passed away. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "2") School and Child Care Center outbreaks rose to "8", with 2 having been concluded.

In international news,
From muy bonita Puerto Vallarta, in order to prevent and contain the transmission of Covid-19, the Jalisco Health Secretariat notified municipalities that cemeteries and pantheons will remain closed during Day of the Dead, as well as the cancellation of all celebrations. Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña confirmed the notification of this mandatory official measure, which must be complied with by municipal authorities, because, in the face of an increase in infections, it seeks to take care of the health and well-being of the people of Vallarta, in addition to avoiding a step backwards to economic closings.

Should Germany impose border controls as Covid-19 rates rise across Europe? A debate over tightening border controls in Germany has been sparked as countries, including Austria and the Czech Republic, battle with increasing coronavirus infections. Back in spring during the first peak of the crisis, Germany hastily introduced border controls as countries around Europe battled to get the number of Covid-19 infections under control. However, it resulted in long queues and chaos at border crossings. Now as a resurgence of coronavirus intensifies, there is disagreement about reintroducing tougher border controls – even within political parties, such as the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU). In view of the worsening situation in Europe, Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann believes it is necessary to talk about border controls again. "The discussion about intensified border controls could flare up again if the incidence of infection in neighbouring countries gets out of control," the CSU politician told the newspapers in the Funke Media Group on Tuesday. "At the same time, we are keeping an eye on the close economic relations where there is regular commuting workers, for example with the Czech Republic and Austria". In Austria the number of new infections is going up rapidly, resulting in tougher coronavirus regulations and a local lockdown in Kuchl, near the German border. A lockdown was also being introduced on Tuesday in nearby Berchtesgadener Land in southern Bavaria.

In national news,
Via Rail to require passengers without masks to provide medical proof of exemption. Via Rail will soon require all passengers not wearing a mask to provide a certificate stating that they are medically exempt from wearing one. According to the rail line’s website, as of Nov. 9, passengers with a medical condition or disability “that makes it difficult to wear a mask must provide an official medical certificate along with a government-issued photo ID.” The medical certificate must indicate the passenger’s full name, specifies that the passenger has a condition or disability that makes it hard to wear a mask and must be dated and signed on official letterhead issued by a health-care provider.

Sadly, a sign of the times. There are alot of angry people out there, thanks to COVID-19. Quebec's public health director says he has a driver and bodyguard because of threats. Quebec's director of public health revealed Tuesday he has a driver and bodyguard to protect him against threats from people upset with his pandemic-related health orders. Dr. Horacio Arruda told reporters he was assigned a driver and bodyguard after the Public Security Department evaluated the threats that had been made against him. Arruda said the security measures have been in place "since the start" but he didn't elaborate.

'Critical' data gaps have greatly hampered Canadian governments' ability to face COVID-19 pandemic: report. These data gaps and inconsistencies have led to serious shortcomings in the timeliness, completeness and quality of Canadian health care,' the report says. The report highlights that some provinces refuse, or at least display a “strong reticence,” to share their health-care data with other organizations. While the provinces were trying to get a grasp of the mortality rate of the COVID-19 virus spreading throughout the country in the spring, federal officials were hitting a data wall. In fact it could take months “and sometimes longer” for basic information, such as that contained in a death certificate, to make its way into national databases tracking COVID-19-related deaths, concludes the first annual report by the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council. “Critical data gaps and a lack of coordinated data in Canada seriously undermine the ability of decision-makers and governments at all levels, as well as the general public, to understand and address key social, health, economic, environmental and energy issues facing Canadians,” the authors remark. The council was put in place in 2017 by the Trudeau government to provide independent advice on how to improve and ensure the quality of Canada’s national statistics system.

In Ontario,
'We can't force people to come in for a test," Ford says after Ontario reports more than 800 new cases despite drop in testing. Ontario reported 821 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and three new deaths, on a drastically lower amount of processed tests, sending the provincewide positivity rate well above three per cent. The new cases were detected on 24,000 tests, less than half of the province’s target for testing announced last month and below one third of what the province agreed to eventually reach under the federal Safe Restart Agreement. As a result, the positivity rate was 3.42 per cent. Provincial labs processed 31,864 specimens on Monday. In moving four regions of the province back into a modified Stage 2 of reopening this month, Premier Doug Ford and other officials have cited a marker where they move to enact measures whenever a region of the province reaches a test positivity rate of 2.5 per cent or greater. The province as a whole exceeded that on Tuesday, with the lowest number of tests processed since sometime in early September.

Ontario extends COVID-19 emergency orders until Nov. 21 amid second wave. Ontario has extended a number of COVID-19 orders until mid-November as the province grapples with the second wave of the disease. In a news release issued late Tuesday morning, the Progressive Conservative government said that the extension will apply to all orders under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) except those that deal with hydro prices and access to electronic personal health information. Orders under the ROA include the province's ability to implement rules on public gatherings, business closures and managing outbreaks in hospitals or long-term care homes. The extension of these orders does not change the length Toronto, Peel Region, Ottawa and York Region will be forced to remain in a modified Stage 2.

In local news,
Ajax and Pickering restaurants trying to survive in the age of COVID. Dining indoors hasn't been as popular as sitting on patio during COVID-19. With colder temperatures moving in and patios becoming less inviting, local restaurants have seen another drop in business. “I think people were very comfortable sitting outside," said Dan Ferracuti, owner of Drums N Flats in Ajax. "Unfortunately, as the weather has been turning, though, we’ve seen the complete opposite." He said the restaurant’s large patio this summer was “a lifesaver.” In June, Ontario entered Stage 2 of opening back up for business following the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing restaurants to welcome guests back to dine on patios. In July, Ontario entered Stage 3, allowing guests to eat inside, with limitations. However, a lot of people still preferred to eat outdoors. “I just think in general people feel better sitting outside still,” said Andrew Jackson, Moxie’s Bar and Grill director of operations. Moxie’s in Pickering had a steady flow of guests on the patio and extended outdoor seating this summer, but prepared for the colder months. “All our booths, we have glass between every single one so that we can seat all of them and so people feel better sitting inside,” Jackson said. Both Moxie's and Drums N Flats are getting positive feedback from those who dine inside. "I think the consensus is that people that have dined with us are very happy with what we’re doing," said Jackson. "We hear it in a lot of feedback online and in person.” As the number of COVID-19 cases has increased again since early September, on Friday, Oct. 9 the Province announced that Toronto, Peel and Ottawa would go back to a modified version of Stage 2.

School boards in Durham are confirming two more COVID-19 cases. One is at St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School at 610 Longworth Avenue in Bowmanville.

Musing,
“Every post is honorable in which a man can serve his country.” (GEORGE WASHINGTON)

Got a promotional e-mail from West Jet yesterday. "Go from snow to sun with our latest schedule." Yes, I will get right on that. Let me book another trip (that will likely get cancelled) and then receive yet another credit I will never be able to use. Pffhttt.....here is the link if you're a gambler.

Sometimes, ending a tradition can be liberating. There are those, that just ain't worth keeping.

Have you ever....made "butter?"

Did you know....there is still a Blockbuster building just outside Owen Sound, Ontario? (On October 19th, I wrote about the anniversary of the first Blockbuster back in 1985). Full story here Petition calls for Blockbuster location in Ontario to be preserved as a museum. In the township of Georgian Bluffs Ont. just west of Owen Sound you can find the former store still adorned with the classic logo across the top. The store itself officially closed in 2011, but it is still gaining visitors and internet fame. The petition originally posted to change.org roughly four months ago is calling for the Blockbuster to be made a heritage site and turned into a museum.

(This one reminds me of Forrest Gump) On this day in history, 1967, Thousands protest the war in Vietnam. In Washington, D.C. nearly 100,000 people gather to protest the American war effort in Vietnam. More than 50,000 of the protesters marched to the Pentagon to ask for an end to the conflict. The protest was the most dramatic sign of waning U.S. support for President Lyndon Johnson’s war in Vietnam. Polls taken in the summer of 1967 revealed that, for the first time, American support for the war had fallen below 50 percent.

Guggenheim Museum opens in New York City.
On October 21, 1959, on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, thousands of people line up outside a bizarrely shaped white concrete building that resembled a giant upside-down cupcake. It was opening day at the new Guggenheim Museum, home to one of the world’s top collections of contemporary art.

Today is - HAGFISH DAY - SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DAY - NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY - NATIONAL REPTILE AWARENESS DAY - MEDICAL ASSISTANTS RECOGNITION DAY


The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
supportontariomade.ca
Here is how to clean your non-medical mask.
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.