Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Saturday, April 18, 2020:
- There have been 9,525 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 564 cases (or 6.3 per cent) from the previous day. There are 4,556 people recovered from the virus while 478 people have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 136,992 of which 5,993 have pending results.
- Canada’s COVID-19 case total is 31,884. The country has 1,309 COVID-19 related deaths – 77 in British Columbia, 50 in Alberta, four in Saskatchewan, five in Manitoba, 478 in Ontario, 688 in Quebec, three in Newfoundland & Labrador and four in Nova Scotia.
- The Cornwall, SD&G and Prescott-Russell region added another two cases Thursday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 67. Both new cases were in Prescott-Russell (41 Prescott-Russell, 16 SD&G, 10 Cornwall). The number of people in hospitals is five, three in the intensive care unit (ICU). The number of resolved cases is 27. (The health unit changed its reporting based on Ministry of Health criteria. The 34 “recovered” cases reported earlier this week were people who had reported feeling better but had not necessarily finished their 14 day isolation period. The new reporting of “resolved” means they have completed 14 days of isolation and the health unit has closed the file on their case.) There have been no deaths.
- The Ontario government has partnered with Rogers and Apple to purchase 21,000 iPads set up with wireless data so students in need can continue with the province’s Learn from Home curriculum. The devices are being sent out to school boards. Rogers is providing the data at no cost until the end of June.
- The province is expanding child care for more front line workers. It will include staff working in victim services, First Nations police officers, probation and parole officers, power workers, RCMP, CBSA and Canada Post employees, to name a few.
- In keeping with the province’s emergency orders, the City of Cornwall is keeping its municipal and recreation facilities closed through May 12.
- The city is looking for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) for paramedics and Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge workers. At least nine local organizations have already made donations.
- Starting at noon on Monday, anybody boarding a domestic flight will have to have some sort of face mask. They will only have to wear it if they have to be close to others like screening points or if the plane is crowded.
- You know that big run on toilet paper? Well, we now have some hard numbers. The Forest Products Association of Canada says the demand for TP went up by 241 per cent since the pandemic started.
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.