Five new cases locally, 1,138 provincially
The Sudbury health unit reported Thursday that there are five new cases of COVID-19 in the area. Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) said it means there are now 30 cases being actively monitored, a slight change upward from the 28 active cases reported on Wednesday. Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, there have been 605 total COVID-19 cases reported to the Sudbury health unit. PHSD said 575 of those cases have been resolved locally. The same PHSD report indicated that outbreaks have ended at the Pioneer Manor long-term care home, at the Elizabeth Centre long-term care home and at the Amberwood Suites retirement home, all as of Feb. 25. Public Health Ontario has reported 1,138 new cases of COVID-19 today (Feb. 24). Today's report includes 1,094 new recoveries and 23 new deaths, four were residents at long-term care homes. Of the deaths reported today, two were individuals were between 40 and 59, four were between 60 and 79 years old, and 17 were over the age of 80. The province has reported 49 new hospitalizations since yesterday, and six new admissions of COVID-19 patients to intensive care units.
Fatal industrial incident claims life of Vale contract employee
The man killed in an industrial incident on Feb. 24 was a contract employee with Vale, the company confirmed to Sudbury.com. “Vale regretfully confirms that on Feb. 24, a contract employee was fatally injured while travelling near our Wabagishik Dam Project in Sudbury,” said spokesperson Danica Paganutti in an email. The name of the deceased individual is being withheld out of respect for the family. “Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of this individual during this very difficult time,” said Dino Otranto, Chief Operating Officer, Vale North Atlantic & Asian Refineries. “We are doing everything we can to support them and to better understand what happened during this incident.” The matter is being investigated by Greater Sudbury Police Services and the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry of Labour said the constructor is Stuart Olson Industrial Constructors Inc. and the victim’s employer is Mammoet Canada Eastern Ltd.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Sudbury physician Dr. Janet McElhaney wins annual Jonas Salk Award
March of Dimes Canada (MODC) has named Dr. Janet McElhaney of Sudbury as the 2021 winner of the annual Jonas Salk Award. The award is named in honour of the man who in the mid-1950s discovered a vaccine that effectively eliminated the crippling childhood disease polio. The Salk award was created by MODC in 1994 to honour any Canadian scientist, physician or researcher who has made a new and outstanding contribution in science or medicine to prevent, alleviate or eliminate a physical disability. Dr. McElhaney is the scientific director at Health Sciences North Research Institute in Sudbury Ontario, which is the research arm of HSN. McElhaney is a geriatrician, immunologist, vaccinologist, academic and policy advisor. Along with the prestige, there is a cash award of $10,000 for the recipient.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
HSN kicks off COVID-19 vaccine program for hospital workers
Health Sciences North in Sudbury, the largest hospital in Northern Ontario, is in the process of providing vaccines against COVID-19 to the people who work there. "Over the coming weeks, everyone at HSN including all staff, physicians, learners, and volunteers, will have the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine," said a Feb. 25 news release from HSN. "On Wednesday, a total of 354 vaccines were administered to those in the highest priority group which includes members of HSN’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre, COVID-19 Laboratory, the Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory Care Unit, Emergency Department and other teams from across the organization," said the release.
With March break postponement, local boards update school year calendar
Given the postponement of the March break to April, there have been some changes to the school year calendar. The four local boards — Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon (CSC Nouvelon), Rainbow District School Board (RDSB), Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCSDB) and Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario (CSPGNO) — have updated the school year calendar for 2020-2021. The Ministry of Education has postponed the March Break until April 12-16. As a result, teaching and learning will continue the week of March 15-19. In addition, the April 19 PA day has been rescheduled to March 19. The four school boards have worked together to produce a common calendar for many years, facilitating the co-ordination of services such as student transportation.
Find the updated calendar here.
Police clock suspended driver at 150 km/h on Hwy 69
A Sudbury man whose licence was suspended was caught travelling over 150 km/h on Highway 69 on Feb. 23, said provincial police. The man was pulled over at 2:43 p.m. The 50-year-old driver was also found with a small amount of drugs, suspected to be cannabis. He was charged with failing to identify himself, racing a motor vehicle, driving under suspension and driving a vehicle with cannabis readily available. The driver was issued a seven-day driver's licence suspension and vehicle impoundment.
Northern buildings lauded for use of wood
Two Northern Ontario buildings are among the recipients of a provincial award recognizing the use of wood in their designs. Ontario Wood WORKS! announced the winners of the 2021 Ontario Wood Design Awards during the annual general meeting of the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA), held virtually on Feb. 24. They include the Seven Generations Education Institute in Fort Frances, designed by Nelson Architecture Inc. of Kenora, which won the Institutional Award. The new Laurentian University Student Centre in Sudbury, designed by Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture (in association with Gow Hastings Architects), also of Sudbury, won the Northern Ontario Excellence Award.
