COVID-19 Ottawa:
Six more people in Ottawa have died from COVID-19.
Ottawa Public Health says 356 people in our city have now died after contracting the virus. 41 new cases are being reported Friday, sending the Capital’s total up to 7,766, with 6,917 resolved, and 493 active.
Meanwhile,
Downtown Ottawa is getting two new COVID-19 testing centres, while an east end location is set to close.
A drive thru testing site is expected to open in the underground parking garage at the National Arts Centre on Thursday (November 19), with the Coventry Road baseball stadium lot drive thru testing site ceasing operations on Monday (November 16).
Those who don’t drive will be able to get tested at the McNabb Community Centre on Percy Street, starting the week after next.
COVID-19 Ontario:
There are 1,396 additional new cases across Ontario Friday.
The province is also recording 17 more deaths due to the virus. Throughout the pandemic, the province has confirmed 91,180 cases, with 75,220 resolved, and 3, 293 deaths.
Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford says the province is staring down the barrel of another lockdown unless it gets rising case counts under control.
Ford says modelling projections announced yesterday show hospital intensive care units could be overwhelmed in six weeks. In response, the province is lowering thresholds for imposing stricter pandemic measures under the colour-coded framework announced last week.
Province Announces Funding For Indigenous Students:
Ontario’s Ministry of Education has announced $17-million in funding over three years to support First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous education partners.
The goal is to provide some stability for school boards while ensuring safe learning environments for Indigenous students. The funding will go toward several key initiatives, including elder programming for First Nation students relocating to larger, urban centres to attend high school.
Money will also go toward training and support for boarding home parents to ensure students have a safe place to go after school.
New 417 Lanes Open:
Commuters might notice a bit less gridlock on a stretch of the 417.
Two new lanes on the highway, between Maitland Avenue and Island Park Drive, are now open. The $58.8-million highway expansion project was completed this week.