Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Sudbury hasn’t had a new COVID-19 case since May 2:
Ontario reported another 399 confirmed COVID-19 cases since yesterday, for a total of 19,121 to date. The province has also reported another 48 COVID-19 deaths, for a total of 1,477 deaths associated with the virus since the pandemic hit Ontario. Of the cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, 13,569 of the cases are considered “resolved,” meaning the person has recovered. With Premier Doug Ford complaining that not enough COVID-19 tests are being done in the province, Ontario reports that a total of 380,854 tests have been done to date, with 15,179 completed yesterday. There are currently 13,012 people currently under investigation for the virus in Ontario. In long-term care homes, which have been particularly hard hit by COVID-19, there have now been 225 outbreaks (up two over yesterday) and 682 deaths (one of those deaths was a staff member). Public Health Sudbury and Districts has 59 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the district. The last confirmed case in the district was on May 2. Of those cases, 48 people have recovered and two are deceased. The local health unit has tested a total of 4,746 people, and 4,317 of the tests have come back negative. There are currently 370 people still under investigation for the virus in this area.
Ford says province taking first steps to resuming scheduled surgeries at Ontario hospitals:
The Ontario government has developed a comprehensive framework to help hospitals assess their readiness and begin planning for the gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures, while maintaining capacity to respond to COVID-19. Timelines will vary from hospital to hospital and be conditional on approval by regional oversight tables involved with planning and coordinating Ontario's response to COVID-19. Details were provided Thursday by Premier Doug Ford and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "We're taking a responsible and gradual approach to resuming scheduled surgeries, one that will keep our health care system strong, protect our frontline staff and patients, and ensure our hospitals stay prepared for any potential outbreak or surge of COVID-19," said Ford. "We're asking each hospital to come up with a plan based on their community's needs and the trends they're seeing on the ground. Together, we can get surgeries back on track as soon as possible." Full story and video from Ford's press conference can be found here.
Province extends electricity rate cut to May 31:
The province is extending the electricity rebate program to the end of the month. Residential, farm and small business customers will continue to pay the lowest rate possible until May 31, as part of the province’s efforts to provide emergency financial relief during thre pandemic. “Customers who pay time-of-use electricity rates will continue to be billed at the lowest price, known as the off-peak price, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the province said this week. The emergency rate was put in place on March 24 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. The rate relief is intended to be in place until May 31.
ONTC issues temporary layoff notices to 25 employees:
Citing a reduced workload because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) has issued temprary layoff notices to some of its staff. "As a result of the reduction of work due to COVID-19, Ontario Northland has issued temporary layoff notices to a limited number of employees," spokeswoman Rebecca McGlynn told CKAT News. "This impacts 25 employees in North Bay and Cochrane who work at the Cochrane Station Inn, on the dining car of the Polar Bear Express passenger train, and in the areas of rail mechanical and remanufacturing and repair. Headquartered in North Bay, the Crown agency offers freight and passenger rail service, and bus service throughout Ontario. The ONTC additionally operates a 150,000-square-foot remanufacturing and repair shop where it rebuilds and refurbishes rail equipment. Since the onset of COVID-19, the organization has suspended operation of the Polar Bear Express, which runs between Cochrane and Moosonee, and has reduced the frequency of trips on some of its bus routes.
Committee aims to end Island’s ‘divisive politics’ of COVID-19, bring co-ordinated response:
In response to what some Manitoulin Island leaders are calling “divisive politics” related in part to a First Nations highway barricade during the pandemic, the United Chiefs and Council of Mnidoo Mnising (UCCMM) is calling for the creation of a committee to take aim at COVID-19. Indigenous and Municipal Island leadership met this week with regards to forming the COVID-19 Leadership Co-ordination Committee. Those who attended the meeting said there was “responsible dialogue” that took place, and a second meeting is scheduled for May 12, where they will discuss the technical makeup of that committee. UCCM tribal council chair Patsy Corbiere, chief of Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, said earlier this week in a telephone conference the goal is to bring Manitoulin Island’s Indigenous and non-Indegenous leaders together to fight COVID-19 and protect the health of their communities. If successful in creating the committee, it would ideally be made up of eight members — four Indigenous and four non-Indigenous — and it would have a rotating chairperson. More on this story here.
Feds must do more to help struggling post-secondary sector: University teachers group:
The federal government must address the significant financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on universities and colleges, said a press release from the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). This should be done with a series of bold measures to strengthen public funding and to maintain enrolment levels, the association said. “Universities and colleges are integral to the solving of Canada’s current and future challenges,” said CAUT president, Brenda Austin-Smith, and CAUT executive director, David Robinson, in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “We urge you to take immediate steps to further close the gaps in emergency support and commit to making changes to improve the affordability and sustainability of post-secondary education as part of a recovery plan that ensures a stronger and more just post-Covid-19 Canada.” Laurentian University announced last month it is facing deficits in part due to the impact of COVID-19. Full story here.
Helpers: Lend a hand, says Cathy Keaney-Burns, and you’ll find the benefit you give is the benefit you receive:
After 25 years of dedicated service to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), Cathy Keaney-Burns retired as senior manager for northeastern Ontario in mid-April. She already misses her former colleagues, clients, business associates and volunteers, many of whom became good friends over the years. But life does not necessarily slow down in retirement, as Keaney-Burns quickly discovered. “I took a little time to take stock of life, the future and my goals,” she said. “It’s been such a rewarding career; I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and continuing my involvement in the community.” Raised in Sudbury’s West End, Keaney-Burns graduated from the business program at Sheridan Technical School (now Sudbury Secondary) and almost immediately became a young professional. Check out the latest installment in our Helpers series here.
Friday Weather:
Mainly cloudy Friday with 40 per cent chance of flurries. Another chilly day on the way with the high only getting up to 1. Overcast into the evening with 40 per cent chance of flurries. Overnight low will dip to -6, feeling like -10 with the wind chill.For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
