Worldwide stats provided by Worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 97,441,022. (Deaths: 2,086,509 and Recovered: 70,008,064)
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 January 21, 2021:
Health Canada reported 725,495 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 68,413 cases are active, there have been 18,462 deaths and 630,430 people have recovered.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 244,932 total confirmed cases and 5,568 total deaths. 26,467 are active. Currently, there are 1,598 people are in hospital with 395 of those cases currently in ICU. 212,897 cases have been resolved. The government has previously said that once the number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU exceeds 300, it becomes nearly impossible for health-care workers to provide care not related to the disease. Ontario has now surpassed Quebec in active cases.
Quebec continues to have the highest reported cases in the country with 247,236. (18,436 are active)
The Region of Durham reported 9,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (754 active). Clarington rose to 714 cases, of which 62 are active. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "1", total deceased: "9"
In international news,
(Remember this horror show?) Spain opens 200 criminal probes into care home pandemic failings. Spain’s public prosecutor is investigating more than 200 cases of potential criminal mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic at nursing homes, where the virus spread almost unchecked during the devastating first wave. Nearly 43,000 care home residents died of COVID-19 or suspected infection during the March-May first wave of contagion, according to official data. At the time, staff reported shortages of basic protective equipment and army units deployed on disinfection missions discovered unattended bodies at several facilities. The prosecutor’s office said nearly half of its investigations related to homicide through a neglect of duty of care, while it was looking into 21 cases of deficiencies in medical treatment.
In national news,
From the Toronto Sun, Ford does what Trudeau won't — calls Pfizer for vaccines. Ontario Premier Doug Ford did what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau couldn’t or wouldn’t do, he called the president of Pfizer Canada on Tuesday to ask why Ontario in particular — and Canada — face a massive shortage of vaccine shipments. The call was made just hours after Ford had said that if he was PM, he’d be all over Pfizer asking where our vaccine doses are. “I’d be up that guy’s ying-yang so far with a firecracker, he wouldn’t know what hit him,” Ford said. Hours after the colourful statement, Ford was on the phone with Pfizer Canada president Cole Pinnow. “He reiterated the serious impact these cancelled shipments will have on Ontario and sought answers as to why Canada isn’t receiving vaccines as quickly as other countries,” Ford’s office said in a statement Wednesday. Speaking on background, those with knowledge of the call said Ford pressed the company by reminding them that Ontario is a large jurisdiction and a big customer of Pfizer, with millions being spent by the province with the company each year.
In Ontario,
(Really? But...Roman Baber was removed from the PC party for saying this?) Ontario lockdown 'not supported by strong science,' says former chief medical officer of health. The province's top doctor for most of the '90s says the Ford government's COVID-19 response is 'misguided'. (This is not some tin-foil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, folks...read on.) A former chief medical officer of health in Ontario sent an open letter to Doug Ford on Monday, criticizing the province’s lockdown strategy and backing up ousted MPP Roman Baber. Dr. Richard Schabas held the senior position from 1987 to 1997 and served as chief of staff at York Central Hospital during the 2003 SARS crisis. “Lockdown was never part of our planned pandemic response nor is it supported by strong science,” Schabas wrote. Schabas says that the COVID-19 modelling the province is working with is faulty and that fatality rates have declined as doctors and scientists have learned more about the disease. “Reasonable estimates of the infection fatality rate from Covid have been declining as we learn more,” he said. “Models that predicted hundreds of thousands of deaths from Covid in Canada were badly wrong because they used incorrect, exaggerated inputs.” Schabas also voiced his support for the anti-lockdown letter that Baber sent to Ford last week — a letter that resulted in his expulsion from the PC caucus on Friday. “MPP Roman Baber sent you a public letter calling on your government to change course on Covid,” said Schabas. “[He] made five key points and I believe he was correct on all five.” Baber’s letter called Ontario’s lockdown “deadlier than Schabas’ letter goes on to say that the cost of lockdowns outweighs the benefits compared to more moderate public health measures. “…there are significant costs to lockdowns – lost education, unemployment, social isolation, deteriorating mental health and compromised access to health care,” Schabas wrote. “We will be paying for lockdown – in lives and dollars for decades to come.” Covid,” while claiming it’s caused “…an avalanche of suicides, bankruptcies, divorces, and takes an immense toll on our children.” Schabas calls the province’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 “well-intentioned but misguided,” adding that “no one has all the answers but the first step is to start asking the right questions.” As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, there are no indications that Ford has responded to Schabas’ letter.
(Here is one of the many reasons that many Ontario citizens have simply given up.) Ontario hospital apologizes after staff director gets family member early COVID-19 vaccine. A hospital in Orangeville, Ont., is apologizing after a staff director had a family member receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine ahead of schedule. In a statement to CTV News, Headwaters Health Care Centre President Kim Delahunt said the family member received the vaccination during a break in scheduled appointments at the region's vaccination clinic. The family member was getting other tests the same day the clinic was running. "As health care professionals we have an obligation to make appropriate decisions and as leaders must accept that we will be held to a higher standard," the statement from Delahunt said in part. "However, as humans, we are also influenced by our innate sense of duty and care for our families. This was a failure in sound decision making by one individual, for which they and the hospital are deeply sorry. This was an isolated incident." Delahunt confirmed the staff director has decided to retire. (Really? Retire when? Next year, or after they get their vaccination? "isolated incident"..ya, ya...sure. Maybe at that hospital, but we all know this is going on all over the place, it is just going un-reported, or it isn't getting caught.)
In small town news,
Schools in North Hastings to Reopen January 25th. Schools are going to reopen in Bancroft and Area. The province has announced that both the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board and the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic School Board will be able to return to classes. The ministry of education made the announcement this afternoon. Education Minister Stephan Lecce says the government is also introducing new health measures, like enhanced screening and mandatory mask-wearing in grades 1-3 and outdoors. Initially Hastings Prince Edward School Board was considered part of Southern Ontario. However, the Provincial Government previously said that it would review the cases to see if schools could open as soon as their Northern Ontario counterparts. Schools in COVID-19 hotspots, like Toronto and York Region, will remain closed.
Musing,
What do you look forward to most after this COVID craziness has subsided, ended or whatever the Hell the outcome is? For me, that's easy:
-Travel.
-Being able to go where I want, when I want and how I want.
-Not having to always adjust/accomodate/assist.
Selfish eh? A person no longer wishing to be inconvenienced by others? Too bad.
“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.” (WINSTON CHURCHILL)
I just can't stomach talk radio, anymore. And, dammit, I used to love talk radio. With the exception of a precious few hosts that will ask questions (like John Oakley, 640am) most have completely lost their objectivity. No caller dare question anything COVID related, or they are immediately shut down, poo-pooed, or lectured by a radio host with a 2 year broadcasting certificate. (Yet, most purport to be edpidemiological and medical experts, simply because they have such guests on their show.) I have switched to listening to sports radio, listening to podcasts and only watch the news once per day.
Have you ever...made home-made granola bars?
Hugs, when over-used, are just plain weird. I'm not a fan. Keep your grubby, groping mitts off me. Weirdos.
WTF is ...............a harpsichord?
On this day in history, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was found in U.S.
Following a rapid spread from its origin in Wuhan, China, the first U.S. case of the 2019 novel coronavirus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, is confirmed in a man from Washington state. The virus, which would spark a pandemic, was first reported in China on December 31, 2019. Halfway across the world, on January 19, a man who had returned home to Snohomish County, Washington near Seattle on January 15, after traveling to Wuhan, checked into an urgent care clinic after seeing reports about the outbreak. Experiencing a cough, fever, nausea and vomiting, the Centers for Disease Control announced on January 21 that the 35-year-old had tested positive for COVID-19. He was hospitalized, where his condition grew worse and he developed pneumonia. His symptoms abated 10 days later.
Today is - NATIONAL HUGGING DAY – SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY – GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS DAY – NATIONAL GRANOLA BAR DAY
The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
COVID-19 vaccination approximate dates 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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