Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to kick off your work week.
COVID-19 vaccines to be offered at select local walk-in clinic starting today
Residents in the region will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment as walk-in clinics open across the region, starting today, June 14. Public Health Sudbury & District announced the opening of the clinics on Sunday. “Anyone who is eligible to receive their first or second dose of vaccine will be welcome to attend these walk-in clinics,” the health unit said. “This approach will allow Public Health to make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible and meet the incredible local demand, offering further protection as more individuals are eligible for their first or second doses.” Public Health Sudbury also acknowledged reported issues in attempting to book vaccinations through the phone system or the online provincial booking system, saying it is “doing everything possible to adapt our approaches to meet local needs.” The first COVID-19 vaccination walk-in clinic will take place in Sudbury on June 14 at Carmichael Arena. “Individuals who choose to attend the walk-in clinic can expect to wait in line, and this option may not be suitable for those who cannot stand or wait for longer periods of time,” PHSD advised.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
OPP suspect hit and run after body found on Hwy 6 in Espanola
Manitoulin OPP are looking for the public’s help after finding a body on the south lane of Highway 6 in Espanola early Saturday morning. Police said officers were called out to a report of a person walking on the roadway on Highway 6, north of the bridge over the Spanish River, at around 12:49 a.m. on June 12. By the time officers arrived, however, the person was dead, police said, and the body was lying on the highway. Anyone with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the Manitoulin OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Those who wish to remain anonymous, can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online here, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Someone in the region won $333,333 in the Friday Lotto Max draw
Someone in the Greater Sudbury area won $333,333 in Friday night’s Lotto Max draw, but no one took home the $70 million top prize, meaning the prize pool for the June 15 draw will climb to $128 million. There were 56 Maxmillions draws in Canada last night, with 20 winners. Of those, 13 winners are in Ontario, including the one, still unnamed, in the Greater Sudbury area.
Science table finds pandemic school closures could affect students’ lifetime earnings
The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table has issued a report suggesting that Ontario children, more so than children in other parts of Canada, will find their education has been significantly disrupted by the pandemic. The science table is a group of scientific experts and health system leaders who evaluate and report on emerging evidence relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most recent reports focuses on how the multiple school closures have "profoundly disrupted" the education process. From March 14, 2020, to May 15, 2021, Ontario schools have been closed for 20 weeks total, longer than any other Canadian province or territory, said the report. Another problem according to the report were the inequities that arose out of mass school closures in some areas and localized closures in other places; multiple models of education and gaps in support for students with disabilities. It added that this could create long-term impacts on students’ lifetime earnings.
‘We will not let hate define us’: Vigil for victims of London killings draws 200 people
More than 200 Sudburians gathered on June 11 in Memorial Park to hold a vigil honouring the Afzaal family, killed in London, Ont. on June 6, and while the grey day held the threat of rain, the sun appearing just before the start of the memorial seemed to echo the messages of hope and tolerance expressed by many in attendance. In what is being investigated as a hate-based crime, the Pakistani Muslim family was standing at an intersection waiting to cross the street last Sunday when a man rammed a pickup truck into them, killing all but the family’s young son. The sadness, the anger and the disbelief was clear from those attending. One speaker also noted the event was the first public gathering since Step 1 of Ontario’s reopening plan, which should be a time of celebration, not of mourning. “The first time we get together, and it is for this,” said Bela Ravi, president of the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association. But she added that regardless of the reason, “We are stronger together and we will not let hate define us.” The common feeling expressed by many in attendance, on signs and in speeches, was that even though religious intolerance persists, there is still hope.
Ontario shortens wait time for second shot after AstraZeneca vaccine
The Ontario government is shortening the amount of time residents who received an initial dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine should wait before getting their follow-up shot. The government had previously said AstraZeneca recipients should wait 12 weeks before getting a second shot, despite shortening the interval for all other vaccines. But it amended the guidance Saturday, saying residents can now get a dose of any type of vaccine as early as eight weeks after their first AstraZeneca jab.
Five new COVID-19 cases reported in the region this weekend, 1,032 in Ontario
Public Health Sudbury & Districts reported five new cases of COVID-19 this past weekend. There are now 18 known active cases being monitored in the region. Provincially, Public Health Ontario reported 1,032 new cases over the weekend, as well as 22 new deaths. There were also 1,593 more recoveries.
Cloudy Monday in store with showers, risk of a thunderstorm
Expect a cloudy Monday to kick off your work week. There is a 60-per-cent chance of showers and a risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. Fog patches will dissipate in the morning. The wind will be out of the north today at 20 km/h, gusting up to 40 in the morning. Today’s high is 21. Tonight, there will be cloudy periods with a 40-per-cent chance of showers and a low of 10.