Newswatch COVID-19 Digest: Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The supply chain is busy while the area deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this provided photo, transport trucks line up outside the Walmart Logistics building in Cornwall, Ont. on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Timothy Gervais via Newswatch Group)

Here is the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Tuesday, March 24, 2020:

  • There have been 503 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario. Eight of those have been resolved. Six people have died. The positive total includes four confirmed cases in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s jurisdiction – all in Prescott-Russell. The number of Ontario people tested is 28,506; 19,586 were negative and test results are pending for 8,417.
  • Canada’s confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 case total is 1,474. The country has 20 COVID-19 related deaths – 10 in British Columbia, one in Alberta, five in Ontario and four in Quebec.
  • Go straight home, stay at home. That stern message from Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis to snowbirds and others coming back from vacation, especially in the U.S. He says they are “bracing” for thousands of people coming back who are “surely going to bring back the infection.”
  • With one case in Prescott-Russell with no link to travel history, Roumeliotis says community spread has now taken hold in the five eastern counties. He says that’s why he took aggressive measures, closing houses of worship and personal service businesses on Sunday before Premier Ford’s order announcement on Monday.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses. The government compiled a list of businesses allowed to stay open, deemed essential. You can find that list here. The order will take effect 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
  • House hunters will have to wait. The Ontario Real Estate Association has asked real estate agents to stop conducting open houses.
  • The federal government is spending $192 million on developing and producing a novel coronavirus vaccine.
  • The number of COVID-19 cases in Quebec has nearly tripled. At 628 positive cases Monday, it’s the highest in the country. There have been four deaths and the premier says there’s evidence of community spread.
  • With the young kids at home for at least another two weeks, the Ontario SPCA has started online lessons on companion animal care that meets Ontario curriculum requirements. They are for grades 1-3. You can find the AnimalSmart lessons here.
  • A local woman and a group of volunteers are raising money to help small business in Glengarry County and the Cornwall area. “We are looking to start an online auction of donated items or gift cards,” Ellen Crothers said. The items will be used in a Facebook auction. You can reach her at ellen_crothers@hotmail.com or call 613-362-4340 and she’s also appealing to businesses to get in touch as well. Crothers has been the organizer of Mathews Toy Mountain in South Glengarry during Christmas for the past 14 years.

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.