COVID-19 Ottawa:

Ottawa Public Health is reporting seven new COVID-19 cases Tuesday.

That sends the city’s total number of confirmed cases throughout the pandemic to 2,166, with 85 per cent of patients recovered. As has been the case for the last two and a half weeks, no new deaths were reported, leaving that number at 263.

COVID-19 Ontario:

Ontario is reporting 111 new cases of COVID-19, along with one new death due to the novel coronavirus.

The total number of cases now stands at 36,950, which includes 32,785 marked as resolved and 2,723 deaths. The province is also reporting 122 newly resolved cases Tuesday.

Border To Remain Closed to Non-Essential Travel:

The Canada-US border is expected to remain closed to all but essential travel for another month.

Sources say it’s believed the two countries have agreed to keep the border closed to so-called “discretionary” travel like vacations and shopping trips until at least August 21. The current agreement to keep it closed is set to expire July 21.

Premier Prepping For Second Wave:

Premier Doug Ford says his government is taking steps to prepare for a potential second wave of COVID-19 in the fall.

Ford has provided no details of the plan, but says the province’s health system is better off now than in the early stages of the pandemic. Ontario’s hospitals are warning the province it must prepare the health-care system for a potential second wave of COVID-19 that could hit during flu season.

Arrest Made After Child Goes Missing Near Orleans:

A man, 27, has been arrested in Toronto, in connection with an Amber Alert issued by police in our city Tuesday morning.

Ottawa Police say a boy, 4, was reported missing from a home in the Orleans area around 7:00 am, but was found by police in Toronto just a few hours later, and before many people received an alert on their electronic device. There’s no word yet on what charges the man will face.

Ontario Ending Birth Alerts:

Ontario is the latest province to do away with the practice of birth alerts.

The provincial government announced Tuesday it will order an end to the system that sees children’s aid societies send notifications to hospitals if they believe a newborn is at risk.

Research suggests the alerts have disproportionately targeted racialized families, specifically indigenous families, and it’s committed to creating a more culturally appropriate child welfare system.