Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Finlandia residents -- including 100 year old Elle Korpela -- get their COVID-19 fighting vaccine shots:
Elle Korpela likely never imagined getting a pandemic vaccine in her 100th year. As a resident of the Hoivakoti Nursing Home; a long–term care home located at Finlandia Village in Sudbury, Korpela was among roughly 100 residents who received a vaccination on Monday. Korpela, well-known at the home, has been a resident for many years and was described as an active member of the Finnish Ladies Auxiliary. She was also described as one of the first residents to consent to accepting the vaccine, sharing “Today’s the day. It’s a very special day.” Her sentiments were echoed by CEO Finlandia Village David Munch. “Today’s vaccination of Hoivakoti Nursing Home residents is an important step forward in the fight to keep COVID-19 out of the long term care home; it’s a game changer," said Munch. He was also quick to celebrate and recognize the efforts of the entire Finlandia team of care heroes. “They have shown their Sisu; grit, determination and strength; each and every day since this journey began almost one year ago. Staff, residents and their family members; essential caregivers and volunteers have been diligent and careful to follow the guidelines for safe living during COVID," said Munch. Full story here.
City staff asking for up to $125,000 to complete event centre report:
City council will receive an update on Tuesday, Feb. 9 on staff's direction in preparing a report on the event centre project. Greater Sudbury mayor Brian Bigger directed staff to prepare a report that will look at three potential sites for an arena/events centre during a Jan. 20 meeting of council. The request made by Bigger created some concern among a few members of council, especially Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of the Kingsway Entertainment District. "I don't recall the mayor saying that there would be a comparison in this report of any other locations," said Kirwan during the Jan. 20 meeting. The update on the event centre report that will be brought before council on Feb. 9 is asking for up to $125,000 from the event centre project budget in order to acquire "sufficient, appropriate third party expertise". The report also outlines the anticipated timing for the work, with the report to be brought to council in the second quarter of this year, on June 16 during a special city council meeting. Get the full story here.
Ontario stay-at-home order extended to Feb. 16 for most of the province:
The Ontario government has extended its stay-at-home order for 28 public health regions across the province until Feb. 16. For Toronto, Peel and York regions, it's proposed that the order remain in place until Monday, Feb. 22. Final decisions on these orders will be subject to review of the trends in public health indicators. Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement Monday afternoon, while indicating that the declaration of a state of emergency will not be extended beyond Feb. 9. While much of the province will remain under the stay-at-home order for another week, a trio of public health regions will be shifting back to the Green-Prevent level on Wednesday, Feb. 10 and will no longer be subject to the order. Those regions are, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health and Renfrew County and District Health Unit. You can watch Monday's press conference here.
Non-essential retailers in Sudbury won't be opening until stay-at-home order is lifted:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that changes are being made to the framework of the provincewide shutdown in order to allow non-essential businesses to re-open. The manner in which Ford made the announcement has created some confusion, as at first blush, it appeared as though the Premier had given the green light for non-essential businesses to start opening their doors under some provincially mandated guidelines. Sudbury.com reached out to the office of the Premier for clarification, and it was indicated that no non-essential retailers will be permitted to open while the health district that they are located in is under a stay-at-home order. "In-person shopping at non-essential retail is not permitted in regions where the stay-at-home order is still in effect (aka most of the province)," said Ivana Yelich, director of media relations with the office of the Premier. "Subject to public health trends continuing, most of the remaining regions will transition into the framework and associated level of restrictions (e.g., grey-lockdown, red-control, orange-restrict, yellow-protect and green-prevent) next week. That’s when in-person shopping in non-essential shopping will be permitted." More on this story here.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts reports five new COVID-19 cases Feb. 8:
Five new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the jurisdiction of Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) Feb. 8. It means there are now 41 active cases now being monitored. This is a drop from the 47 active cases reported on Sunday. Since the pandemic was declared almost a year ago, there have been 540 total COVID-19 cases reported to the Sudbury health unit, with 499 of those cases being resolved locally. With respect to where the cases occurred,the PHSD daily update page reported that five cases were found to have occurred within the Greater Sudbury Area. In terms of possible causes of the new cases, PHSD reported one new case having no known epidemiological link and four new cases were listed as information pending or missing.
Some surgeries cancelled at Health Sciences North because of outbreak:
Health Sciences North has decided to slow down its surgery schedule as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak that was declared at the hospital on the weekend. It was Saturday that Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Health Sciences North’s Ramsey Lake Health Centre affecting two hallways of the sixth floor, South Tower. Specifically, the outbreak was contained to hallways J and K in that part of the hospital. Public Health is actively working with the hospital to investigate the outbreak and ensure patients and staff are protected. Currently, the outbreak has been contained and there is no evidence of ongoing transmission, the hospital said. Public Health or Health Sciences North will directly contact anyone identified as a close contact and provide further direction, said a notice from the hospital. In a news release Sunday evening, HSN said it is postponing all 55 non-urgent elective surgeries that have been scheduled for this week (Feb. 8 to Feb. 14). These are surgeries that would have required patients to have an overnight stay. "This will bring HSN’s surgical activity to approximately 80 per cent of historical volumes. Patients will be contacted by the hospital if their procedure has been rescheduled. There is no need to call the hospital," said HSN.
Bigger urges Sudburians to not let their guard down as virus still ‘very much present’:
Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger is encouraging Sudburians to cautiously optimistic and to not let their guards down as COVID-19 cases decline across the province. With variant strains now in the city, Bigger is imploring residents to continue to stay at home, mask up and not to travel out of the region. He reiterated his discussion with the province regarding checkpoints along Highway 69, and offered his condolences to the family and staff at Amberwood Suites who are morning the seventh death due to COVID-19. Full text of Bigger's statement can be found here.
Tuesday Weather:
A mix of sun and cloud today with some chilly temperatures this morning. Tuesday's high will only get up to -11, feeling like -27 with the wind in the morning. Clear skies into the evening with the low dropping all the way to -23. It's going to feel like -27 with the wind chill overnight. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
