Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Ontario taking action to investigate 'extremely troubling' state of long-term care homes:
Since the outset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Ontario government said it has put the safety and security of the province's seniors as a top priority. The onset of COVID-19 has only exacerbated the already difficult situation in long-term care in the province. On Tuesday, the Ontario government outlined key findings from the Canadian Armed Forces report on five long-term care homes in southern Ontario, at which the military has been assisting. The report details serious concerns around infection prevention, safety, staffing and level of care. The report also indicates that these five homes are beginning to stabilize with the support of the armed forces. "The health and safety of the residents and staff in our long-term care homes is our number one priority. It is clear the long-term care system in Ontario must be fixed," said Premier Ford. You can watch Tuesday's press conference here.
Military report details 'disturbing' allegations on Ontario long-term care homes:
A military report on five long-term care homes in Ontario details troubling allegations such as rooming COVID-19 positive patients with uninfected ones, insect infestations and aggressive resident feeding that led to choking. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called in military assistance last month for five long-term care homes dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has seen the report, calls it "deeply disturbing." The allegations detailed by Canadian Armed Forces members also include failure to isolate COVID-19-positive patients and allowing them to wander outside of their rooms. At one home, the military reports "significant" fecal contamination in resident rooms, cockroach infestations, residents not being bathed in weeks, and some crying out for help for more than two hours. Since members of the military began providing operational assistance in Ontario, 14 of them have become infected with COVID-19. Get the full story here.
Sudbury's top doc says city is at the end of first wave of COVID-19:
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, medical officer of health extended a message of gratitude to Sudburians on Tuesday, through video message via Twitter. The city's top doc believes that Sudbury is near the end of the first wave of COVID-19, thanks in large part to the efforts of Sudburians in following the advice of health officials. "All of these measures have really taken us to the good place that we are at right now and I do think that there is very good news in our area," said Sutcliffe. "I would say that we are safely at the end of our first wave of COVID-19 in our service area. This is tremendous work, we have protected our hospital and our health care workers, we have protected our elderly population who are vulnerable in long-term care homes. People have presented for testing when they have had symptoms, all of this has led us to the really good place that we are at right now." You can watch the full statement from Dr. Sutcliffe here.
GSPS investigating possible sudden death in Memorial Park:
Greater Sudbury Police are investigating a suspected sudden death in Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon. Officers and paramedics were on scene in the park Tuesday afternoon at about 12:30 p.m. The area around the park’s playground structure was taped off. GSPS spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn confirmed the officers are investigating “what is believed to be a sudden death,” but said that was all the information she had as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Two men, aged 23 and 30, face multiple charges following this week’s Minnow Lake standoff:
Charges have been laid against two men police allege were involved in a standoff on Christakos Street earlier this week. The incident began at around 11:30 a.m. on May 24 when police received a weapons complaint from neighbours of a home in the city’s Minnow Lake neighbourhood. The caller said two people had been spotted in the yard of the home with what appeared to be prohibited firearms. GSPS dispatched officers, who sealed the street off. Police used social media to ask people to avoid the area. Tactical and canine units were brought in. Within a couple of hours of police arriving, they had one person in custody after one of the suspects came out of the house and was quickly arrested. Police continued to keep part of the street closed. The public was asked to continue to stay away from the area, and to avoid livestreaming police activity to the internet as the standoff continued. Late in the evening on Sunday, the Ontario Provincial Police tactical and rescue unit and emergency response team were brought in to relieve the GSPS tactical and canine unit. The standoff continued overnight — for 18 or 20 hours in total — until between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday morning when police took a second person into custody, a 23-year-old man. Throughout the day on May 25, GSPS reported detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant at the residence on Christakos Street. As a result, a firearm, various types of ammunition and a quantity of methamphetamine were located and seized, police said
COVID-19 stranded this Sudburian in India, social media helped bring him home:
One member of the Greater Sudbury community is safely back home after being stranded in India for more than eight weeks, thanks in part to a social group he started for those in a similar predicament. Karanbir Singh Badesha, like more than 40,000 Canadian citizens and what he says are thousands of permanent residents, including himself, and international students, have been grounded in India since its sudden country-wide lockdown March 25. Canada’s repatriation efforts, spearheaded by Global Affairs Canada, has partnered with countries across the world to arrange transportation for around 25,000 Canadian citizens stranded abroad. An effort that included more than 40 flights from around 30 countries. Unlike those Canadian citizens, though, Badhesha told Sudbury.com this second population of permanent residents and international students has been last on the list for repatriation flights, forcing him and many others to make risky alternative arrangements. Get the full story here.
Awesome educators: Holy Trinity early childhood educator Dominic Vicedomini ‘truly amazing with the children’:
With the COVID-19 pandemic shuttering schools this spring, educators have been thrown into an unfamiliar role — trying to teach their students at a distance. We wanted to throw a spotlight on Greater Sudbury educators who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for their students in these unusual times, and perhaps shown a bit of creativity as they engage their students. Sudbury.com asked readers for their nominations for local educators who fit this bill, and we received no less than three nominations for Dominic Vicedomini, a registered early childhood educator who works with kindergarten students at Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School. “Mr. Vicedomini is truly amazing with the children at Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School, and especially so with the children in his JK / SK Kindergarten class,” said Laurie Sabourin Riach. “His kind and lovable personality is a quality that he should be recognized for. Mr. V THANK YOU for everything that you do!” Read more here.
Wednesday Weather:
Another beautiful and warm day on tap for Wednesday. Mix of sun and cloud with the high soaring up to 30. It's going to feel more like 35 with the Humidex. Partly cloudy into the evening with chances of some showers by Thursday morning. Overnight low will be 18. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
