Worldwide stats provided by Worldometers put the global COVID-19 number of reported cases today at 109,751,117. (Deaths: 2,420,616 and Recovered: 84,310,904)
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 Tuesday February 16, 2021:
Health Canada reported 826,924 confirmed cases of COVID-19, to date. 35,684 cases are active, there have been 21,311 deaths and 769,929 people have recovered.
The official Province of Ontario website is reporting 285,868 total confirmed cases and 6,693 total deaths. 12,047 are active. Currently, there are 705 people are in hospital with 292 of those cases currently in ICU. 267,128 cases have been resolved. The Ontario government has previously said that when 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.
The Region of Durham reported 11,378 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (289 active). Clarington remains at 843 cases, of which 32 are active. Hospitalized in Clarington currently: "4", total deceased: "12"
In international news,
From the National Post: It's only 'the end of the beginning.' COVID-19 will be with us for years. Even in a post-pandemic world, will we ever again feel comfortable shaking a hand or kissing a cheek? Respiratory pandemics come along every few decades. Serious ones, every 50 or 100 years. And while the way we have come to live may seem so alien and unnatural, plagues have been “a part of our story for a very long time,” Dr. Nicholas Christakis writes in his new book on this newest plague. Since the birth of our species, “humans have had countless plagues. We’ve been shaped by those plagues, but then life returns to normal,” the Yale University physician and social scientist said in an interview. All crises have a beginning and end, and we will see the other side of COVID-19, he said, though perhaps not as soon as we hoped. And what, then? How will our lives have changed after the COVID tsunami washes back? After a year of living with COVID-19, Postmedia is taking an in-depth look at the significant social, institutional and economic issues the pandemic has brought to light in Canada — and more importantly, how we can finally begin to solve them.
In national news,
Poll finds most Canadians blame federal government for vaccine delays. The vast majority of Canadians blame Ottawa rather than provincial governments for delays in COVID-19 vaccine delivery, a new poll suggests. Sixty-nine per cent of respondents believe Canada is behind on deliveries due to federal challenges obtaining doses on the global market, according to an online survey by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies. Only 14 per cent of respondents point the finger at provincial governments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says all Canadians who want a dose will get one by the end of September, despite recent hiccups in the production of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Residents remain divided on whether they will be able to roll up their sleeves before October, with 44 per cent confident they will and 51 per cent skeptical. The split suggests Canadians maintain a measure of faith in the Liberal government’s procurement efforts, said Léger executive vice-president Christian Bourque. “People haven’t given up hope that we will get there, but they’re certainly looking for answers,” he said. Canada sits well below the top of the heap in vaccine doses administered per 100 people, ranking 17th out of two dozen large countries — well behind Romania and just ahead of China and Russia — according to one list. “A lot of what we hear is that Canada is falling behind. When people hear that, they automatically think it’s got to be something going on in Ottawa more than in my province,” Bourque said.
In Ontario,
Ready, set — reopen? Not in Toronto yet, at least. While much of the province will begin emerging from lockdowns and stay-at-home orders Tuesday, calling the move a reopening of the economy around the Greater Toronto Area would be overselling it, a business group says. Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said that as long as the government continues to urge people to stay home, most consumers will not return to their regular patterns. Businesses in green, yellow and orange zones will see something like a return to normal, but with “a million and one restrictions,” many of those in red or grey zones will remain entirely closed, he said. “Toronto, Peel, York, North Bay and Niagara at the moment … those five regions basically are swapping a province-wide lockdown with a regional lockdown,” Kelly said. “Grey zone cannot be described really in any way, shape or form as a reopening.” Ontario public health officials announced Friday that the emergency stay-at-home order would be lifted in 27 more public health units Tuesday, including Durham, Halton, Hamilton and Ottawa, while North Bay/Parry Sound, Toronto, Peel and York would move onto the colour-coded COVID-19 framework Feb. 22. Premier Doug Ford insisted this is not a “let’s-go-party” moment, as occurred in pre-Christmas shopping when Toronto residents flowed across regional borders to do their shopping. The new framework is an improvement over the previous version that kept big box stores open at the expense of shuttering small businesses, but it does bring back regional disparity, Kelly said.
Ontario Resuming Road Tests At Most DriveTest Locations Across The Province. The Ontario government is restarting in-vehicle passenger road tests on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at most DriveTest centres across the province. Road tests will not be starting in public health unit regions still subject to a Stay-at-Home order (Toronto, Peel, York and North Bay Parry Sound), or in regions in Grey-Lockdown zones, such as Niagara Region. Officials say strict public health and workplace safety measures will be in place for all in-vehicle passenger road tests to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In small town news,
Durham police investigating Courtice retirement home after door handles allegedly removed. As a Courtice retirement home launches an investigation into staff conduct, so have Durham police. Investigators say they’re looking into allegations that staff at White Cliffe Terrace removed door handles to keep residents from wandering out of their units. The home’s operator has issued an apology, saying the door handles were reinstalled as soon as higher-ups found out about it. According to Durham police, they received a complaint against the home on Friday. They’ve also received complaints of threats against the home’s employees. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Hilliard of the East Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1657, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Musing,
Lent begins tomorrow. It marks fasting from food and festivities. That should be easy enough for most of us, given COVID.
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” (CONFUCIUS)
Did you know.....more than one-fifth of Brampton residents claimed CERB? (highest in Canada)
Have you ever...been to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday?
WTF is ...............Fastnacht?
On this day in history, Archaeologist opens the tomb of King Tut.
On February 16, 1923, in Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen. Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife. In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt, where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches.
On this day in 600 AD, Pope Gregory decreed that "God Bless You" could be the only response to a sneeze. One of the world's worst traffic jams took place on February 16, 1980, on a stretch of road in France from Lyon to Paris- cars were backed up for 109 miles! Pamela Colman Smith, the artist who drew the images on the Rider-Waite Tarot card deck, was born on this date in 1878.
Today is - PACZKI DAY – FAT TUESDAY – NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY – IHOP – NATIONAL DO A GROUCH A FAVOR DAY – FASTNACHT DAY – NATIONAL ALMOND DAY
The Bank of Canada unclaimed balances portal can be found here.
COVID-19 vaccination approximate dates here.
Lakeridge Health Mental Health Clinic 905-440-7534 or toll free at 1-833-392-7363 (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm)
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