Michael Kovrig’s wife Vina Nadjibulla has told the CBC that the Chinese imprisonment of her husband (separated) and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor is a spiteful act of hostage-taking beneath the behaviour of a great nation. She has eloquently denied absolutely that either man is a spy.

The Ministry of Health reports 216 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, a jump of 50 over Monday’s report. For eight out of the past 10 days, there have been fewer than 200 new cases of the virus confirmed in Ontario. The uptick comes as the GTA is set to re-open many businesses Wednesday. Daily summaries

Love this guy/Colin McConnell

Nature and dog photographer Colin McConnell has posted this happy fellow. Stand back. FB

Toronto and the rest of the GTA will move to phase 2 opening Wednesday as Ontario slowly beats back COVID-19. It means the welcome return of hair salons, barbers, coffee on the patio and much more. But a sinister reality lurks. In recent days, areas of the province that preceded Toronto into phase 2 are showing an uptick in the virus. Be careful. Toronto Star

• Restaurant dining will be a new experience

The Ministry of Health says new cases of COVID-19 fell to 161 in the overnight count published Monday. “For the eighth time in the past nine days, Ontario is reporting fewer than 200 cases,” Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted. Nearly 22,000 tests were processed over the past 24 hours, down slightly from the more than 23,000 that were completed one day prior. Daily summaries

Police say a man, 19, has drowned off the Beaches Sunday evening. The unidentified young man was seen about 100 feet out into the lake when he began to cry for help. Friends said that they were unable to help. Crews were called to Maclean Ave and Hubbard Blvd where boats found the man and brought him to shore.

End of old Brock St. bridge in overnight assault/Colin Williamson

An army of wrecking machines took down the old Brock St. bridge over the 401 at Whitby overnight. There is a high priority project to build a new by as early as this fall.

BRIDGE DEMOLITION – #Hwy401 closed at Brock St #Whitby in both directions for bridge demolition. Reopening by morning pic.twitter.com/xEjGZjFcNy

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) June 21, 2020

The Ministry of Health says the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario fell to 175 in the 24-hour period ending Saturday. The data issued Sunday morning brings the five-day rolling average of new cases in Ontario to about 184, down from 186 one day earlier. These figures are widely taken to show a declining threat from the virus in the province although as previously reported, there are still as many as 70 cases a day discovered in Toronto. Daily summaries

We are making progress every day in the reopening of our city. We are able to make this progress thanks to you – the residents of Toronto – who have followed public health advice, done all the right things, helped their neighbours and been so patient throughout this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/GdFLS8vevY

— John Tory (@JohnTory) June 19, 2020

Seen at Starbucks at Yonge and Roxborough/Y&R News

A fairly rare Harlequin Great Dane is seen at the Starbucks on Yonge St. at Roxborough West in Summerhill. He identified by his owner a well-known Internet dog called Rory the Downtown Dane. The Harlequin is so named for its stunning white and black markings. Yonge and Roxborough News

Egg Bird prepares to open at former Creeds, former Second Cup/Bulldog

Banana Nail will open at former location of F5/Bulldog

Two new businesses are hoping to catch rising fortune as Bayview Ave. slowly re-opens. Egg Bird is in the former Creeds location at 1595 Bayview. It is also the former long-time home of the Second Cup. At 1559 Bayview, Banana Nail is preparing to open in the former F5 location.