COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting a significant drop in new confirmed, and active, COVID-19 cases in the capital.
45 new cases were reported Wednesday, sending the city’s total throughout the pandemic up to 5,707, with 4,641 resolved. There are 769 active cases in the city, which is down from 839 Tuesday.
COVID-19 Ontario:
There are 721 new cases, but no new deaths related to the virus, across Ontario.
Meanwhile, the province says another 783 cases are now considered resolved. The latest figures bring the provincial total to 61,413 cases, which includes 3,017 deaths and 52,512 resolved cases.
Etches Rules Out Trick or Treating:
Ottawa’s Top Doctor is discouraging children from going Trick Or Treating this Halloween, a day after Canada’s Top Doctor Theresa Tam said it would be possible in most parts of the country.
Dr. Vera Etches is encouraging parents to keep Halloween fun inside, with just members of their household. Meanwhile, Etches also told council Wednesday that Ottawa has the highest test positivity rate in Ontario.
No Exams For Ottawa Catholic Board Students:
Students with the Ottawa Catholic School Board won’t be writing exams this school year.
The Board has announced that students will complete end of semester assignments to test their comprehension of course material instead. The Ministry of Education has allowed school boards to decide whether or not to hold exams during this pandemic-affected school year.
OPL Scrapping Late Fees:
The Ottawa Public Library Board has taken a big step to make its services more accessible to everyone in the community.
The Board has adopted a Materials Recovery Model, that will eliminate late fees for all customers.
Staff will be asked to adjust revenue projections as part of the 2021 Operating and Capital Budgets. The move was made to improve access for poor and marginalized communities.
COVID Spike in Six Nations:
Public health officials in Six Nations of the Grand River say their community is “in crisis” after a recent rise in COVID cases.
A band council statement says there are now 14 active and 33 probable cases in the Southwestern Ontario community. The council says the spike in cases is associated with private gatherings, and band members travelling from event to event against public health advice.
RCMP Investigating Harassment of Mi’kmaq Lobster Trappers:
The RCMP is investigating what it calls “disturbances” outside two Nova Scotia lobster pounds holding the catch of Indigenous fishers.
Police say about 200 people in New Edinburgh and in Middle West Pubnico blocked employees from leaving the facilities and damaged equipment and other property Tuesday.
Chief Mike Sack of Sipekne’katik First Nation describes the actions of local fishers as “terrorist hate crimes.” He says lobster caught by Indigenous fishers was taken and vehicles were burned while police were on scene.