COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting 31 new COVID-19 cases, along with 11 more deaths related to the virus Tuesday.
There have been 1,535 lab-confirmed cases in Ottawa, and 138 deaths.
COVID-19 Ontario:
Ontario is reporting 387 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, and 61 more deaths.
That brings the provincial total to 18,310 cases, including 1,361 deaths and 12,779 resolved cases. The new provincial total is 2.2 per cent higher than Monday, which is part of a general downward trend of late.
COVID-19 Quebec:
Quebec is announcing 118 new COVID-19 deaths, for a total of 2,398.
The province is also recording another 794 positive cases, for a total of 33,417 confirmed cases. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Tuesday about 11,200 workers are absent from the health-care network, either because they are sick, vulnerable to COVID-19 infection or otherwise too afraid to go into work.
Police Probing Hate Crimes:
Ottawa Police are asking for witnesses to come forward following what the force describes as hate-motivated incidents involving members of the city’s Asian community.
Investigators have received reports of an older white couple in a grey, newer model Hyundai Elantra approaching pedestrians and yelling racial slurs, and obscenities at them, in the area of Viewmount Drive and Four Seasons Drive in the west end.
Police say they are aware of similar incidents happening across the country since the start of the pandemic, and are asking anyone with more information to contact the force, or Crime Stoppers.
Dr. Tam On Case Numbers:
Canada’s top doctor says the daily increase of COVID-19 cases in Canada has slowed to about three per cent.
Dr. Theresa Tam says that trend, coupled with statistics showing the percentage of tests coming back positive is going down, even as the number of tests goes up, signifies that the epidemic in Canada is slowing down.
Meanwhile, Tam says the pediatric network in Canada is monitoring children for signs of the inflammatory syndrome known as Kawasaki disease, which some countries have found in some children with COVID-19.
AFN Launches Covid-19 Task Force:
The Assembly Of First Nations is taking steps to help First Nations navigate the challenges of COVID-19.
National Chief Perry Bellegarde has announced the creation of the AFN COVID-19 National Task Force. This Task Force will work with the AFN Health and Emergency Management Sectors and external experts to provide information, updates, analysis and recommendations as required during the pandemic.
“This is a time of crisis and uncertainty,” says Bellegarde. “First Nations must have access to timely and accurate information and we need to over-communicate. The AFN C-19 National Task Force will be a valuable asset in this effort. We will continue to push all governments to engage directly with First Nations and to act on our unique needs.”
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Shooting Witnesses Sought:
Ottawa Police are hoping to hear from anyone who witnessed a shooting near St. Laurent Boulevard and Lemieux Street.
The force says a man was driving when he was shot by someone traveling in another vehicle that passed by around 9:45 pm Friday (May 1), suffering serious, life-threatening injuries.
The man managed to stop his car on Weldon Drive before being raced to hospital. Call The Guns and Gangs Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5050 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 ,if you have more information.
Alexandra Bridge Closure Extended:
Drivers will have to wait another few weeks to cross the Alexandra Bridge.
Public Services and Procurement Canada says a closure that started over the weekend will continue until May 24. The closure will allow crews to carry out repair work on the bridge, though pedestrian and cyclist access will continue.