Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
COVID-19 outbreak declared at École St-Denis
Public Health Sudbury & Districts has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in École St-Denis school (Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon) in Greater Sudbury after a second person tested positive for the virus. This individual is linked to a previously reported positive case in the school.
In accordance with provincial guidance, an outbreak in a school setting is declared when two or more laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 are linked and occur within 14 days of each other. Parents and caregivers are being provided notice of the outbreak and will receive public health guidance. Read more here.
A second resident of Amberwood Suites has died due to COVID-19
Amberwood Suites has confirmed a second resident has died from COVID-19. In a news release, Amberwood extended sympathies to the family and all residents and staff who are "feeling the full effect of this pandemic." Staff and community partners are onsite to provide emotional support to residents and coworkers. "We continue to work with our community health partners to monitor COVID-positive residents and manage the outbreak," the home said in the news release. "These are unprecedented times for our community. Our fight to keep residents comfortable and healthy and to stop the spread of COVID continues to be our priority."
Late-night rumblings in Greater Sudbury mining related, confirms Natural Resources Canada
Those rumblings felt by much of Greater Sudbury on Jan. 15 weren’t earthquakes, but they were mining related, said a spokesperson with Natural Resources Canada. The first seismic event happened at around 9:10 p.m and measured in at 3.2 and happened about two kilometres below ground, said Stephen Crane, a research scientist at Natural Resources Canada. The second seismic event happened around 10:20 p.m. and measured in at 3.7. Both occurred within six kilometres north of Lively, and Crane said they confirmed the tremors with Creighton Mine. For the full story, click here.
Health and safety expert comments on COVID-19 vaccines and the workplace
With face masks becoming the norm in many Ontario workplaces, will it be long before COVID-19 vaccines will also become the accepted norm at work? Sure you can say you don't like vaccines for many reasons, but do your personal feelings count against the rights of other workers to carry on in a safe workplace confident they are free from disease? Those are the sorts of questions that Hope McManus has to deal with as the head of Health and Safety at the Peninsula Canada human resources consulting firm in Toronto that specializes in health and safety. One question is whether getting the COVID-19 vaccine will mean that masking and physical distancing will no longer be necessary. "It will be some time before the majority of the population is vaccinated and restrictions are relaxed. For best results in containing and preventing the spread of the virus, vaccines must be used in conjunction with other health and safety measures. Social distancing, face masks, capacity limits, protective barriers and hygiene practices are requirements that employers should continue enforcing in their workplaces even as workers start getting vaccinated," McManus said in an emailed news release. For the full story, click here.Police conduct high-risk vehicle stop on Paris Street
Greater Sudbury Police have arrested a person following a high risk vehicle stop on a car travelling on Paris Street. The incident happened today at 1:30 p.m. in relation to weapons offences. The investigation is continuing. This is an isolated incident and there was no threat to the public, said police
Search warrant nets $12K in drugs, four people charged
Four people from Greater Sudbury face a slew of charges, including possession of drugs and weapons, following a search at two homes, said provincial police, who worked alongside Greater Sudbury Police on the searches. Searches at both homes on Jan. 14 led to the seizure of three firearms with ammunition, prohibited weapons, drug paraphernalia, cellphones, money, drugs suspected to be fentanyl, purple fentanyl, methamphetamine pills, hydromorphone pills, cocaine, crack cocaine and oxycodone tablets. The drugs have an estimated value of $12,000. A 35-year-old man faces four drug-possession charges, three weapons charges and possession of property obtained by crime. He was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice on Jan. 15. A 48-year-old woman faces four drug-possession charges. She will appear in court on Feb. 24. A 28-year-old man and a 26-year-old man both face four drug-possession charges. They are both scheduled for court on Feb. 24.
Remembering Claire Pilon: Stalwart champion of Sudbury’s Francophonie
When you first speak of Claire Pilon, journalist, activist and champion of Sudbury’s Francophone community, there are a surprising number of words that start with "F." For instance, ‘une femme francophone.’ Also ‘focussed.’ A focussed femme francophone. What about ‘force’? “A force to be reckoned with,” said Lyse Lamothe, friend and colleague of Pilon, as well as coordonnatrice en développement communautaire at the Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury and president of l’Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario du grand Sudbury (ACFO). And finally, ‘fun.’ “She was always fun,” said France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt as well as long-time friend and colleague of Pilon’s. “She was driven every minute of her life, but she always focused on positivity and it was fun to be with her.” For the full story, click here.
