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.
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