COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health has confirmed twelve more COVID-19-related deaths in the city, along with 67 more cases of the virus.
That’s the largest single-day jump in cases since the first one was reported in the Capital last month.
11 of the new deaths involved residents at local long-term care homes.
1221 cases have been confirmed in the capital, and 71 deaths.
COVID-19 Ontario:
Ontario is reporting 525 new COVID-19 cases Monday and 59 more deaths.
That ends three consecutive days of declining numbers of new cases.
In Ontario’s reopening framework announced Monday, the government said the health officials will be looking for a consistent, two-to-four-week decrease in the number of new cases before advising moving to the first stage.
Bluesfest Cancelled:
Ottawa’s biggest summer music bash will not be happening this year.
Organizers have announced that the pandemic will prevent RBC Bluesfest from happening in Lebreton Flats in July.
However, a number of the acts confirmed for this year’s event, including blink-182, Blue Rodeo, Jack Johnson, and the National, have been confirmed for next summer’s festival.
Read more about the cancellation here.
Quebec To Ease COVID-19 Restrictions:
Quebec Premier Francois Legault says most stores, as well as companies operating in construction and manufacturing, will gradually be allowed to reopen in the coming weeks.
Stores outside Montreal will be allowed to reopen May 4 while those in the greater Montreal region will reopen May 11. Legault says the reopening of stores and other businesses will depend on physical distancing rules being respected.
The province has reported 25,757 cases of COVID-19 to date and 1,682 deaths, more than half the national total.
ETFO:
Ontario’s elementary teachers have voted 97 per cent in favour of their new contract with the provincial government.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says the three-year deal guarantees the one-teacher, one-early childhood educator model for full-day kindergarten for the life of the agreement.
It says the agreement also means there will be no changes to elementary class sizes.