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COVID-19 Update: Saturday, March 28, 2020

COVID-19 Ottawa:

As of 2:30 pm Saturday, the Province had not yet released an update on new COVID-19 cases in Ottawa.

On Friday, local health officials said they are investigating 75 confirmed and presumptive cases of the novel Coronavirus.

Ottawa’s Top Doctor Vera Etches also broke the news Friday that one of the new patients lives at Promenade Retirement Residence in Orleans.

Staff at the home have started outbreak management, with all residents in isolation.

Loblaws has confirmed that a staff member at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Merivale Mall has tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus.

In response, the company says it has informed Ottawa Public Health. The store is also taking steps to minimize risk for customers. Those include increase sanitation measures, and physical distancing enforcement.

COVID-19 Ontario:

151 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across Ontario Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 1,144.

The Ministry of Health says the number of deaths remains at 18 with eight cases fully resolved.

It says over 8,000 investigations into the virus are still pending, which is down from the more-than 10,000 pending cases on Friday.

Premier Doug Ford says he’s looking to reduce the maximum number of people allowed to gather to five as the province deals with another 151 cases of COVID-19.

The province is currently limiting gatherings to 50 people, but says the change could come into effect later Saturday.

Ford says there could be exceptions for certain events like funeral services if the limit is reduced.

Ottawa Speeders:

Ottawa Police are reminding drivers that roads may be quieter due to the pandemic and physical distancing, but the rules of the road still apply.

On Friday alone, officers seized 8 vehicles and handed out license suspensions to drivers caught driving at least 50 km/h over the speed limit.

The Traffic Unit seized a total 15 vehicles for stunt driving related offences this week.

COVID-19 Quebec:

Quebec is reporting 2,498 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province and four more deaths, bringing the provincial tally to 22.

Deputy Premier Genevieve Guilbault is also announcing police checkpoints as of this afternoon in eight regions outside of major Quebec cities where the population is deemed more at risk.

She adds only essential travel will be allowed in those regions and says Quebec provincial police have also set up checkpoints near the Canada-U.S. border to intercept snowbirds coming back to Quebec to ensure they understand there’s a 14-day quarantine.

More Travel Restrictions:

New travel restrictions within Canada will take effect next week.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says as of noon Monday, anyone showing any symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to board domestic flights or trains.

Buses are exempt from the new rules, because they fall under the authority of provincial governments.

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