COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting 22 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases, and another two deaths from the virus.
7,990 cases have been confirmed in the Capital in total, with 7,216 resolved, and 411 active. 363 people in our city have now died after contracting the Novel Coronavirus.
COVID-19 Ontario:
The province has recorded another 1,417 new cases, and 32 more deaths due to the virus.
Ontario has now confirmed a total of 98,162 cases, with 3,415 deaths, and 81,925 cases resolved.
Ford Suggesting More Measures Coming;
Premier Doug Ford says he’ll announce targeted new measures on Friday aimed at lowering cases in provincial hot spots.
Ford says new measures must be implemented in Toronto, Peel Region and York Region because hospitals in those areas are reaching capacity. Meanwhile, the premier says the province is looking at lockdowns if case rates continue to grow.
No Extended Break for Students:
Ontario students won’t have a longer winter break after all.
The province says its current COVID-19 protocols are enough to keep kids safe in schools at this time. Education Minister Stephen Lecce says that after consulting the province’s top doctor and its public health measures table, the government has determined an extended holiday break is not necessary.
The minister said Tuesday that the province was considering prolonging the winter break or starting the new year with a stretch of online learning to reduce the risk of transmission following the holidays.
Vaccine Update:
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott says Canada expects to get 4-million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine between January and March, as well as 2-million doses of Moderna’s.
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its vaccine is 95 per cent effective and that it intends to seek approval for emergency use. Elliott says both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines require two shots, 21 days apart, which will be challenging.
Issues On The Confederation Line:
Trains are running smoothly on the Confederation Line again, after a couple of issues Wednesday.
OC Transpo staff say there was a roughly 20-minute delay after an emergency break was used on a train near The University Of Ottawa just before 7:00 am. That train had to be taken out of service. Meanwhile, transit officials say another train derailed near the Belfast Yard as service was about to begin for the day.
Plane Crash Report:
The Transportation Safety Board says the pilots of two small planes that collided over the Ottawa River in June were relying only on a see and avoid approach during the flight.
In its final report, the agency says both pilots were operating on visual flight rules, which it says increases the risk of collision in uncontrolled airspace. The pilot of a floatplane was rescued after it crashed into the Ottawa River and overturned. The other pilot successfully landed a damaged Cessna at the Arnprior Airport.
Halifax Reviewing the Use of “Mic Mac:”
Halifax is reviewing the use of the word “Micmac” on municipal street signs and buildings.
City council has unanimously endorsed a motion by councillor Sam Austin requiring city staff to review how the word is used. Austin says the debate around the use of Micmac, which is an anglicized version of Mi’kmaq, has been simmering for some time and there should be some discussion about what should be done.