Stronger measures possible for Ontario with rise in COVID-19 cases, variants
Ontario’s Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbra Yaffe is giving some indication stronger measures could be coming for the Province of Ontario. This issue is that province, by the numbers have seen a 36% increase in COVID-19 cases over a 7-day average since last week. Dr. Yaffe says regardless of whether there are coming measures, current measures need to be followed.
Both Canada and the Province record new daily high’s yesterday. Yaffe added that in Ontario, Hospitalizations and ICU occupancy are also at the highest levels since the start of the pandemic and variants now make up 69.1% of all cases.
Two new outbreaks in school communities
Two new COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared in school communities. The first is at the White Woods Public School in Sturgeon Falls. The person was at school during their infectious period. Members of the Grade 8 cohort are asked to self-isolate.
The second, is at St. Anne English Catholic School, in Iroquois Falls. Three cases have been reported. Because of the variants circulating in the community, the health unit is recommending all students and staff self-isolate until April 24.
Three new cases announced by APH
Elsewhere Algoma Public Health is reporting three new COVID-19 cases in the Algoma region. Of the new cases, two are in the Sault Ste. Marie area and one is in Central and east Algoma.
Outbreak declared at Glencore’s Kidd Mine
A COVID-19 outbreak has also been declared at Glencore’s Kidd Mine. Three employees have tested positive for the virus. All cases are related to the workplace. This is the third such outbreak, related to the mine.
Province moves to make two schools stand-alone entities from Laurentian University
In the wake of Laurentian University’s insolvency, the Province has announced its intention to introduce legislation to make the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the Université de Hearst stand-alone entities. If passed both schools would issue their own degrees and have their own governance and administration.
NAV Canada will maintain services in Sault Ste Marie
NAV Canada says it will maintain air traffic control service at Sault Ste. Marie Airport and six other cities across Canada. In a news release yesterday, the owner and operator of Canada’s civil air navigation system said it elected to limit changes “after considerable consultation with airlines, airports, industry associations, local officials and internal stakeholders.”
Also…
New cases in from two health units yesterday
There are 25 new COVID-19 cases in Timmins and the surrounding area. In addition, six previous cases are variants of concern. For the new cases, 16 are in Timmins and nine are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls. All of the people are in self-isolation.
Sudbury Health officials added 23 more cases of COVID-19 today. While there were 25 recoveries, there was also 1 case that tested positive for a variant of concern. Meanwhile, The North Bay Parry Sound Parry Sound District reported 2 new cases.
21-year-old charged with stunt driving on busy roadway
A 21-year-old Sudbury man has some tough questions to answer after being charged with stunt driving. He was caught after tearing down Lakeshore Drive at 125 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. Police conducted a targeted traffic patrols in the in response to a complaint. The driver was charged with one count of stunt driving – exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h.
