Here is the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Monday, March 16, 2020:
- There have been 145 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario. Five of those have been resolved. That includes the one confirmed case in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit jurisdiction, reported on Saturday. The number of people tested is 8,465; 7,004 were negative and test results are pending for 1,316.
- Canada’s confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 case total is now more than 340. Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says the virus poses a serious health risk to all Canadians and people returning from travel outside the country should self-isolate for 14 days.
- Local Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, says four close contacts to the region’s first COVID-19 case – an SLC nursing student from Prescott-Russell – are being monitored. But Roumeliotis says “there was no threat to the rest of the campus, including residences” because the woman was only complaining of being tired when she was there. The Cornwall campus is closed completely until further notice.
- The City of Cornwall holds a special council meeting at 6 p.m. to get an update from the chief administrative officer on the city’s response to COVID-19. The meeting is open to the public, but the corporation suggests you should watch it on YouTube, the city’s website or YourTV.
- Students across the district start a really long March break. This week is the typical spring holiday but the province ordered a two week shutdown following the holiday week for publicly-funded schools. Schools are scheduled to reopen April 6.
- Restrictions are in place at SD&G’s long term care home, Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge. Only essential visitors are allowed into long term care homes across Ontario. Essential visitors are those of a dying or very ill resident. All visitors are being screened with their temperature taken. Adult Day Away Programs have been suspended until April 3. Meals on Wheels will continue, but under stricter controls. (This section was updated at 1:08 p.m. on Monday to reflect changes by the Ontario government)
- The Provincial Offences Act court at the United Counties of SD&G building on Pitt Street, which deals with traffic tickets and citations, has ceased operations until April 3. Court matters are being adjourned and rescheduled. People who had court dates during this period won’t have to show up.
- United Counties Warden Frank Prevost, who is also South Glengarry’s mayor, is in self-isolation after returning from an eight day cruise. Prevost says he feels fine and is showing no symptoms of the virus. The county is holding its regular council meeting today where Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, is tentatively scheduled to speak.
- No visitors are being allowed for people staying at the Cornwall Community Hospital starting today. The exception is for palliative care, critical care, and obstetrics/pediatrics, where two visitors are allowed at a time. The ER is one visitor per patient.
- The Township of South Glengarry is sealing off all its municipal buildings to outside visitors, including its municipal office at 6 Oak Street in Lancaster. The township has also delayed its first tax installment to April 30, regardless of the type of payment, with no interest penalty.
- South Stormont has cancelled all recreation programming and facility rentals as of Saturday (March 14), until at least April 5. It’s discouraging municipal office visits and recommending people use alternate forms of payment than showing up at the Long Sault office.
- Via Rail will be reducing its routes by 50 per cent along the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, which includes stops in Cornwall, starting Tuesday, March 17.
- The St. Lawrence Marathon in Cornwall, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 25, has been cancelled. The race committee is still trying to work out logistics on whether and how it would be able to issue refunds or deferrals.
- Nativity Bowling at 301 McConnell Avenue in Cornwall has closed its doors until further notice.
- The Cornwall Interfaith Partnership’s event “Is That Kosher?” on Sunday, March 29 at Knox-St. Paul’s United Church has been postponed.
- The Patrons of St. Columban Foundation annual chicken dinner fundraiser on March 29 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 297 Cornwall is postponed. The legion branch is closed until April 6.
Have a story or news release related to COVID-19? Send it along for possible inclusion in a future digest on Cornwall Newswatch. Email editor@cornwallnewswatch.com. Please put “COVID-19 Digest” in the subject line.