Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Health unit says every possible safeguard in place for return to school:
Public health officials in Sudbury are calling on hands on deck to ensure that local students have the safest possible return to school in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) announced Friday it is taking all possible safeguards and working with education officials to ensure everything is in place as thousands of students will be returning to classes next week, for the first time the schools were closed back on March 13 -- nearly 26 weeks ago. “Our goal is to provide clear guidance in these uncertain times to support families and school communities,” said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, PHSD Medical Officer of Health. “We recognize that return to school is anxiety-causing for many students, educators, and all who care for and about students. We urge everyone to follow the Top 10 COVID-19 Basic Rules for Safe Schools. And, make no mistake—we are all responsible for successful school opening. The best way to protect schools and kids is by the actions of all of us to keep COVID-19 out of our communities,” she added. PHSD said it has developed various resources for schools, school boards, and parents to help them follow COVID-safe school protocols. For example, a visual roadmap was created to help schools understand the steps to take if a student, staff, or visitor becomes ill at school. Get the full story here.
Lecce aims to reassure parents after Quebec schools see 47 COVID cases:
Ontario's education minister is aiming to reassure parents that his province's school reopening plan is different than Quebec's, where 47 schools have at least one case of COVID-19 since opening. Stephen Lecce reacted Saturday to a report from the Quebec government that showed dozens of schools — including preschool, elementary, secondary and adult career centres — reported one or more infections between Aug. 26 and Sept. 3. Lecce noted that Ontario has mandated masking in classrooms while Quebec has not, and said more than 600 public health nurses will be stationed in schools this fall. "We have unique differentiators in this province that they do not," Lecce said of Quebec. "I wouldn't draw a parallel. Not all things are equal." Speaking at an event in Toronto, Lecce urged parents to actively screen their children for virus symptoms before sending them to school. Find more on this story here.
HSN over 100% capacity, inpatient surgeries for this week being rescheduled:
Health Sciences North has announced that they will be rescheduling most inpatient surgeries that were planned for the week of Sept. 7. According to a news bulletin released by the hospital on Sept. 4, Health Sciences North is currently at 104 per cent capacity, despite having 34 temporary beds opened at the Clarion Hotel. At the time of the bulletin's release, Health Sciences North had 114 alternative level care (ALC) patients, with 53 of those patients awaiting long-term care beds and 11 waiting to be place in homes or community care. Since June 1, the hospital has been ramping up its surgeries, and is currently perfrming 70 per cent of historical surgical volumes. In its original recovery plans that were developed in May, HSN was hoping to ramp up surgeries to 95 per cent of their usual volumes. "Unfortunately because of the limited flow of patients out of HSN, the hospital is not able to increase its volume of inpatient surgeries as originally planned at this time," said the HSN bulletin. More on this story here.
Man arrested after allegedly spraying three people with bear mace:
Greater Sudbury Police have charged a 38-year-old man who allegedly sprayed three people with bear mace. On Saturday, Sept. 5, shortly after 6:30 p.m. police responded to a disturbance call on Antwerp Avenue in the Donovan. Three victims had been sprayed with bear mace by a lone male suspect. A 38-year-old male surrendered to officers within moments of police arriving on the scene. The man has been charged with assault with a weapon, administering a noxious substance and other various weapons offences. He was scheduled to appear in bail court Sunday morning. The victims were treated for their exposure by Sudbury EMS and were not taken to hospital.
Most Sudbury municipal services will be closed for Labour Day:
Labour Day holiday schedules will apply to a number of municipal services on Monday, Sept. 7. Information regarding the reopening of municipal pools, fitness centres and arenas is available at www.greatersudbury.ca. Tom Davies Square will be closed. Citizen Service Centres and libraries will be closed. Garbage, recycling and green cart collection services are unaffected by this holiday. Greater Sudbury Landfills and Transfer Sites will be closed. The Recycling Centre will be open. GOVA Transit will follow revised holiday schedules available at www.greatersubury.ca/transit.
Early morning traffic stop results in drug charges for e-bike driver:
A 60-year-old man was charged after an early morning traffic stop in Sturgeon Falls on Aug. 31. At around 3:15 a.m. on Aug. 31, members from the Nipissing West Detachment of the OPP were on general patrol in the Municipality of West Nipissing (Sturgeon Falls). Officers stopped an e-bike on Arthur Street as it did not have a red light at the rear. While speaking with the driver, officers concluded alcohol had been consumed and he was subsequently arrested. As a result of further investigation, officers seized a small amount of drugs, suspected to be Cannabis and Methamphetamine. As a result, a 60-year-old man from from Sturgeon Falls was charged with: Operation While Impaired - Alcohol and Drugs, Operation While Impaired - Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 Plus), Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance - Methamphetamine, Drive Vehicle with Cannabis Readily Available, No Red Light on Rear of Object. The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Nov. 5 in Sturgeon Falls. The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Monday Weather:
Mainly cloudy for today with rain showers in the forecast. Rain is expected this morning, ending early in the afternoon. Monday's high is only expected to hit 18. Partly cloudy this evening with temperatures dipping after sundown. Overnight low will be 6. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
