COVID-19 Ottawa:

Ottawa Public Health is reporting 97 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, and two more deaths from the virus Friday.

The number of active cases has jumped from 670 to 698. Throughout the pandemic, 6,927 cases have been confirmed, with 5,906 resolved, and 323 deaths.

COVID-19 Ontario:

There are 896 new cases, and nine new deaths related to the novel coronavirus across the province.

Ontario has recorded 74,715 cases during the pandemic, with 63,919 resolved, and 3,127 deaths.

Canada COVID Cases on the Rise:

Canada is currently recording case counts of about three-thousand per day, but officials say that could reach eight-thousand per day by December unless everyone takes action now.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says people need to cut a quarter of their social contacts to keep the outbreak from resurging.

Hydro Rates Going Up:

Your electricity bill may be higher next month.

Electricity rates are set to rise in Ontario this weekend, with the average customer seeing a nearly two per cent increase.

Earlier this month, the Ontario Energy Board announced new prices for households and small businesses that take effect on Sunday. Ontario’s pandemic rate relief plan also expires this weekend.

Rangers Deployed to Neskantaga:

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says Canadian Rangers should be on the ground in Neskantaga First Nation Friday.

The remote community in northern Ontario has mostly been evacuated after high levels of hydrocarbons in the water reservoir forced officials to turn off the pipes earlier this month.

The Rangers will provide community support. Meanwhile, Miller says his department is working to restore clean drinking water to the First Nation, which has been under a boil water advisory for 25 years.

Crash Closes Highway 15 in Smiths Falls:

Traffic is moving again on Highway 15 through Smiths Falls.

A stretch of the highway was closed for a couple of hours following a multi-vehicle collision Friday morning. One person was airlifted to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Canal Skating Prep to Cause Traffic Delays This Weekend:

Staff with the National Capital Commission are doing some winter preparations this weekend, and that might affect your Saturday drive.

Colonel By Drive will be closed between Hawthorne and Daly, from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm, to allow crews to install skate chalets on the Rideau Canal. Crews will also be directing traffic on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Fifth Avenue between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm.