Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Number of new COVID-19 cases hits three-week low in Ontario:
Ontario reported the lowest daily increase in new COVID-19 cases in the past three weeks on Wednesday, a drastic shift from the more than 500 reported one day prior. Provincial health units logged an additional 347 cases since Tuesday, 648 resolutions, 45 deaths and 11,554 tests. Of the 15,728 confirmed cases, there are 6,116 active cases in the province, while 9,612 may have recovered and 996 have lost their lives as a result of the virus. Of these active cases, an additional 20 have been hospitalized, bringing the total to 977, including 235 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 186 in ICU on a ventilator. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have reported 159 active outbreaks at long-term care homes contributing to this total, following an additional five since Tuesday and the resolution of 34 to date. These outbreaks have resulted in 2,632 active cases among residents and 1,361 active cases among staff, leading to the deaths of 775 patrons and five employees. This does not, however, include the most recent case reported by Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) at Extendicare York, bringing the total number of outbreaks at Sudbury long-term care homes to three. There is currently one active case at Extendicare York, seven at Pioneer Manor, and two at St. Joseph's Villa.
While unusual, two seismic events not likely a warning of a bigger quake to come: NRC:
While it might seem too coincidental for Sudbury to experience two seismic events in two days, a research scientist with Natural Resources Canada (NRC) said it’s unlikely the two incidents are warnings of a bigger quake to come. On April 23, Earthquakes Canada reported a 3.6MN seismic event at 3:10 a.m. The seismic event was centred about three kilometres from Lively at a depth of about 2.4 kilometres. It was likely triggered by mining activity at Vale’s Creighton Mine, both and the miner stated. Then, the next evening, a smaller, 3.0MN seismic event was registered at another Vale property, Garson Mine. The April 24 event happened at 9:44 p.m. and again, officials say mining activity — in this case a blast about four hours earlier — was the likely trigger. Dr. Stephen Crane, a research scientist with NRC’s Canadian Hazards Information Service, said while it is true that having two events in such short succession is odd, it’s unlikely that they’re related, or indications of a larger event to come. Get the full story here.
Province expands eligibility for emergency child care:
The Ontario government is further expanding the list of essential workers eligible to receive free emergency child care during the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who will benefit include people who work in the food supply chain, retirement homes, grocery stores and pharmacies, and certain federal employees, including the military. Since emergency child care was introduced last month, almost 100 child care centres have reopened along with 40 Licensed Home Child Care Agencies in communities across the province. On March 22, the government announced an emergency order directing certain child care centres to reopen subject to physical distancing constraints as part of the province's support for health care and other frontline workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The list of essential workers eligible to access emergency childcare has now been further expanded. To accommodate more children, 37 additional centres have been approved and will be reopening in the coming days. Full list of additional frontline workers who can now access emergency childcare services can be found here.
SNOLAB scientists join in international effort to create simple emergency ventilator:
SNOLAB scientists have partnered with international peers to design software for an alternative to the standard mechanical ventilator in response to industry shortages and international need brought about by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM) is a simpler form of artificial respirator that uses pressure management rather than the standard volumetric delivery method offered by a motor, for added ease in both construction and usage. Its open-source design is currently undergoing testing for final verification to achieve medical certification in the USA, Canada, and Italy, with production expected to begin in early May. Full story here.
Ontario elementary teachers ratify contract deal with provincial government:
Ontario's elementary teachers have ratified their new contract with the provincial government. The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says 97 per cent of its teacher members voted in favour of the three-year deal. It will see teachers get salary increases of one per cent per year for three years, along with four per cent annual increases to benefits. The agreement also contains a two-year, $89-million "Support for Students" fund, which ETFO says will create about 434 teacher positions, to address areas such as special education, English language learning and mental-health initiatives. The deal guarantees the one-teacher, one-early childhood educator model for full-day kindergarten for the life of the agreement, and says there will be no changes to elementary class sizes.
Pandemic emergency measures allow for virtual witnessing of wills:
While it may seem many Canadians are rushing to prepare wills amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, it would seem that trend has not been seen in Greater Sudbury. Toronto-based online service Willful reported earlier this month it had seen a 620-per-cent increase in sales and a 450-per-cent increase in traffic. Here in Sudbury, the law firm of Moutsatsos Laakso Alexander LLP (MLA Law) said when COVID-19 first emerged in the Nickel City, they actually saw a decrease in the number of people drafting wills. “There was an initial decrease in the number of clients calling for wills and power of attorney, but those numbers are now going back up,” said Sophie Moutsatsos, an associate at MLA Law. She said the decrease was likely due to the fact people weren’t leaving their homes because of the measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Business across the board dropped,” she said. “There is a lot of uncertainty, and there were rules in place that required people to be there in person to witness the will.” That has changed, though. On April 7, the Lieutenant Governor in Council made an order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protect Act that allows for the virtual witnessing of wills and powers of attorney. Get the full story here.
Pandemic hair: Send your pics to [email protected]:
With salons and barbershops considered non-essential businesses and shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people’s locks are looking a tad unkempt at the moment. Is your hair scruffy and overgrown? Have you attempted a self-haircut or enlisted a member of your household for help? Have you gotten creative in your DIY hairstyling and attempted an interesting style such as a mohawk or mullet? We want to see your pandemic coiffures (whatever they may be), your reaction as family members attempt haircuts and your before-and-after pictures. Send photos to [email protected] or post them in the comments below, and we’ll include them in our Sudbury.com photo gallery.
Thursday Weather:
More rain in the forecast for Thursday. Expect up to 20 mm of rain throughout the day today. Thursday's high will be sitting at around 10. Periods of rain ending this evening, then cloudy with 30 per cent chance of some showers. Overnight low will get down to 1. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
