Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Thursday, April 2, 2020:
- There have been 2,392 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 426 cases (or 21.7 per cent) from the previous day. There are 689 people recovered from the virus while 37 people have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 57,874 of which 3,135 have pending results.
- After the above stats were released, a Peterborough area health unit announced two more deaths at a nursing home. With 14 residents and a spouse of one resident at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygon now dead, the health unit there is calling it the largest COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario.
- Canada’s confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 case total is 9,613. The country has 109 COVID-19 related deaths – 25 in British Columbia, nine in Alberta, three in Saskatchewan, one in Manitoba, 37 in Ontario, 33 in Quebec and one in Newfoundland & Labrador.
- There are 19 confirmed cases in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s jurisdiction, nine more than the day before. There are 12 in Prescott-Russell, 6 in SD&G and the first newly diagnosed case in the City of Cornwall. The city case is a man in his 30s who contracted the virus through close contact with another infected person. He’s in self-isolation.
- Cornwall’s testing center at the Community Addiction and Mental Health Center on McConnell Avenue, next to the hospital, opens today (April 2). It’s appointment only access. and runs weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The phone number is 613-935-7762. Only people with “worsening, but not severe, COVID-19 symptoms (fever, worsening cough)” should call.
- A drive-through testing center is also opening today (April 2) in Casselman at the health unit office (872 Principale Street) and will be open weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Again, you have to have worsening but not severe symptoms to be tested.
- There is some sort of viral outbreak at SD&G’s long term care home- Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis says four people showing symptoms have been isolated. He says there are a number of viruses, including two strains of the flu, circulating but he’s worried it might be COVID-19 “given the situation that we’re in.” All residents are now being screened twice a day.
- The provincial government has launched a $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses retool to provide personal protective equipment like gowns, masks, ventilators and face shields. It will be a one-time payment to businesses to retool.
- In the Northern New York, there are now 274 COVID-19 cases, including 37 in St. Lawrence County. Those 37 include a cluster of 14 positive cases in Massena and another cluster of eight in Potsdam, according to stats compiled by North Country Public Radio.
- The Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet, originally scheduled for Aug. 8, has been cancelled. Committee spokesman Thom Racine says regretfully that it “would not be fair to hang on and wait for a target date that may never come” in preparing for the event. Induction applications will remain on file for the event next year, where it will be called the “class of 2021.”
- The Upper Canada District School Board is surveying families, trying to determine which ones in the region don’t have the internet or computers available at home. The province is rolling out the second phase of Learn at Home curriculum with schools out until at least May 4.
- Due to health and safety concerns, the Agape Center is temporarily not taking donations of household items, clothing and furniture. The priority now for the food bank is food, gift card and donations of money. The soup kitchen is closed but lunch bags are being given out once a week.
- A Cornwall manufacturing company has donated 250 face masks to the City of Cornwall. Morbern’s donation will be given to staff at Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge.
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.