COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting 93 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday.
That’s the biggest single-day increase since the pandemic started. There were also three new deaths related to the virus reported.
There have been 3772 cases in the Capital throughout the pandemic, with 587 cases active, and 2906 cases resolved. 279 people in Ottawa have died from complications related to the virus.
Etches Issues Order:
Ottawa’s Top Doctor Vera Etches is responding to the sharp spike in new cases by invoking a Class Section 22 Order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
This means anyone who tests positive, has symptoms, comes into close contact with someone who has tested positive or is awaiting test results or has reasonable grounds to believe they have COVID-19 MUST self-isolate for 14 days, unless COVID is ruled out by a negative test.
Failure to follow the order could result in a fine of up to $5000 for every day or part of each day which the offence occurs or continues.
Click here for more details.
COVID-19 Ontario:
Across Ontario, 478 new cases have been reported.
68 per cent of the new cases are in people under the age of 40. Province-wide, there have been 47,752 confirmed cases, which includes 2,832 deaths and 41,342 cases classified as resolved.
Province Going Big On Flu Shot Season:
The provincial government is implementing what it says is the largest flu-shot campaign in Ontario history.
Premier Doug Ford says it’s essential Ontario residents get their shots this year to preserve hospital capacity. Ford says the province has spent $70-million to purchase 5.1-million doses of the flu vaccine. That is 700,000 more than last year.
For the first time, high-dose shots for seniors will be available in pharmacies, but the early vaccination campaign will target long-term care homes, hospitals and retirement homes.
Federal Government Invests in More Vaccine Candidates:
Canada has secured a fifth deal to buy vaccines, signing an agreement with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline to buy up to 72-million doses of their experimental vaccine candidate.
That puts the total spent towards buying at least 154 million doses of vaccines at more than $1-billion dollars. Most of that will not be refunded even if the vaccines never get approved.
Ministers Speak up For Mi’kmaq Lobster Fishers:
Two federal cabinet ministers are denouncing what they say are threats, intimidation and vandalism targeting Indigenous fisherman in southwestern Nova Scotia.
Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan and Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett have affirmed the Mi’kmaq First Nation’s right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood. Commercial fishermen pulled up about 350 lobster traps last weekend that had been set by Indigenous fishermen in St. Marys Bay.
Wanted Man Might Be in Ottawa:
Provincial Police are asking you to keep an eye out for a man wanted on a Canada-wide Warrant for breaching conditions of his statutory release.
Kenneth Peever, 45, who is known to frequent the Ottawa area, is serving a two and a half year sentence for crimes including break and enter, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Call OPP at 1-866-870-7673, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if you know of his whereabouts.