COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting 90 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases, and one more death related to the virus Monday.
The city has recorded 4,153 cases throughout the pandemic- 631 are active, while 3,240 patients have recovered. 282 people have now died from complications related to COVID-19 in the Capital.
Meanwhile,
An outbreak has been declared at yet another local school.
A staff member and a student at Lester B Pearson Catholic High School have contracted the Novel Coronavirus. That makes it the ninth outbreak at an Ottawa school since classes resumed earlier this month.
COVID-19 Ontario:
700 new cases are being reported across Ontario Monday.
Throughout the pandemic, 50,531 cases have been confirmed across the province, including 2,840 deaths and 43,127 recovered patients.
Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, has responded to the rise in cases with an admission: the province is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19. Ford adds that all options are on the table to combat the surge in cases.
Ford adds the second wave has the potential to be worse than the first experienced in the spring. He is urging everyone to follow public health rules to limit the wave’s severity.
Hospitals Call For More Restrictions:
Ontario hospitals are calling on the government to reinstate restrictions in COVID hot spots, including Ottawa.
The Ontario Hospital Association says the government must move those regions back to Stage Two of the province’s pandemic response. That stage saw restrictions on non-essential businesses like restaurants, gyms, and movie theatres.
Utility Workers Accused of Disrespecting Smudging Ceremony:
Edmonton utility EPCOR has launched an investigation after contract workers were accused of racist behaviour during an Indigenous smudging ceremony near a junior high school.
EPCOR says it happened Friday when crews were working on a dry pond project near Edith Rogers School. The Edmonton Public School Board says workers swore, used racist language and ran equipment during the ceremony.