Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Saturday, April 11, 2020:
- There have been 6,237 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 478 cases (or 8.3 per cent) from the previous day. There are 2,574 people recovered from the virus while 222 people have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 92,673 of which 1,598 have pending results.
- Canada’s confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 case total is 21,243. The country has 531 COVID-19 related deaths – 50 in British Columbia, 32 in Alberta, three in Saskatchewan, three in Manitoba, 222 in Ontario, 216 in Quebec, three in Newfoundland & Labrador and two in Nova Scotia.
- Cornwall, SD&G and Prescott-Russell still has the same number of cases – 49. There are three people hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) and they are “stable.” Ten people have recovered from the virus, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said. There have been no deaths in the area (Cornwall, SD&G, Prescott-Russell).
- There will be an update to the local information on COVID-19 cases from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit over the Easter weekend. Roumeliotis says his staff will be compiling the data to show how each person contracted the virus, their age, gender as well as whether cases are resolved, people are isolated, hospitalized or in the ICU and number of deaths (again, there are no deaths locally).
- Premier Doug Ford called for pro-acting testing of at-risk groups, front line health care and emergency workers, people in jail or prison, those in hospital, the homeless and other essential workers. Ontario expects to double the tests processed daily to 8,000 by April 15 and 14,000 by April 29.
- The province has blocked temporarily closed child care centers from collecting payments from parents. The government invoked the emergency order Friday that also ensures parents won’t lose their child care space. It doesn’t apply to child care centers providing care to front line and essential workers.
- The RCMP will be doing checks on people who are required to be under quarantine for 14 days after returning to Canada. Those not obeying the mandatory quarantine could face a fine up to $750,000 or jail for six months.
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.