Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Two districts in Northern Ontario resolve all cases of COVID-19:
All of the cases of COVID-19 previously confirmed by Algoma Public Health and the Northwestern Health Unit have reportedly been resolved, bringing the total number of those known to be infected with the virus in Northern Ontario down to 48. One more case and two more recoveries were logged by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit since the latest report by Sudbury.com, along with one more case by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. There has also been one more recovery in the district of Algoma, earning them their clean bill of health, and two more in the Porcupine Health Unit service area. A total of 260 cases have been confirmed in Northern Ontario to date, including 212 presumed recoveries and seven deaths, following the testing of 20,009. Within the Public Health Sudbury and Districts service area, there have been 59 cases confirmed to date, of which 49 are believed to have recovered and two have died, following the testing of 4,410 people. These numbers have contributed to a provincial total of 18,310 cases as of May 5 at 10:30 a.m., including 12,779 resolutions and 1,361 related deaths. An additional 10,654 tests were logged by 32 public health units across the province since Monday, bringing the total to 352,714, along with 729 resolutions and 61 deaths. Of these active cases, 1,043 are currently hospitalized for COVID-19, including 223 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 166 in the ICU on a ventilator. Health Sciences North is currently tending to two of these confirmed cases and two presumptive cases in its ICU, in addition to three unconfirmed cases in other units.
Judge reserves decision in bail review hearing of Robert Steven Wright:
Superior Court Justice Edward Gareau is reserving his decision on the bail review hearing for the man accused of killing Renee Sweeny in 1998. Following almost two hours of submissions on Tuesday afternoon via telephone conference, Gareau said whether or not he grants bail to Robert Steven Wright is not an easy decision to make, and that he needs to review the submissions by both the defence and the Crown. He plans to deliver his decision on May 14, again by telephone conference, at 1:30 p.m. There is a publication ban in effect with respect to evidence during the bail review hearing. Wright once again joined the conference from the Sudbury Jail by phone. This is the second time Wright is seeking bail. He was denied bail in March 2019 after Ontario Superior Court Judge Edward E. Gareau cited concerns about the adequacy of monitoring devices and the ability of his proposed surety at the time to keep a close enough eye on him.
Class-action lawsuit dismissed against LU hacker:
A class-action lawsuit has been dismissed against a former Laurentian University student who pleaded guilty in 2019 to mischief charges after he hacked into the school’s computer system. LU computer science grad Spencer Brydges and the university were named in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of certain Laurentian students and staff members. The lawsuit stems from a 2017 data breach into the university’s computer network, a breach Brydges is alleged to have committed. On May 5, it was announced the plaintiff and Brydges have reached a settlement. “In consideration for Brydges' co-operation in the litigation against Laurentian, the action will be dismissed against Brydges,” said McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP in a news release. More details of that settlement will be released, said McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP. The settlement has no impact on the lawsuit against Laurentian, which will continue to be litigated. Full story can be found here.
Concern for well-being of James Solomon, not seen since May 1, police say:
Greater Sudbury Police Service is looking for missing person James "Jimmy" Solomon, who was last seen at 10 a.m. on May 1 on Kingsmount Boulevard. Solomon is 47 years old and is described as standing 5-9, and weighing 200 lbs. He has brown eyes and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a green jacket. Anyone with information related to Solomon’s whereabouts is asked to contact GSPS at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.
Missing, murdered Indigenous women and girls honoured in day of awareness:
Tuesday was the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), held annually to honour the lives lost and bring attention to threats faced by those who identify as an Indigenous female. Originally introduced in the United States (U.S.), this annual day of remembrance is recognized on both sides of the border with the common goal of combatting what statistics in both countries show is a disproportionate rate of violence perpetrated against Indigenous people. Every year, for a period of 10 weeks, the RCMP highlights a select number of these unsolved cases in the hopes of finding more information through the assistance of the public. There were 10 individuals identified through this campaign in 2019, the details on whom can be found here. The national day of remembrance is traditionally commemorated with the wearing of red or the display of red clothing items in public spaces, to pay tribute to the souls lost in this ongoing problem. In Sudbury, it is also quite common for an event to be held to bring the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together for a moment of reflection. Given the social distancing protocols in place in response to COVID-19, however, that won’t be possible this year. With the pandemic in mind, Indigenous support agencies across North America have suggested alternative means of showing one’s solidarity on this international issue.
Mask fashion: Send your pics of homemade masks to [email protected]:
After Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Teresa Tam advised people last month to wear cloth masks when they’re out in the community to stop the spread of COVID-19, crafty Sudburians got out their sewing machines and started creating masks. While these homemade masks obviously have a serious purpose, they often have fun, vibrant prints and patterns. Would you like to show off a mask you’ve made or that someone else has created for you? Send your mask fashion pics to [email protected] and we’ll include them in our photo gallery.
Families receiving Canada Child Benefit get an extra $300/child this month:
Families that receive the Canada Child Benefit will get an extra $300 per child this month to help them deal with the added pressures of COVID-19. Eligible families will automatically receive this one-time increase as part of their scheduled CCB payment in May. Those who already receive the CCB do not need to re-apply. This increase will deliver almost $2 billion in extra support across the country to help families with the high cost of taking care of their kids during this challenging period, said the province in a news release. In addition, the province has provided individuals and families with low and modest incomes with a special top-up payment through the Goods and Services Tax credit. This measure gave, on average, close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples, injecting $5.5 billion into the Canadian economy. The tax filing deadline has also been extended to June 1.
Essential Worker of the Day: PSW Meaghan Manuel:
Sudbury.com recognized personal support worker (PSW) Meaghan Manuel as Tuesday's Essential Worker of the Day. Lorraine Kreager said "Thank you Meaghan for your compassion and caring during this difficult time. You are an inspiration and great role model." Do you know an essential worker who deserves to be recognized? Say thanks to someone you know who is a front-line health care worker, cashier or truck driver by nominating them for Sudbury.com's Essential Worker of the Day. Email us a photo, their name, their job title and your words of thanks to [email protected]. Please only send photos and information with permission.
Wednesday Weather:
Sunny skies overhead to start the day, becoming a mix of sun and cloud near noon. Wednesday's high will get up to 11. Mainly cloudy this evening with a 40 per cent chance of rain showers changing to 40 per cent chance of flurries overnight. There is a risk of freezing drizzle this evening. Overnight low will be -1, feeling like -5. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
