Here are the latest local, regional and national headlines on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for Thursday, May 7, 2020:
- There have been 18,722 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, an increase of 412 cases (or 2.3 per cent) from the previous day. There are 13,222 people recovered from the virus while 1,429 people have died. The number of Ontario people tested is 365,675 of which 8,790 have pending results.
- Canada’s coronavirus case total is 63,496. The country has 4,232 deaths from the virus – 124 in British Columbia, 112 in Alberta, six in Saskatchewan, seven in Manitoba, 1,429 in Ontario, 2,510 in Quebec, three in Newfoundland & Labrador and 41 in Nova Scotia.
- Eight more cases of coronavirus were added to the Eastern Ontario Health Unit Wednesday, bringing the total to 111. All but one of the cases is at the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Plantagenet. The eighth case is in the community. The breakdown is 14 in Cornwall (11 resolved), 21 in SD&G (14 resolved) and 76 in Prescott-Russell (31 resolved). There are three people in hospitals and two of those are in ICU. There have been two deaths to date. The number of resolved cases increased by one to 56. There have been 2,913 tests performed in the EOHU region, 330 more than Tuesday.
- The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties added another two cases to bring its total of confirmed cases to 311. There was one more death reported Wednesday, bringing the total to 43.
- Another step forward as Ontario looks to reopen. Premier Doug Ford announced that garden centers and nurseries will be able to fully open Friday. Hardware and safety supply stores will be able to open Saturday for in-store purchases. Non-essential retail businesses with street entrances will be allowed to start curbside service on Monday (May 11).
- As Ontario and other provinces move on plans to reopen their economies, Federal Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam stresses physical distancing and washing your hands will remain critical.
- The provincial government has extended emergency electricity rate relief. The around-the-clock off-peak price for customers of Hydro One and Rideau St. Lawrence Distribution continues through May 31. This doesn’t apply to Cornwall Electric because the city utility doesn’t have time-of-use pricing.
- All provincial emergency orders have been extended until May 19. That includes limits on public gatherings. The declared provincial emergency has been in place since March 17.
- Toronto has closed down some streets to cars, in favour of pedestrians and cyclists during the pandemic. The city is also ambitiously moving ahead with building its bicycle network.
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.