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.
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