COVID-19 Ottawa:

Ottawa Public Health is reporting eighteen new COVID-19 cases, and three more deaths Thursday.

1,725 cases, and 185 deaths have been confirmed in the Capital so far. OPH suggests that roughly 76 per cent of the cases have been resolved.

COVID-19 Ontario:

Ontario is reporting 258 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 33 new deaths.

The increase in cases represents a 1.2 per cent increase over Wednesday’s total. That’s the lowest increase since March.

Meanwhile, Ontario is set to enter its first stage of reopening on Tuesday, including lifting restrictions on retail stores, golf driving ranges and tennis courts, as well as surgeries and dog grooming.

The province says workplaces can start a gradual opening, but working from home should continue as much as possible.

All construction can resume and limits will be lifted on maintenance, repair and property management services, such as cleaning, painting, and pool maintenance.

Most retail stores that have a street entrance can open with physical distancing restrictions, such as limits on the number of customers in a store, booking appointments and continuing to provide curbside pickup and delivery.

National Parks To Re-Open:

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says national parks will resume some operations on June 1, granting access to trails, grounds, day-use areas and green spaces where it’s possible to have physical distancing.

But Wilkinson says people need to stay within their local areas, and not travel significant distances.

Marc Miller Defends Sacred Ceremonies:

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the government will not cancel important ceremonies for First Nations in the face of COVID-19.

He says banning of such ceremonies in the past has been a dark stain on Canada’s history. He says any such cancellations will be the decision of First Nations leadership who have been provided with public health advice.

Guns and Cash Seized:

Ottawa Police seized two loaded handguns and cash while executing a search warrant at a home on Debra Avenue in the Rideauview area.

Yasin Ibrahim, 28, Mohamed Warsame, 25, and Victoria Buwalda, 25, were all arrested and hit with several weapon and proceeds of crime charges Wednesday.